ESA appeals will not lose benefit

The Work and Pensions Secretary has vowed that employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants appealing their ineligibility decision will not have their benefit payments stopped.

As COVER previously reported, several charities were shocked at the prospect that had been rumoured to be being considered.

However, Iain Duncan Smith MP told the Work and Pensions Select Committee that the step would not be taken and those appealing would still receive the basic level of payments.

When asked about the reports, he replied: "We haven't debated or discussed this.

"I want to get this appeals process ironed out and we have to do this now," he added.

At present 40% of those who appeal their ESA decision finding them fit for work are subsequently found eligible for the benefit.

Duncan Smith said that since taking office the coalition was trying to improve the appeals process.

"What we have is a system we've inherited and tried to improve," he said.

"The tribunals and appeals process needs a lot of work on it and we are trying to streamline that process.

"It's in our interest to do it because we don't want people hanging around for appeals any longer than they have to," he added.

MPs on the Committee also took the opportunity to raise the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) use of statistics regarding ESA.

They have previously criticised the way the DWP releases claims data and repeated those concerns, citing the inclusion of those people not completing their claims in the numbers being found fit for work.

However the Secretary of State said all the figures were present for media to analyse in depth if they wished to.