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ESA claims prompt Govt to push on with welfare reform
The government has vowed to press ahead with reform of the welfare state as its latest statistics show less than a quarter of those applying for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) are successful.
Just 6% are placed in the most severely disabled Support Group, where they are not expected to seek work, while a further 16% are allocated into the Work Related Activity Group.
It includes all new claims until the end of August last year and for those WCAs completed by November, but does not include those being transferred from the previous Incapacity Benefit.
However, the WCA has been consistently criticised by disability charities for being too harsh and not taking the severity of injuries into full account while being unsuitable for assessing those with mental health problems.
The figures have remained largely unchanged over the last six months, although changes to the Work Capability Assessments (WCA) addressing some of those concerns will not have filtered through yet.
The majority of Professor Harrington's recommendations are now in place with the remainder due to be implemented by summer to coincide with the first WCAs of incapacity benefit claimants taking part in the full nationwide reassessment.
Chris Grayling MP, Employment Minister, used the figures to reiterate his belief that the reform process was heading in the right direction.
"Once again we have clear evidence of the need for change in our welfare system," he said.
We now know very clearly that the vast majority of new claimants for sickness benefits are in fact able to return to work. That's why we are turning our attention to existing claimants, who were simply abandoned on benefits," he added.
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Phoney Atos Assesments
There is no doubt that Atos Assesors are train only to ensure claimants fail. The Government want to ensure that everyone is on the lowest possible benefit in order to reduce Benefit Payments. By declaring people fit to work even in the face of medical evidence to the contrary, the benefits saved are enormous, as is the damage done to the poorest and most vunerable. I have sat the assesment twice in 2 years and failed both times, even though my bllod pressure was through the roof and i was in so much pain I could barely walk. But my assesment on bth occassions said I would be fit for work within 3 months. I have now been unable to work for 3 years and still waiting for the appeal to be heard. I tried after the first failure to find work, but the Jobcentre gave up and advised I would be better claiming E&SA and this was re-enforced by Remploy who also said I should move off Jobseekers and come back only if I recover from my disability. My Dr refuses now to sign me fit for work, but here I am trying to survive on £67 per week of which £17 per week is made up of a small works pension, so I dont even get full benefit. Finally, there is very little work in my corner of Lancashire and most of the jobs available are minimum wages and part time. So what work is it exactly that they believe I am able to at 59 with severe Arthritis?
Posted by: Barry Skelhorn | Jul 29 2011
Assessments
I am one of the 37% that didn't renew. Its taking over a year and still haven't gotten the benifits sorted out. I am now in so much debt that I am struggling with food stuff and clothing. I'm in the process of getting support but I'm having to go 2 weeks out of every 4 weeks without food now. Next month with be extremely difficult due to the interest charges coming about from the monies I've borrowed. All because of being to ill to attend the assessment.
Posted by: someday | Apr 28 2011
Appeals?
No mention of how many of those found allegedly fit for work by the FLAWED and BROKEN assessment subsequently appeal and are in fact found NOT fit for work? Seriously what do we have to do to get some actual FACTS published instead of this skewed rubbish that doesn't actually mean anything other than further vilifying vulnerable people? You should be ashamed of yourselves for printing this.
Posted by: Fed up with stories like this | Apr 28 2011
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