Charities brand sickness assessments ‘utter disgrace’

By The Press Association23rd October 2014News EnglandBenefits, Disabilities, News England, Welfare / Benefits

Thousands of sick and disabled people are being subjected to “upsetting and unnecessary” benefits assessments, charities have warned.

People living with progressive and degenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s, motor neurone disease and rheumatoid arthritis, who apply for Employment Support Allowance (ESA) are being told they will recover enough to look for work in the future, it was reported.

One charity said it was a “disgrace” and accused benefit assessors of lacking basic understanding of the conditions they were looking at.

Around a third of claimants living with progressive conditions have been left to “languish” in the work-related activity group (WRAG) of ESA despite having very little chance of recovery, said the report.

People placed in the WRAG are deemed able to recover from their condition to the point where they can look for work, and can be subject to financial penalties if they fail to do so, said the charities.

Almost 5,000 sick and disabled people have been placed in the WRAG despite assessors recognising on their reports that the prospect of work is “unlikely in the longer term”, it was claimed.

Five charities – MS Society, Parkinson’s UK, Motor Neurone Disease Association, the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust – are calling for people deemed unlikely to return to work in the longer term to be automatically placed in the support group, and for assessors to use medical evidence to justify placing anyone with a progressive condition in the WRAG.

Steve Ford (pictured), chief executive at Parkinson’s UK, said: “These latest figures are an utter disgrace and serve to underline just how little the Government cares for those with progressive conditions, like Parkinson’s.

“To set up a system which tells people who’ve had to give up work because of a debilitating, progressive condition that they’ll recover is humiliating and nothing short of a farce.

“These nonsensical decisions are a prime example of how benefits assessors lack even the most basic levels of understanding of the conditions they are looking at.”

Ailsa Bosworth, chief executive at the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, said: “To continue to regularly reassess claimants with progressive conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, is absurd and unnecessary. We know that most people with rheumatoid arthritis want to work for as long as they possibly can and will only claim ESA as a last resort.

“I hope the Government will reduce reassessment of these claimants and ensure progressive conditions are properly understood. Assessors should always have to seek further medical evidence to justify placing claimants with a deteriorating condition in the WRAG.”

A DWP spokesman said: “It’s not fair to write someone off as unable to work if they are at the early stages of a progressive condition – and many people welcome support to prepare for work if they feel able to.

“If the effects of someone’s condition are considered severe enough based on their application and evidence, they will not be required to attend a face-to-face assessment.

“Our reforms support people into work where they are able, instead of writing them off.”