Government to overhaul ‘fundamentally flawed’ work capability assessments for disabled people
Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green to announce personalised support plans later today
THE government is planning a major overhaul of the way claimants for disability benefits are assessed in a drive to help more people back into work.
Statutory Sick Pay and GP fit notes are also in Whitehall’s crosshairs as Ministers find new ways to get “workers back into their jobs faster, and for longer.”
The government say they want to provide more “targeted and personalised support” for people with disabilities while they look for employment.
Welfare Secretary Damian Green will tell the Commons today: “When things need improving, like the Work Capability Assessment and fit notes, we mustn’t shy away from big decisions.”
The review of the system comes amid concern that while those in need receive the Employment and Support Allowance they get very little help from Jobcentre Plus despite some being able to work.
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The Department for Work and Pensions wants to rip up the system that sees ESA claimants split into two groups.
Those in the “support group” get higher benefits but are not offered significant help to find jobs.
The “work related activity group” get less money but are helped to look for suitable employment.
Last night the Department for Work and Pensions said: “The gap between the employment rates of disabled people and non-disabled people sits at 32 percentage points – a gap the Government is determined to start closing.
“Despite a record breaking labour market, 4.6million disabled people and people with long term health conditions are out of work.”
But Labour said the system should be scrapped altogether.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams said: “This cruel Tory approach is ideologically driven with the sole purpose of targeting the most vulnerable in our society to pay for their austerity plans, painting disabled people as scroungers and shirkers, whilst making no impact on the disability employment gap.”
But the plans were welcomed by former Welfare boss Iain Duncan Smith — who had wanted to make similar changes in office before quitting in March over cuts to disability benefits.
Last night he said: “ESA is a part of the benefits system left over from the last Labour government and is in real need of reform.
“These proposals are directly taken from a full plan that we at the DWP were close to completing before I resigned.
“The purpose was to get rid of the binary choice that you were fit for work or not fit for work.
“My plan covered all the areas announced today and went further in proposing some other positive changes.
“These changes are only possible because ESA is part of Universal Credit which is rolling out successfully and is already transforming lives.”
