wca

Benefits and Poverty

Paul Litchfield giving evidence to a Commons committee

December 21, 2017 0

Expert chosen by DWP appears to suggest scrapping ‘fitness for work’ test

The occupational health expert chosen by the government to review its much-criticised “fitness for work” test appears to have suggested that the assessment should be scrapped and replaced with a radically different process. Dr Paul Litchfield, who led the fourth and fifth reviews of the work capability assessment (WCA), said the Department for Work

Benefits and Poverty

December 21, 2017 0

Regulators face possible action over failure to discipline lying PIP assessors

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The body that oversees the UK’s health and care regulators is considering taking action over their failure to punish nurses, paramedics and physiotherapists who write dishonest benefit assessment reports. The Professional Standards Authority (PSA) is to look next month at whether it should examine the failings of the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

Benefits and Poverty

Hundreds of white flowers lying on grass

December 14, 2017 0

‘Staggering’ ESA suicide figures prompt calls for inquiry and prosecution of ministers

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“Staggering” new figures show that the proportion of people claiming the main out-of-work disability benefit who have attempted suicide doubled between 2007 and 2014. The new analysis of NHS statistics, being published for the first time by Disability News Service (DNS), shows that in 2007 – a year before the introduction of the much-criticised

Benefits and Poverty

Long windows on the front of the Department of Health and Social Care offices in Whitehall

December 14, 2017 0

Department of Health silence over failure to highlight ESA suicide risk

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The Department of Health (DH) has refused to say why it failed to warn NHS bodies and other local services that claimants of out-of-work disability benefits are at a hugely-increased risk of attempting to take their own lives. DH published the latest version of its national suicide prevention strategy in January this year. The

Benefits and Poverty

November 30, 2017 0

‘Shocking’ NHS stats show nearly half ESA claimants have attempted suicide

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“Shocking” NHS statistics have revealed that almost half of the people claiming the main out-of-work disability benefit in England have attempted suicide at some point in their life. The figures, showing rates of self-harm among claimants of employment and support allowance (ESA), were published by NHS Digital in September 2016, but have apparently never

Benefits and Poverty

A sign pointing to Parliament Street and Whitehall

November 16, 2017 0

Response to benefit assessment inquiry breaks Commons records

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An inquiry into the government’s flawed disability benefit assessment regime has produced more online evidence from the public than any other investigation ever held by a House of Commons select committee. More than 2,800 submissions had been made to the work and pensions committee through its online forum by the time the deadline passed,

Benefits and Poverty

Sign at entrance to Department for Work and Pensions

November 2, 2017 0

PIP investigation: Hundreds give evidence of assessment failings to MPs

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Scores of disabled people and welfare advisers have told a Commons inquiry that disability benefit assessment reports completed on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions are filled with “lies and misinformation”. The work and pensions select committee is carrying out an inquiry into the assessment process for both personal independence payment (PIP)

Benefits and Poverty

October 12, 2017 0

Mum and new baby face Christmas eviction after WCA ‘nightmare’

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A disabled woman with a new baby is set to be evicted a fortnight before Christmas because the Department for Work and Pensions stopped her benefits when she failed to attend a “fitness for work” test she had not been told about. Jacqui Madonia was left “in despair” as she was told to survive

Benefits and Poverty

October 12, 2017 0

Concerns over criteria for ‘fitness for work’ reassessment exemptions

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Disabled campaigners have criticised new Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rules that explain which benefit claimants will no longer have to be repeatedly put through the much-criticised “fitness for work” test. DWP announced last month, on the eve of the Conservative party conference in Manchester, that some claimants in the support group of

Benefits and Poverty

Ellen Clifford speaking into a microphone, watched by three other panel members

October 5, 2017 0

Tory conference: Silence on eligibility means WCA announcement is ‘meaningless’

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Changes that mean some sick and disabled benefit claimants will no longer need to face repeated assessments of their capability for work are “meaningless” because the government has refused to say which people will be affected, say campaigners. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced last week, on the eve of the Conservative

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