work capability assessment

Benefits and Poverty

August 28, 2015

39

IDS announces ‘fitness for work’ U-turn that was five years in the making

Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith appears set to scrap the “fitness for work” test championed by successive Labour, coalition and Conservative governments, but there are fears that its replacement could prove even more damaging to disabled people. Duncan Smith (pictured) – in comments not included in a written version of a speech

Benefits and Poverty

A wheelchair-user sits in front of a stage, while the grass is covered by white flowers

August 28, 2015

2

Long-awaited deaths stats ‘do not tell the whole story’

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The long-delayed release of government figures on the deaths of benefit claimants has added fuel to years of concerns about the impact of aggressive welfare reform on sick and disabled people. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) released two sets of data today (Thursday), one showing mortality statistics for out-of-work disability benefit claimants,

Benefits and Poverty

August 21, 2015

39

New claims of Atos assessment lies are ‘tip of a massive iceberg’

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New evidence proves that the controversial outsourcing contractor Atos should be stripped of all of its disability benefit assessment contracts, say disabled campaigners. Fresh concerns about the behaviour of Atos and its assessors emerged after Disability News Service (DNS) revealed last week how an Atos nurse repeatedly lied about a disabled man he was

Benefits and Poverty

Sign at entrance to Department for Work and Pensions

March 20, 2015

3

Report finds evidence to back ‘real world’ alternative to ‘toxic’ WCA

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A new report has called for the “toxic” work capability assessment (WCA) to be scrapped and replaced with something that paints a more realistic picture of the barriers disabled people face in society. The Rethinking the Work Capability Assessment report, by academics at the Universities of Kent and Durham, argues that the next government

Activism and Campaigning

An MHRN supporter outside the Royal Courts of Justice with a banner that says 'Is there justice or just us?'

March 13, 2015

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Activist felt ‘violated’ after judge used Google to compile dossier

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A disabled activist has described feeling “violated” after she learned a judge had compiled a dossier of evidence about her community and campaigning work while assessing whether the government’s “fitness for work” test posed a risk to her health. DM was one of two people – neither of whom can be named – who

Benefits and Poverty

January 16, 2015 0

Former WCA boss free to advise Maximus on ‘fitness for work’ test within weeks

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The senior civil servant previously responsible for government policy on the notorious “fitness for work” test could start offering advice on the same issue to his new private sector bosses within weeks. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) suggested last week that Bill Gunnyeon would not be able to carry out any work

Benefits and Poverty

November 21, 2014 0

Disabled peer warns DWP that tighter benefit rules could cause more deaths

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A disabled peer has warned her own government that tightening social security rules even further could lead to more deaths of benefit claimants, days after Disability News Service (DNS) revealed there had been 60 secret reviews into such tragedies. Last week’s DNS story – that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had carried

Benefits and Poverty

October 31, 2014 0

ESA claimants set for leap ‘from frying-pan into fire’ as Maximus wins WCA contract

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The government has sparked fury after appointing a US company with a lengthy record of discrimination, incompetence and alleged fraud to take over delivery of its controversial “fitness for work” tests from the much-criticised Atos Healthcare. Disability News Service (DNS) revealed two weeks ago that Maximus was in prime position to win the three-and-a-half-year

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