More evidence emerges of lives ruined by private contractor Atos, as MPs issue a devastating attack on the government for handing them new disability contracts despite their failure on work capability assessments
A cynic might suggest that simplistic figures such as these are designed to shock - but an independent report carried out by occupational physician Dr Paul Litchfield has highlighted concerns about the way in
which work capability assessments - instrumental in decisions about employment and support allowance - are taking place.
More evidence emerged of lives ruined by private contractor Atos today, as MPs issued a devastating attack on the government for awarding them new disability contracts despite their failure
on work capability assessments.
The green paper also looked at reforms to
work capability assessments, which people must go through to claim Employment and Support Allowance and have been dubbed «fit for work» tests.
Officials said
the work capability assessment, which determines whether someone is fit for work, has already been substantially improved.
The shock plans for «simplifying»
the work capability assessment, drawn up by a DWP working group, include docking points from amputees who can lift and carry with their stumps.
With 1.5 million incapacity benefit claimants waiting to be assessed using
the work capability assessment in the next few years and tens of thousands of people already on ESA and set to be reviewed annually, these changes will be of great concern to many voters — if they find out about them before polling day.
Addressing the People's Assembly Against Austerity march on 16 April, McDonnell said a Labour government will end austerity and `... halt the privatisation of our NHS...», `... build hundreds of thousands of council homes...» and `... scrap
the work capability assessment...».
It also handed the assessment contract to Atos, which had been widely criticised for the way it handled
the work capabilities assessments.
It must energise and enthuse the membership, give them (and even activists outside the party, trade unionists, and those campaigning against NHS cuts, bedroom taxes,
work capability assessments, tax avoidance and the rest) a sense of ownership, recognition that they are being heard.
Under the new system, the applicant will take
the work capability assessment after filing a claim to determine the support necessary to get back into the workforce.
Having just finished trails in Burnley and Aberdeen,
the work capability assessment (WCA) will be rolled out nationally.