Incapacity benefit crackdown begins

The following details have been supplied by the TUC:

Unions and disability groups have warned a nationwide crackdown on incapacity benefit claimants will leave vulnerable people in danger. The one-and-a-half million people who claim incapacity benefit started to receive letters this week requiring them to be tested on their ability to work. The new assessments, which we take place at a rate of 10,000 every week, are part of government plans to reduce the number of long-term claimants in a rolling programme through to 2014. Those deemed unable to work because of sickness or disability will be entitled to the highest rate of employment and support allowance (ESA), and will not be expected to look for work. A middle section - those who have been long-term unemployed but judged capable of doing some form of work - will receive benefits, but be placed in a 'work-related activity group'. The remainder would lose disability-related benefits. Unions and campaigners have warned repeatedly the work capability assessments (WCA) on which decisions are made are rushed and flawed. STUC general secretary Grahame Smith said: 'The government is pushing ahead with plans to subject tens of thousands of people to work capability assessments, a process that is deeply flawed, is operated in draconian fashion and places many thousands of vulnerable people in danger.' These concerns were echoed by disability groups. Richard Hawkes, chief executive of Scope, commented: 'The government's fitness for work test provides no information on the barriers that prevent individuals' moving into work, making it highly likely that they end up on the wrong benefit and unable to access to help they need. The high number of successful appeals against WCA decisions further underlines its inadequacy.'