Sick and dying are told they are fit for work
Sick and dying are told they are fit for work
The revised system for assessing whether or not the sick and disabled are capable of working is flawed and is wrongly finding seriously ill people fit for work, according to Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) research. Its report, 'Not working - CAB evidence on the ESA Work Capability Assessment', found people with advanced Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis, or with severe mental illness, or awaiting open heart surgery have been registered as fit to work. The Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) was introduced in October 2008 to replace Incapacity Benefit. A revised fitness for work test was introduced at the same time for all new claimants, based on a principle of looking at what people can do rather than what they cannot do. However, Citizens Advice found that the assessment has often been inaccurate and was not sufficiently sensitive to 'the complexities of many illnesses and disabilities.' According to the report: 'People with serious illnesses and disabilities who could not reasonably be expected to work are being found fit for work.' It adds: 'Many of these people are too ill to sign on, or are not eligible for any other benefit, and so are left with reduced incomes and no help or support to find work.' David Harker, chief executive at Citizens Advice, said the system wasn't working. 'Seriously ill and disabled people are being severely let down by the crude approach of the Work Capability Assessment. A much more sophisticated approach is needed, that not only looks at a person's ability to undertake a certain task on the day of the test, but considers supporting medical evidence and other aspects, such as the variability of a person's condition and the external barriers they face in finding work,' he said. 'Citizens Advice calls on the government to address the problems outlined in the report, which are causing hardship to seriously ill people at a time when they most need support.'
CAB news release and full report, Not working - CAB evidence on the ESA Work Capability Assessment. The Guardian. Personnel Today.
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