Government should act on work capability assessments ruling, says TUC

date: 22 May 2013

embargo: For immediate release

The TUC has today (Wednesday) welcomed a legal judgement which has ruled that the government's work capability assessments (which are used to work out whether people are eligible for certain benefits) hugely disadvantage people with mental health problems and learning difficulties.

Commenting on the decision - which follows a case brought by two un-named individuals - TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:

'Rather than waste time appealing against the decision and causing individuals yet more distress and anxiety, the Department for Work and Pensions should instead concentrate on improving its procedures.

'If work capability assessments are to be fair and no longer discriminate against people with a mental illness or learning disability, all the relevant medical evidence must be sourced before a decision is taken about whether someone is eligible for employment and support allowance.

'Changes must be made to the assessments now, otherwise anyone who struggles to collect together the necessary material to support their case will continue to be assessed incorrectly and wrongly denied the support they need.'

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