Well, the poor are getting another bashing. IDS argues ‘get on the bus’ as this magical mystery tour will land you to magical job. Erm no, read this instead as it exposes the realities of IDS’s reactionary guff.
Three-quarters of people applying for a new benefits programme have been found fit to work, or withdrew their application before having a medical assessment, it has been revealed.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said the figures emphasised the importance of getting people into work if they were fit and able to do so.
A total of 842,100 people applied for the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) programme from October 2008 until February this year, the DWP found. Of that number, 331,100 were fit to work, with a further 307,200 people’s claims being closed before the assessment was completed.
Employment minister Chris Grayling said: “With over two million people trapped on incapacity benefits, these figures underline how important it is that we make sure everyone who has the potential to work gets the right help to move off benefits and into a job.
“However, I am determined that we get the medical assessment right, which is why Professor Malcolm Harrington is undertaking an independent review in consultation with a number of charities representing disabled people and those with mental health issues.
What Grayling is doing is classic divide and rule, pointing the finger of blame to people on ESA. This further demonises and vilifies by throwing myths, distortions and lies into the public domain, and this crap sticks in the public psyche. The Work Capability Assessment is harder to satisfy than the Personal Capability Assessment . However we do not know what percentage of appeals against decisions that people are fit for work under the Work Capability Assessment will end up being successful.
There is anecdotal evidence that the examining medical practitioners who assess people are taking the hint that people should be found fit for work come what may. If this is so you can expect a high percentage of appeals to be successful.
Also as the initial amount of ESA is the same as JSA it maybe that people do not particularly notice the difference. The requirement for a medical certificate is replaced by a requirement for a fortnightly signing on. For a lot of people this may not seem much different as they may be unaware that they are missing out on £25.50 extra each week. Also sooner or later on JSA the Jobcentre will want to know what you are doing to look for work…you are after all fit for work…or so they will say.
Finally, let’s face it these medical assessments are not about what is best suited to the individual based on clinical judgement it is driven by government policy and ideology.
The reason 75% of people on the former Incapacity Benefit are found fit for work is because the new test is too easy to pass! An example of what I mean is the case of a quadriplegic man who had no use of his legs (wheelchair bound) and little control over his bowels and bladder (having to wear a catheter and bag to catch his urine) who was told he was fit for work because he could see, speak, use a computer keyboard and a telephone and therefore could get employment in a call centre or similar! This gentleman lived in Wales and the fact that no call centre existed within fifty miles of his address – let alone a call centre that would offer him a position! – seemed not to matter one whit to the powers that be. Nor did they care that he couldn’t drive, did not own a car, and so had no possible means to travel to work on a daily basis even if it was only a mile or two away; I suppose they considered it reasonable that he wheel himself to work and back in all weathers because in the new scheme of things the wheels of a wheelchair are virtually equivalent to a pair of good legs.
If this goes on even the dying and the dead will be passed as fit for work.
It also shows that Labour must start taking a tougher line against the Tories on this – Alan Johnson despicably endorsed most of it after the CSR statement.
Why does Osborne think he is going to save money by kicking people onto JSA? If I end up having to go to the Job centre, I’m going to need a sign language interpreter. These cost a little more than £25.
What I find incredible is that the position of the ‘doctors’ who are employed to carry out these ‘tests’. What possible excuse can they have? Are they really unable to find a job where they would be curing/caring for people? The only conclusion to draw is that they are either incompetent or they are scum. The mere fact of attending such appointments with the attendant stress will lead many people with Mental Health issues to either deepen existing conditions or to suffer relapses. There will be despair, destitution and, yes, deaths as a result of these policies (which we do have to remember were initiated under Labour though I appreciate they are being extended by the Tories).
The reason 75% of people on the former Incapacity Benefit are found fit for work is because the new test is too easy to pass! An example of what I mean is the case of a quadriplegic man who had no use of his legs (wheelchair bound) and little control over his bowels and bladder (having to wear a catheter and bag to catch his urine) who was told he was fit for work because he could see, speak, use a computer keyboard and a telephone and therefore could get employment in a call centre or similar! This gentleman lived in Wales and the fact that no call centre existed within fifty miles of his address – let alone a call centre that would offer him a position! – seemed not to matter one whit to the powers that be. Nor did they care that he couldn’t drive, did not own a car, and so had no possible means to travel to work on a daily basis even if it was only a mile or two away; I suppose they considered it reasonable that he wheel himself to work and back in all weathers because in the new scheme of things the wheels of a wheelchair are virtually equivalent to a pair of good legs.
If this goes on even the dying and the dead will be passed as fit for work.
Awful.
Hi Louise, have you seen this polling on welfare post-CSR – incredible differences between parties’ voters: http://www6.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2010/10/27/is-welfare-the-new-political-divide/
It also shows that Labour must start taking a tougher line against the Tories on this – Alan Johnson despicably endorsed most of it after the CSR statement.
Why does Osborne think he is going to save money by kicking people onto JSA? If I end up having to go to the Job centre, I’m going to need a sign language interpreter. These cost a little more than £25.
What I find incredible is that the position of the ‘doctors’ who are employed to carry out these ‘tests’. What possible excuse can they have? Are they really unable to find a job where they would be curing/caring for people? The only conclusion to draw is that they are either incompetent or they are scum. The mere fact of attending such appointments with the attendant stress will lead many people with Mental Health issues to either deepen existing conditions or to suffer relapses. There will be despair, destitution and, yes, deaths as a result of these policies (which we do have to remember were initiated under Labour though I appreciate they are being extended by the Tories).