Drop in number of claimants put in ESA support group suggest tightening of DWP financial targets
[Image: Black Triangle Campaign]
If there were any doubts that assessors are target-driven, this evidence should lay them to rest. The trouble is, such cavalier behaviour towards the health of UK citizens will undoubtedly send many of them to an eternal rest, also.
“Very disturbing” new government figures show a steep fall in the proportion of disabled people being found eligible for out-of-work disability benefits.
Disabled campaigners fear the figures show the government is cutting spending on disability benefits “below the radar”, after being forced to abandon its attempts to reduce expenditure on personal independence payment (PIP) in April.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) statistics, released this week, show the proportion of disabled people applying for employment and support allowance (ESA) who were placed in the support group – for those with the highest barriers to work – plunged by 42 per cent in just three months.
For assessments completed during November 2015, 57 per cent of claimants were placed in the support group; but by February 2016 that had dropped by 24 percentage points to just 33 per cent.
During the same period, the proportion of applicants found “fit for work” – and therefore ineligible for ESA – rose from 35 to 49 per cent, while those placed in the work-related activity group (WRAG) increased from 8 to 17 per cent.
Fresh cuts to disability benefits spending will see a loss of nearly £30 a week for new ESA claimants placed in the WRAG from April 2017.
Source: ESA figures show ‘very disturbing’ drop in number placed in support group
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all part of their culling of the stock through benefits denial
Downgrading claimants from ESA Support to WRAG saves the Government £25 a week.
Subsequently transferring the claim to Universal Credit makes it a new claim so it comes under the new reduced rate from 1st April, saving the Government a further £30.
This leaves the claimant just as disabled and vulnerable but £50 a week worse off with no support, only harassment til death – hardly a fair system.
Then they have the audacity to call it support and “not about the money”.
Another way of denying and hammering mentally and physically ill people who need to be in the right section of help!