Burnley campaigners call for review of work capability tests (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Burnley campaigners call for review of work capability tests
12:00pm Monday 6th February 2012 in Burnley
CAMPAIGNERS in Burnley have called on the Government to review its work capability tests after concerns people with mental health problems were having their benefits cut.
The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) was piloted in Burnley and Aberdeen and is now used to decide if people are capable of working, or should receive Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
But people in the town living with mental illness who have undergone the test said it was not taking properly taking into account their illness, and was cutting off their benefits.
Last week Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle and local campaigners from mental health charity, Rethink Mental Illness, met Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, to press their concerns.
Mr Birtwistle said: “I have taken on the cases of a number of my constituents as it was clear the assessment wasn't working for many people with an enduring mental illness.
“We will all encounter mental illness in our lives - either personally, or in relatives or friends. We need to have confidence that the work capability assessment is fit for purpose for everyone - and that it properly assesses mental illness and the impact it has on people's lives.”
Valerie Minns, who runs a carers group for Rethink Mental Illness in Lancashire, said: “People in Burnley living with mental illnesses like schizophrenia were coming to me very worried about not receiving ESA as a result of the assessment, which doesn’t properly take into account their illness and how it affects their lives.
“It’s vital that the Government is aware of the impact these decisions will have in the long-term. If people are forced to seek work before they are well enough through fear of poverty, it’s likely to reduce the chances of them staying in work long-term.”
Mr Alexander will be raising the issue of how the assessments are carried out for people affected by mental illness with Cabinet colleagues.
Comments(14)
BurnleyPeter
says...
12:45pm Mon 6 Feb 12
RAyzer
says...
1:15pm Mon 6 Feb 12
RAyzer
says...
1:16pm Mon 6 Feb 12
madari
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1:26pm Mon 6 Feb 12
RAyzer wrote:Madari the snake charmer says:
notice how its CERTAIN TOWNS??? noticeably ones with either obese or drug users in high numbers and ones with high BMW drivers......FACT!
You will find these people widely distributed throughout the Uk.
They have around 6 children per swarm.
walk round in their pyjamas and live off the tax payer.
And at night drive taxis when almost all the taxpayers are in bed.
they get away with almost everything by claiming `me no mean to work whilst on benefits.
The simple me no understand english rule takes care of everything.
Interocitor
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2:00pm Mon 6 Feb 12
The tests should be halted ASAP and new ones drawn up that aren't designed to make the genuinely ill and disabled fail (trapping them into a Kafkaesque nightmare) while making millions for the private companies who do the assessing.
Burnleyboy38
says...
3:43pm Mon 6 Feb 12
RAyzer wrote:n ASIAN !!!!!!!!! DONT 4get that
notice how its CERTAIN TOWNS??? noticeably ones with either obese or drug users in high numbers and ones with high BMW drivers......FACT!
frank
says...
4:26pm Mon 6 Feb 12
Interocitor wrote:exactly, they're just making the vulnerable worse whilst those with the know how will still get away with it.
From what I've read, these tests aren't fit for purpose and they will cost us more money in the long run.
The tests should be halted ASAP and new ones drawn up that aren't designed to make the genuinely ill and disabled fail (trapping them into a Kafkaesque nightmare) while making millions for the private companies who do the assessing.
what they don't tell you is that when you're moved to the new esa benefit you don't get the benefit increase for this year.
living the end times in BB1
says...
6:52pm Mon 6 Feb 12
frank wrote:Treating people like they are
Interocitor wrote:exactly, they're just making the vulnerable worse whilst those with the know how will still get away with it.
From what I've read, these tests aren't fit for purpose and they will cost us more money in the long run.
The tests should be halted ASAP and new ones drawn up that aren't designed to make the genuinely ill and disabled fail (trapping them into a Kafkaesque nightmare) while making millions for the private companies who do the assessing.
what they don't tell you is that when you're moved to the new esa benefit you don't get the benefit increase for this year.
microorganisms in a laboratory test tube must be great fun. Especially when you get a bonus for spotting the ones that are not quite as disfunctional as they have been making out to be.Top laugh.
Heretical
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8:15pm Mon 6 Feb 12
It will be very interesting to see what the 'everyone who is sick is cheating the system' brigade have to say when they see that the reforms are going to hugely impact the working population in a big way.This Bill is NOT and never has been just aimed at unemployment and the sick....it's just the 'call me Dave...multi millionaire DLA claimer' has not advertised it that way.
By the way...don't get ill,don't get old and don't lose your job.
Cha'mone MF
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7:10am Tue 7 Feb 12
RAyzer wrote:I usually find that if you put clothes on when you get up on a Monday morning (or any other morning for that matter) then you don't stay cold for long.
stress???getting up on a cold monday morning is stressfull to most of us.....sick of skivers!!!they didnt have so much stress 20 year ago did they???when people had pride and actually wanted to work..... mental health???half of them play on it and thats a fact....
If what you claim is "FACT" then let's see your evidence to substantiate it ?
Cha'mone MF
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7:13am Tue 7 Feb 12
Burnleyboy38 wrote:I'm surprised you're not kicking off about this Burnleyboy, after all with your mental illness it will seriously effect your benefit claims won't it ?
RAyzer wrote:n ASIAN !!!!!!!!! DONT 4get that
notice how its CERTAIN TOWNS??? noticeably ones with either obese or drug users in high numbers and ones with high BMW drivers......FACT!
Commenting
says...
1:10pm Tue 7 Feb 12
The health professionals who carry out the assessments spend up to 40 minutes with each client whereas many people who visit their doctor for a medical certificate will only spend a few minutes with their GP. Some certificates are even requested by phone with no visit to the GP.
Who therefore is the most competent to assess whether they are fit for work?
Between_the_lions
says...
1:54pm Tue 7 Feb 12
Commenting wrote:The tests are carried out by a trained person, this does not mean Health Professionals. I believe one company is called Atos, who are paid to reduce the number of claimants. So if there results were that most were incapable of work would they continue to receive a contract? I doubt it, so it's kick as many off as possible and let them appeal.
Anybody who is genuinely disabled and undergoes the WCA will be recognised as such and will not lose any benefits. In certain cases they will even receive an increase in benefits.
The health professionals who carry out the assessments spend up to 40 minutes with each client whereas many people who visit their doctor for a medical certificate will only spend a few minutes with their GP. Some certificates are even requested by phone with no visit to the GP.
Who therefore is the most competent to assess whether they are fit for work?
On a personal note, I love love them to kick all the cheating scumbags off benefits. How the hell are all these young ones getting DLA? Is mental heath the new bad back?
frank says...
12:37pm Mon 6 Feb 12
i know i went through one. one day they said i had to attend a 'medical' the next they said i didn't. they claimed that it was a letter they had just recieved from my doctor saying that i couldnb't use public transport and needed a taxi that changed their mind.
this was a complete lie as all my forms, medical reports(paid for by myself) and the letter from my doctor ( a two hour bust trip was not possible due to my illness) were all in the same envelope.
the company carrying out theses tests are not fit to do so.