One in four incapacity benefit claimants in county judged fit for work
MORE than one in four people in Gloucestershire whose claims for incapacity benefit have been reassessed are fit for work, official figures reveal.
Of the 2,970 claimants in the county to have their reviews completed for the new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) between October 2010 and February this year, 830 would lose the benefit and be expected to seek employment.
The Department for Work and Pensions said they will get help through Jobcentre Plus and the Work Programme.
They would still be able to claim Jobseeker's Allowance if they remained unemployed.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
However, the assessment process has been controversial, with critics claiming many people subjected to it are wrongly classed as fit to work.
Meanwhile 2,150 (73 per cent) will be eligible for ESA, of which 800 (27 per cent) have been placed in the support group where they get unconditional support as they are too ill or disabled to work.
A further 1,350 (46 per cent) were put in the Work Related Activity Group, meaning they are currently too ill or disabled to work and entitled to the benefit, but will be expected to take steps towards an eventual return to work.
The number and proportion of claimants found fit to work across Gloucestershire were: Cheltenham 170 (28 per cent); Cotswold 60 (22 per cent); Forest of Dean 150 (32 per cent); Gloucester 230 (30 per cent); Stroud 140 (27 per cent); and Tewkesbury 80 (25 per cent).
Employment minister Mark Hoban said: "The old incapacity benefit system condemned too many people to a life on benefits without any hope of ever going back to work. This was simply wrong.
"I am under no illusion, however, that many face a difficult journey back into employment and we know this may take time. But for those who aspire to a life off benefits, the intensive support should be available through Jobcentre Plus and the Work Programme to give them the best chance of finding a job."
Former soldier Lee Morris started a cycle hire shop in Stonehouse when a disability forced him to leave the Army.
He said for him, it was easier to work than claim incapacity benefit. He has Friedrichs Ataxia which affects his speech, co-ordination and balance, and claims Disability Living Allowance. "My balance is worse at some times than others, and it depends on which day it is assessed," he said.
Comments
by LucyP_43
Sunday, November 11 2012, 1:55PM
“To Thenub.This story isnt about "benefit fiddling maggots" its about a unfair assessment thats failing the disabled and sick and if youre so sure your neighbour is cheating the system then flipping well report him!!!!”
by EllJay1
Sunday, November 11 2012, 1:51PM
“TheNub - please report your neighbour to the appropriate authority. It would help if you supplied video from your mobile phone as evidence.”
by TheNub
Sunday, November 11 2012, 12:19PM
“i have one of these benefit fiddling maggots living next to me . when he is in the street or his back garden there is no sign of a limp. .but when he is up town he limps along with a walking stick which his ex wife used to use to fiddle benefits . when she left him she left it as a parting gift .im not against genuine people getting what they are entitled to .its just these fiddling maggots that need sorting asap .”
by Takeaway22
Saturday, November 10 2012, 6:06PM
“Beekeeper - You've quoted tax evasion. How much has tax AVOIDANCE cost? Tax avoidance is legal in the business sense. Morally and ethically, it is corrupt.”
by Beekeeper
Saturday, November 10 2012, 4:25PM
“Tax evasion costs the Treasury £15.2 billion a year in lost revenue, while benefit fraud costs £1.1 billion. Time to get our priorities right.”
by Glos_Lad34
Saturday, November 10 2012, 4:08PM
“My Dad was in a accident and couldn't walk for months a few years back and after he had metal in him when he applied for incapacity benefit the Job Centre said he was fit for work even though at the time he could hardly walk and just came out of hospital like 2-3 weeks before.”
by MissyMadDog
Saturday, November 10 2012, 3:44PM
“It's all very well for The Daily Mail to print an article like that now eyeopener, but they've played their part in the bashing of sick and disabled, with headlines like '99% of Incapacity claimants are fit to work', which is simply untrue and has been proven so. The Mail, Express, The Sun, Telegraph, have all printed endless stories about 'scroungers' in the last few years, most of which have been far from true. They're only assissting the government with their agenda and they're fully aware of what's happening on the ground with Atos.
SandraPee, as from next April, specialist welfare support will not be available, so there will be no help at all for those who want to appeal. All part of the agenda...”
by taylke
Saturday, November 10 2012, 2:58PM
“Sandrapee said "If the able bodied unemployed struggle to find a employment surely those with disabilities have little chance of finding work ?"
It is certainly a difficult environment for anybody seeking work and much more so for those with any disability. That doesn't change the fact that many disabilities do not directly affect the individual's ability to work. That is different to saying it doesn't affect the individuals ability to find work.
Having a disability in and of itself does not mean that the individual should automatically be considered to be incapacitated and therefore incapable of work. A friend of mine spent several years in a wheelchair but still worked full time. The important thing is that any system safeguards those who genuinely can't work but weeds out those who are perfectly capable of working but prefer to sit back and take state handouts.
The problem is that the current system seems to be failing in the former area.”
by eyeopener
Saturday, November 10 2012, 2:41PM
“Daily Mail 8th November 2012
'Double heart bypass patient in post-operative intensive care is sent Government letter ordering him back to work'
A heart patient was told he was fit for work - just a day after a double heart bypass operation.
Danny Shurmer, 60, received the letter from a healthcare firm working on behalf of the Government as he recovered in the intensive care unit of Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital.
His is one of a number of cases in which sick and disabled people have been ordered back to work under the Government's controversial Work Capability Assessment.
Mr Shurmer said: 'I was in intensive care when my daughter came in with the letter. I was shocked. Even the consultant could not believe it.'
http://tinyurl.com/c25sss6
ATOS are obviously out of control, but what of the caoalition government? Even if their own department fail to provide the truth, don't they read newspapers?
The system is a sham that picks on the disabled to reduce their benefits, and not helping those with disabilities into work.”
by wildman
Saturday, November 10 2012, 1:59PM
“its nothing new trying to say genuine sick/disabled are fit enough to work, I suffer from mental health problems, I was called in for a routine check up, for some reason they totally ignored the mental problems but gave me points for a physical disability (which I don't have) not enough for Incapacity benefit, so I lost my benefit,I had to go to the job center, explain why I wasnt going to look for work and explained I need a carer wtih me all the time, he was very helpfull and I won the incapacity benefit back on appeal, now thats gone been replaced with the ESA, I shall wait and see what they say this time.
I am all for the re-assessing people only if its done corectly and not forcing the genuine claiments to work.”