Tougher Medical Tests For Disability Claimants

Sick and disabled people are to face a tougher new medical test in order to qualify for disability benefits, from next year.

The new Work Capability Assessment will be introduced in October 2008, alongside the new Employment and Support Allowance and will be applicable for all those people claiming the new allowance.

It will replace the current Personal Capability Assessment, which is geared towards assessing a person's physical disability. The new test will be based around assessing people's incapability for work.

The new test will examine people's physical and mental ability, such as learning disabilities and other similar conditions. Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain said that the test will focus on what individuals can do, rather than what they cannot do.

For example, in the new test, people will no longer be able to score points because they were unable to walk more than 400 metres. Instead, the new test will look at things such as a person's ability to use a computer keyboard or a mouse, because this type of task would likely be needed in the workplace.

Mr Hain said that the new test would be "more robust, accurate and fairer". He also said that 50% of those who take the assessment would not pass it.

Mr Hain said: "We know that many people want to work - work is good for you and your long-term well-being and we don't think it's right that in the past people were effectively written off. We want to work with people to get them back into jobs and help them stay there.

"Currently, there are many people sitting at home in the belief that they are unemployable, with no life choices or long-prospects because they do not think their illness or medical conditions can be catered for in the workplace. But this is just not the case - many people with such conditions are perfectly able to take up successful careers, if the right support is in place.

"That is why I have introduced the new assessment - it will not only accurately identify a person's physical and mental ability, it will offer advice on the type of help and support a person may need so that they can find sustainable work. But those who still qualify for the Employment and Support Allowance following the new assessment will benefit from more help and more support than ever before."

However, Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokeperson Danny Alexander said: "This new assessment method is an improvement in some ways, though there are still real worries about whether it properly takes into account the effects of mental health conditions.

"Since Gordon Brown became Prime Minister, the government has abandoned serious welfare reform and now seems to be returning to the old rhetoric of demonising disabled people.

"After 10 years of this government, it is utterly shameful that there are still 2.7 million people on incapacity benefit when half of those people say they want to work.

"If Labour was serious about helping people back into work, it would have embraced David Freud's reforms. We need a much simpler benefits system and more investment with support tailored to the needs of individuals.

"Radical change is needed - but this government is clearly incapable of delivering it."

There are currently 2.64 million working age people claiming incapacity benefits, which cost the country nearly £12.5 billion in 2006.07.

(KMcA)