'Fit for work' test changes due as new minister quizzed on deaths

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Central Government, Legal, Local Government, Tenure

Critics of the Government's work capability assessments (WCA) - which sees private firm Atos administer the medical side of the 'fit for work' tests - wasted no time in grilling new employment minister Mark Hoban about the urgent need for reform.

The tests - and the Government's contract with Atos - came under close scrutiny in Westminster Hall last week in a debate called by Labour MP Tom Greatrex.

He urged the Government to get tough with Atos and revealed that the cost of appeals relating to the WCA was nearly 50% of the total yearly value of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) contract with the French firm.

Chilling cases provided by MPs revealed that people with motor neurone disease, serious heart disease and even somebody with a broken back had been passed fit for work.

In one case, the shadow housing minster and Erdington MP, Jack Dromey, revealed that a constituent who had contracted serious heart disease died weeks after being found fit for work.

In the commons yesterday, Labour MP for Bolton West, Julie Hilling, quizzed Mark Hoban – who took over as employment minister from Chris Grayling in the Government’s reshuffle - on the number of people who have died from their illness or disability since losing their disability benefits and how many had committed suicide. "The Atos work capability assessment is deeply flawed," she said.

Mr Hoban said the Coalition inherited the WCA from the previous Government.

He said: “Through the work of Professor Harrington, we have sought to introduce a series of reviews to improve the assessment’s functioning, and we will announce further changes shortly. We want to get this right, and are prepared to listen and learn from the work of Professor Harrington and not leave the system unchanged.”

The DWP says it’s now receiving feedback on tribunal outcomes where disability benefit claimants – assessed as fit for work by Government assessors – have successfully appealed their decision.