Work Capability Assessment Figures

We welcome the publication of today’s report, and the opportunity to see the true picture of the failure rate of the Work Capability Assessment.

According to DWP, only 16% of those who applied for ESA between October 2008 and February 2009 were found to be eligible for it. We are concerned that these statistics demonstrate that thousands of people with health problems and disabilities are being let down by a flawed assessment process.

Government should not laud these figures as a triumph, but regard them as a concerning indicator that the Work Capability Assessment is simply not working. We know from experience that many of the people moving moved on to JSA desperately want to work, but are some distance from being job-ready because of a lingering health problem or disability.

We believe that it is wrong to regard qualification for ESA as certification of being ‘unfit for work’. Rather than being a means of signing people off sick and providing them with a reason not to work, access to ESA provides many clients with an employment lifeline – the extra support that they need to make employment a reality.
The Work Capability Assessment is in danger of becoming a barrier to employment in its own right, and we believe that this is something that the Government should be very concerned by, particularly as the labour market recovers from the effects of the recession.

We call on Government to launch an urgent, independent review of the Work Capability Assessment to ensure that it is fit for purpose.

ends

Notes to editors:

1. For further details, please contact Shaw Trust ‘s Head of Public Affairs, Carli Harper-Penman on 01225 716 300 or 07725 307 988.

2. Shaw Trust is a national charity, formed in 1982, which helps people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels. Across the UK around 1,400 staff now oversee a diverse range of more than 200 projects.

3. If you would like to support the work that Shaw Trust does to help disabled and disadvantaged people find work and achieve independence please visit our website

 Back to Press Releases