Prepare for Change
The Move to Employment Support Allowance ESA

People presently on incapacity benefit will be assessed within the
next 3 years to move on to Employment Support Allowance.
In 2008 Employment and Support Allowance ESA, was introduced for
new claimants focusing on what people can do rather than what they
can’t do. The Westminster government is now focussing on people
already on incapacity benefit with the first letters to assess people for
capability to work going out on Monday 4th April.
10,000 claimants every week in the UK will be reassessed using the Work
Capability Assessment (WCA). This process will continue until March 2014 by
which time everyone who is on incapacity benefit will have been assessed.
The WCA includes a self assessment health questionnaire and an
independent medical assessment. Main concerns over this process
include; people either underestimate or over-estimate their condition
and lack detail of how they are affected when filling in the assessment
form. Also people not opening their mail and/or being poorly informed
about what the changes in the system.
The medical assessment has been criticised for its poor reporting and
lack of insight into mental illness.
The three decisions that can be made following the assessment is that
you are Fit for Work and not entitled to ESA ( formerly incapacity benefit),
have limited capability for work-related activity and will be placed in the
work-related activity group whilst continuing to receive your benefit or
thirdly have limited capability for work-related activity and you will be
placed in the support group and also continue to receive your benefit.
Preparing for Change
Many people are extremely anxious about these changes but it is
important to be aware that there are things you can do to prevent your
concerns growing worse.
Being prepared by having the facts in front of you can be one of the most
useful things you can do. Don’t avoid the issue. If you are worried speak
to your family or support workers. They should know what is happening
too during this change in the benefits system. Many do not know.
PLUS held a meeting last month - ‘The Impact of Benefit Changes’ and
found at the end of the workshop people felt more positive because they
knew what was happening and felt more in control. The speaker Chris
Whyte is a reliable contact for subsequent updating on new information
Getting the correct information out to carers and workers is very
important too so they can support the individual through the process.
We also intend to lobby the services to upskill their staff in this area so, at
the very least, they know the main facts.
PLUS will as a priority, update people on what is happening in a regular column
in the newsletter. Members can also join us at PLUS events or workshops to
find out info specifically around the welfare benefits changes.
It may also be useful at this stage to:
• look at how you illness affects daily life and your ability to work
• consider how the new mental health descriptors might apply to you.
(the descriptors are in the assessment form which PLUS intends to get
a copy of for circulation)
• consider who is the best person to help you complete forms
• think about who might be able to provide additional evidence to help
your claim
• think about whether you would be able to do some part time work,
how would this affect your health, find out how this would affect your
finances; and what support might be available.
Campaigning
Earlier this year mental health organisations across Scotland provided
evidence of problems with the Work Capability Assessment
Following this the government have promised to:-
• If a claimant appeals an ESA decision, the DWP will ring them to
discuss their claim
• improve the decision making process
• improve the information about the assessment process
• ensure Atos (the assessor) has greater expertise in mental, cognitive
and intellectual conditions
• review the mental, intellectual and cognitive descriptors and a revised
set of descriptors will be introduced from March 2011
PLUS are setting up a meeting with Pete Wishart MP later this month in
order to articulate the concerns that people have around this huge issue.
Please put any views forward that you may have as soon as possible. We
may not be able to change the decision to stop this happening but we can
contribute to making sure it is fairly done and takes into account practical
considerations which may have been overlooked in the planning stage.