The DWP very quietly published a series of damning disability benefits related reports at 4pm on Friday 2 May, on the eve of a bank holiday.
The reports show, amongst other things that:
additional work coach support makes almost no difference to disabled claimants’ employment prospects, in spite of being one of the main tools for getting people into work set out in the Pathways To Work Green Paper;
Employment and Health Discussions also make almost no difference to disabled claimants, in spite of being another of the pillars of the Pathways To Work Green Paper employment drive;
few claimants find out about PIP from the media or social media, undermining the claim that “sickfluencers” are at the heart of a rise in PIP claims.
When he became disability minister, Stephen Timms claimed that he would create a new era of transparency at the DWP, as part of an effort to restore trust in the organisation.
Yet his department deliberately buried reports that cast enormous doubt on the two main tools to be used to move claimants, who have had their benefits cut or stopped, into work.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is under scrutiny for its treatment of disabled people and its alleged failure to make reasonable adjustments. The EHRC (Equality and Human Rights Commission) is investigating whether the DWP has violated the Equality Act 2010. Claims of discrimination and inadequate support have been raised regarding assessments for disability benefits, particularly “fit for work” tests. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has also investigated cases where individuals missed out on benefits due to DWP errors, causing financial hardship and distress.
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EHRC Investigation:
The EHRC has initiated a formal investigation into the DWP, focusing on whether the department has made adequate reasonable adjustments for disabled people during the claim process for benefits like Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment Support Allowance (ESA), and Universal Credit. This investigation follows a recommendation from MPs after raising concerns about the deaths of vulnerable claimants.
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Discriminatory Practices:
There are concerns that the DWP’s “fit for work” assessments may discriminate against disabled people, potentially failing to adequately consider their individual circumstances and needs.
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DWP Errors:
The DWP has been found to make errors in benefit payments, leading to overpayments and underpayments, causing financial hardship and distress for claimants.
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Lack of Support:
Some claimants have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of DWP-provided support, such as work coach interventions, particularly for those with physical health conditions.
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Overpayment Recovery:The DWP’s method of recovering overpayments, especially in Universal Credit, has been criticized for causing hardship and potentially leading to legal issues.