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So the good folk of Burnley and Aberdeen are to be the first to face the “new tougher test”? I pity these people and if there is anyone out there from either location who would like to comment on their experience, please do so. The alleged “work capability test” has already been called into question by the CAB in Scotland and if that’s anything to go by, the same will happen in England and Wales. This is proof in itself that the “test” is unfair and does not accurately assess a disabled persons level of fitness or thier ability to perform work related tasks.
This sham is nothing more than a vehicle by which the Government can move disabled people from the Benefits they are on, to lower Unemployment Benefits. It is nothing more than a cost cutting exercise and is on the very borders of being legal. How can a person previously classed as unfit for work under the previous rules, suddenly be reclassified as fit for work simply because the Government have moved the goal posts. A change in the test does not mean a change in a persons level of disability has occurred?
This does not bode well for employers either, who quite rightly want fit and healthy employees who can produce their product. This new test does not prove that a disabled person is fit for work, it does not meet the demands or requirements of employers Nationally. Disabled people are being forced to make claims for JSA and will no doubt appeal the decision of the ATOS alleged Doctor and invariably will win. This will add to the present delays in tribunals, cost the Government more in the long run and will further alienate the present ConDem Government in the minds of the General Public, particularly those with disabilities.
More disabled people will lose their lives, homes and dignity due to this new test. It will cause mayhem and unless the good folk of Aberdeen and Burnley stand up to be counted, it will spread to the rest of the Country like a nasty rash. Disabled people are being demonised by our Government, we are being victimised and discriminated against as a minority group and need to gather and protect ourselves from the forthcoming onslaught. It is not right, it is not fair and it is probably illegal and to prove that, it needs to be challenged in court. That will be no easy task and the case would probably have to go to the European Court of Human Rights, but it needs to be done. This may be the opportunity to do so, I only hope someone in Burnley or Aberdeen is prepared to stand up and be counted.
Solidarity from the Black Triangle Anti-Defamation Campaign in Defence of Disabled Claimants!
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Unite and Fight! They Shall Not Pass!!!
Comment by John McArdle — November 21, 2010 @ 5:04 pm
Burnley and Aberdeen are not the first places to face these ‘tough new tests’.
New claimants have been facing them for well over a year.
I am not supporting the tests as such because having been through it all (awaiting appeal) I know how wrong they are at root but something needs to be done. When there is a shortage of money in your purse or wallet you have to start saying no to some things. It is no different for the country to be tightening its belt.
What I do not like is the attitude being foisted upon everyone to ‘hate’ the disabled. There are genuine claimants out there but there are also the ‘not so disabled’ claimants and they know who they are. There are also a lot of people who disabled or not could hold down some sort of job. Many I know of would love to have a job but there are no jobs for the able bodied at the moment so where are disabled or partially able to work supposed to look?
I also dislike the dramatic phrases such as ‘disabled people will lose their homes’ how will they lose their homes? People, and not just job seekers, are living in this country at the moment on £65 per week plus rent allowance. Many of them are ill too. It can be done. No frills, no fun just survival.
The ‘tough new tests’ are intrinsically flawed but when did government ever get anything right on its first, second or even third attempt? We all know, whether we accept it or not, that something needs to be done but do we have any better idea of how to make life fairer for all. I don’t think so.
Comment by maggyann — December 3, 2010 @ 10:20 pm
The “new” test was recently introduced in Abredeen and Burnley, these 2 cities are the focus of a “pilot” scheme to introduce a new more stringent test where the goal posts have been clearly moved to suit the Government. The WCA has been in existance dfor over a year now and this is the reason for this blog and our sister forum http://dwpexaminations.blacktrianglecampaign.org/phpBB3/ We have been and are opposed to any form of test which is clearly biased to the DWP. We are aware of those who are abusing the system and like you we would like them to be identified and prosecuted, we do not approve of the methods the Government are using to deal with disabled benefit claimants as it tars everyone with the same brush. The tough “new” test is seriously flawed and clearly not fit for purpose. One thing I can assure you of is we are not going away, we will continue fighting untill we get a satifsfactory result.
Comment by dwpexamination — December 6, 2010 @ 7:46 am
Don’t get me wrong I agree the tests are flawed and not fit for the purpose. I just wanted to point out they are not ‘new’ but have been happening to new claimants for well over a year. The vast majority of whom are found ‘fit to work’and then have to either move onto JSA or appeal the decision. The appeals are running at something like 16 -18 months right now.
I am awaiting my appeal after having a stroke and being left severely depressed, anxious and suffering panic attacks with my memory shot to pieces. I have worked for 41 years until this with a total of 9 days total off on ‘sick’ in those years.
Because I am on appeal I receive the £65 per week to live on not the supplemented £90+ (I think). By the time my appeal is actually heard I expect I will be working again as I have been driving towards that for months now. In which case I have no hope of receiving that extra money (backdated) even though I have been ill throughout. I have gone through all the back to work interviews, walking there and back as I cannot afford bus fares. (They do refund these costs apparently but you have to have the money to spend in the first place and then wait till it is refunded which I was not in a position to do.) I am in debt but will have to sort that out once I return to working. That is wrong. Just as my next door neighbour who has worked for 8 months in his adult life (he is early 30′s) but has a bad back and can’t cope with work is living on a lot more than me each week and can attend pop concerts all over the country camping with his bad back.
The system is a joke, but not funny. The old system was wrong too. There does have to be changes but what they could possibly be in a way thatis fair to everyone I really don’t know.
I hope any protest you make does have some effect but do you have an alternative to offer to government? Can you see a way to make it work in a fair way? Can you think of a system where the fraudulent are caught? Tarring with the same brush works both ways. The government is taking steps (totally useless ones true) to deal with the problem and that has sadly involved tarring all claimants as ‘scroungers’ or worse. The system as it was accepted every little thing as justification for being classed as ‘disabled’ i.e. tarring all claimants with the same brush. Those with severe health problems being lumped in with Joe Bloggs and his bad back.
If only we could live in an ideal world but even then it would not be right for everyone.
Comment by maggyann — December 6, 2010 @ 1:01 pm
I thank you for your honesty and forthright reply, however, I must say the tests in Aberdeen and Burnley are significantly different from the WCA which as you say has been running for over a year. The pilot in Aberdeen and Burnley is a newe version of the WCA and is being carried outto test the new system. I am informed that this new system is more complex and difficult to pass with many of the descriptors changed or removed completely. ATOS are also not using the Lima computer system in these tests. The use of Lima and the way it de humanises the test was rather curiously raised in the Harrington report published this month, this shows the level of corruption the Government is allowing as it clearly indicates ATOS had sight of the report before it was published. These new tests will continue for an unspecified time after which the results will dictate the next move ATOS and the DWP make.
Both the WCA (which has been running for over a year now) and the new test which has only recently started) are seriously flawed. The tests (both) focus on what you can do rather than what you cant, this allows the ATOS(sser) to declare almost everyone fit for “some” kind of work, regardless of the skills or experience the claimant has. It does not assess your disability or the effects any disability may have upon you personally, it is an assessment of your ability to carry out “some” kind of work. The ATOS HCP does not specify what typoe of work or how many hours you can be expected to carry out these imaginary tasks.
Any alternative should be delivered by our own NHS. Delivery of services of this nature by private profit driven companies is not a viable option. The Government say they have not sat ATOS a target, but freely admit publicly that they want at least 1 million off sickness Benefits by 2012. ATOS deny setting targets, however I believe this is not the case and targets are set for induividual HCP’s to achieve, how else could they assess the impact thier actions are having.
I applaud your efforts to return to work, most of us here are in that bracket, but you must understand, change is afoot and the proposed changes are being tested in Aberdeen and Burnley as we write. These changes will put more sick and disabled people into a situation where thier income will be seriously reduced, this will have an effect upon thier ability to meet thier commitiment like payoing mortgages or rent. If you can not pay your rent or mortgage do you think the Banks and local authorities or private landlords are going to be sympathetic? I think not and thus people will lose thier homes.
As for those of us who know someone is commiting fraud the answer is simple, pick up the phone and do something about it. Its no good complaining about suspected fraud unless action is taken. If the person you report has a disability which warrents a claim, then they should be allright. Be advised though, not all disabilities present themselves physically and you may be putting somone into the hands of the DWP and risking thier benefits, so make sure you have all the facts before you make the call.
This blog is about fighting back, as is our sister forum, as a disabled rights campeigner I am noit willing to give an inch to the Government unless it benefits disabled people. I will continue to protest and pick away at the present Government untill I gat a result.
Comment by dwpexamination — December 7, 2010 @ 9:26 am
“This blog is about fighting back, as is our sister forum, as a disabled rights campeigner I am noit willing to give an inch to the Government unless it benefits disabled people. I will continue to protest and pick away at the present Government untill I gat a result.” Comment by dwpexamination — December 7, 2010 @ 9:26 am
Bravo!
Solidarity,
Black Triangle
Anti-Defamation Campaign
In Defence of Disabled Claimants
http://www.facebook.com/blacktriangle1
Comment by John McArdle — December 7, 2010 @ 9:50 am
hi ive got my medical in burnley tomorrow and im crapping myself ive heard that they put plp in thewaiting room to suss you out, i am taking mu support worker with me i will let you know how i go on x
Comment by wendy — November 17, 2011 @ 1:06 pm
Yes Wendy please let us know how it went, go to the forum if you need any help in the future http://dwpexaminations.blacktrianglecampaign.org/phpBB3/
Comment by dwpexamination — November 17, 2011 @ 3:02 pm