The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), is investigating a complaint against the DWP, for using psychometric tests in jobcentres
A single mother of two has complained to the HCPC after she was threatened with having her benefits cut if she refused to take the DWP’s “My Strengths psychometric test, which was being used in certain jobcentres.
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) claimants were made to complete these psychometric tests under threat of losing benefit.
Questions have been raised about the validation of these tests and their actual worth in helping jobseekers.
Disability Rights UK was very concerned by this report that jobseekers, which include disabled people, were asked to carry out a meaningless test and allegedly being told that they are at risk of losing their benefit if they do not. The test, as reported in The Guardian, appears not to take into account individual circumstances, such as why a person with severe mobility impairments might not consider “going out of their way to visit museum” and the test may not be accessible for people with learning disabilities, for example. We would expect the Department for Work and Pensions to use their limited resources for validated methods to identify the strengths and skills of people living with disability or long-term health conditions and support them into work.
For more information see the Guardian article Health watchdog investigates 'sham' psychometric tests for jobseekers.
To view an earlier Guardian report on this see Jobseekers made to carry out bogus psychometric tests.