Government announces that Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants, who have "chronic illnesses that can only get worse” will no longer have to undergo repeated Work Capability Assessments (WCA).
Sue Bott Disability Rights UK said:
“We welcome the news that people with long-term health conditions will no longer have to go through repeated assessments for ESA. We have long argued that such assessments are a waste of money and put disabled people with progressive conditions through unnecessary stress.
However what is really needed is a complete overhaul of ESA alongside an improvement in support for disabled people who are looking for work.
The cut of £30 a week for those placed in the work activity group announced as part the last budget needs urgent attention by the new Secretary of State.”
The reform will be formally announced at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will work with health professionals to consider the final list of those exempt but it is thought this will include Huntington’s disease, congenital heart conditions and autism.