UK: Harsh new test for severe incapacity & no more DWP secrets from us

[Guest guest]

>From: " Isabella " <isabellathomas@...>

This will affect lots of autistic children.

Isabella

October 2006 newsletter (2)

[Please note: articles marked OPEN ACCESS can be read by anyone. Other

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Dear Reader,

I promise that this will be the last newsletter this month.

I wasn't planning on doing another one, but two reasonably urgent issues

have arisen. The test for deciding who will qualify for the Support group

of ESA and not have to carry out work related activities has finally been

published. It's pretty shocking stuff, but you probably won't find so much

as a mention of it on most of the voluntary sector benefits sites.

We've published some brief details below in the newsletter, but there's

much more comprehensive information in the Members area. We're predicting,

amongst other things, that both Pathways to Work providers and employers

will be facing legal action from claimants.

Plus, attempts are being made to virtually repeal the Freedom of

Information Act - we're asking you to contact your MP to ask them to sign

an early Day Motion, if they haven't already done so.

Right, you definitely won't hear from me again until after Bonfire night.

Good luck,

Steve

NO MORE DWP SECRETS FROM US OPEN ACCESS

The Lord Chancellor is planning to bring in new regulations which would

mean the virtual repeal of the Freedom of Information Act. The new

regulations are intended to prevent organisations such as Benefits and

Work, or even concerned individuals, from getting access to information

that the government would prefer to keep secret.

'HARSH' NEW TEST FOR SEVERE INCAPACITY

Very few people will meet the 'harsh, complex and unfair' criteria which

will distinguish severely disabled claimants from those considered to be

capable of work-related activities under the new Employment and Support

Allowance (ESA). In addition, a leading disability consultant has warned

that the new rules may lead to disabled claimants suing both Pathways to

Work providers and employers.

Physical health

For physical health the design of the test means that an astonishingly wide

range of activities are ignored. In fact, as far as we are able to judge,

someone who has ALL of the following physical difficulties still would not

qualify for the support group:

Unable to see

Unable to hear

Unable to walk up and down one stair

Unable to stand

Unable to sit

Unable to bend or kneel

Unable to reach to wash hair, face, legs, feet or back

Unable to dress

Incontinent of bowels four times a month

Incontinent of bladder four times a month

Has epileptic or similar seizures every day

On the other hand, someone who can't pick up a ?1 coin with either hand

will qualify for the support group.

Mental health

Where mental health is concerned, it will be remarkably difficult to

qualify. Claimants will need to show that their impairment is so severe

that, without regular prompting or supervision from another person who is

in their presence, they cannot manage such things as:

Understanding simple instructions

Carrying out simple instructions

Learning simple tasks

Conveying food to their mouth

Chewing or swallowing

Washing their own torso (excluding their back)

The case studies provided by the DWP include , who has worsening

schizophrenia with unpredictable onset of symptoms and inadequate control

by medication. 's condition isn't severe enough to qualify for the

Support group and so he has to attend work-focused interviews and draw up

an action plan. With the help of a personal adviser 'concentrates

on work opportunities that offer the flexibility he needs to be able to

work only on days where he experiences no symptoms'. As a result, he gets a

full-time job in a college library.

Meanwhile, back on planet Earth . . .

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© 2006 Steve Donnison. All rights reserved.

--------------------------------------------------------

Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK

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