New DWP rule will rip 'billions' away from people on Universal Credit or ESA

New DWP rule will rip 'billions' away from people on Universal Credit or ESA

by · Birmingham Live

A new rule from the Labour Party and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will rip "billions" from disabled people. Scope have issued the warning over DWP changes which will see the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) shaken up.

James Taylor, executive director of strategy at the disability equality charity Scope, said: "The Work Capability Assessment is degrading and stressful and change is desperately needed. But we desperately need the government to put forward a positive case for change and set out its plans.

"After years of limbo, disabled people are yet again in the dark about the future of the benefits system, creating a huge amount of anxiety." Ian Pritchard, CEO of Alternative Futures Group, said: "The amount to "fix" the social care deficit varies but was estimated prior to the Budget by the Health Foundation in the region of £ 8.3billion just to keep up with growing demand.

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"With the NHS receiving £22bn, social care still feels very much like a financial afterthought." The WCA finds out what work-related conditions you must meet to keep getting the benefit in full. If you are found to have a ‘limited capability for work’ in the assessment, your work-related conditions will be limited.

If you are found to have a ‘limited capability for work-related activity’ in the assessment, none of the work-related conditions will apply to you, and you will also be entitled to the work capability amount, under DWP guidelines and guidance.

For universal credit, if you have a limited capability for work, restrictions can be applied to the work-related responsibilities you must meet to keep getting the benefit in full. For employment and support allowance, if you have a limited capability for work, you can stay on the benefit.

In each case, a points system is used to see how well you can carry out a range of activities, both physical and ‘mental, cognitive and intellectual’.