Claim work fitness assessment is failing
Speaking in a highly-charged debate at Westminster on private company Atos and the work capability assessments for people who are unwell or have a disability, he said there were major flaws in the way the assessments were conducted.
He said: “Many people find the assessment process terrifying and there is plenty of evidence that the process often fails to do exactly what it is designed to do – assess accurately whether someone is capable of working.
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Hide Ad“This is especially true where applicants with fluctuating conditions are concerned such as people with mental health problems. “Many applicants feel that it takes away their dignity as a human being and does not lead to proper consideration of their personal circumstances.”
Mr Lazarowicz said the high success rate for appeals – 38 per cent – pointed to major problems in the assessment process. A report from Citizens Advice in January concluded that the ‘level of accuracy in reports is worryingly low’.