[the truth]

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wa...people-9941649

David O'Mar died two weeks after being told he would no longer qualify for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). It has now emerged that so did 2,379 others

A disabled Welsh dad was among 2,380 people who have died after being found “fit for work” as part of the Government’s work capability assessments.

After a campaign, the Department for Work and Pensions has finally released figures showing how many people died within six weeks after being told they would no longer qualify for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Campaigners have called for a review of the benefits assessments after the release of the figures, which show that 2,380 people found “fit to work” died between December 2011 and February 2014.


Diabetic David O’Mar, 58, of Cardiff, was stripped of his disability benefits in April and died of pneumonia just two weeks later.

His daughter Alexandra believes he is one of the growing number of victims of brutal government policies.

Speaking last month, Alexandra said: “It *definitely affected him. I think it’s *disgusting they stopped somebody’s benefits who genuinely *needed them.”


But charities and unions, who claim the work capability assessment system is unfair and causes undue stress for vulnerable people, said the mortality rate appeared surprisingly high for people of working age who had been declared fit


THE DEFENCE
A DWP spokesman said: “We don’t hold information on reason of death, so no causal effect between a fit for work decision and death should be assumed.



“The mortality rate of those who are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance – which includes some of those found fit for work – is still lower than for the general population.



“Furthermore, the overall trend shows the mortality rate for people who have died while claiming an out-of-work benefit, has fallen over a 10-year period.”

Of 50,580 ESA claimants who died over the period, 2,380 had been told they were “fit to work” and would be switched to standard unemployment benefits – meaning a drop of up to £30 per week – pending any appeals.

'We need a welfare system that supports'

“The fact that more than 80 people are dying each month shortly after being declared ‘fit for work’ should concern us all. We need a welfare system that supports people to find decent jobs not one that causes stress and ill health,” she said.

Disability Benefits Consortium co-chairman Rob Holland - from learning disability charity Mencap - said: “These tragic figures are concerning and warrant further investigation.

“We know the fit for work test is failing disabled people, with devastating consequences. Wrong decisions can mean people are left with little or no support at all, in some cases struggling to pay for their homes and basic essentials like food and heating.

“The Government must act now to reform the work capability assessment so it is fair for disabled people and those with health and medical conditions. Indeed there is real concern that the process itself is stressful and can in fact worsen people’s conditions.”