Medical assessments for chronically ill to be scrapped

[Cherie]

Controversial medical assessments for up to 100,000 of the most vulnerable benefit claimants, including those suffering from dementia, Parkinson’s and MS, are to be abolished as Theresa May promises a more caring welfare state.

Damian Green, the new work and pensions secretary, admits that the current regime of repeatedly testing many of those on disability benefits is pointless and even harmful, in an interview with The Times.

In the latest break from previous Tory governments, Mr Green also refuses to repeat George Osborne’s contrast between “strivers” and “skivers” and says that reality TV shows such as Benefits Street are distorted.


:clap1:

http://www.welfareweekly.com/dwp-to-scrap-repeat-fitness-for-work-tests-for-chronically-sick-benefit-claimants/

[Amy Jade]

A step in the right direction :clap1:

[Nicky91]

yeah i think that is a good decision :clap1:

[Jack_]

**** me is it April Fools Day? I can't believe what I'm reading here

[Tom4784]

Finally.

[arista]

Yes makes good sense

[smudgie]

Win win situation.
Peace of mind for the claimants and a big saving for the government.
Common sense that if people are not going to improve then it's a pointless excercise and a waste of money.
Here for them rolling it out for PIP under the same circumstances.

[Vicky.]

****ing sense at last?

The amount of horror stories I have seen from people with 'progressive' and incurable illnesses that are reassessed year after year and often 'cured' at the assessment, to then have to fight to get what they are entitled to, then go through it all again months later..its insane.

Well done to May for tackling this.

I didn't know we had a new work and pensions secretary, and this sounds like its a step in the right direction too.

Mr Green also refuses to repeat George Osborne’s contrast between “strivers” and “skivers” and says that reality TV shows such as Benefits Street are distorted.


Can I be hopeful for the next step to be doing away with the private companies such as atos and maximus carrying out these assessments and getting bonuses for everyone they find 'fit'? If GPs cannot be trusted (and I do understand that point of view) then at LEAST have people trained in whatever illness they are assessing. Not someone with a few weeks 'disability training' who was a midwife many moons ago, assessing mental health with the incentive of a bonus for ignoring any evidence that said claimant is actually in need. Fingers crossed.

[Kizzy]

Good news but to balance the books the bedroom tax now includes pensioners.

[user104658]

Reassessing people with chronic, progressive illnesses to see if they've gotten any better has always been insane... Thank **** they're finally scrapping it. It's just cruel. People who already know they aren't getting any better don't need to be constantly reminded of it.

[Vicky.]

Reassessing people with chronic, progressive illnesses to see if they've gotten any better has always been insane... Thank **** they're finally scrapping it. It's just cruel. People who already know they aren't getting any better don't need to be constantly reminded of it.

Not only constantly reminded of it, the cruelest part is how they are 'cured' over and over again. Told their problems are gone. Feeling the despair at having to go through yet another tribunal. And so on. I mean, these people have it hard enough to begin with, the constant accusing them of lying (which is effectively what curing them over and over is doing) is just ****ing sick.

[user104658]

Not only constantly reminded of it, the cruelest part is how they are 'cured' over and over again. Told their problems are gone. Feeling the despair at having to go through yet another tribunal. And so on. I mean, these people have it hard enough to begin with, the constant accusing them of lying (which is effectively what curing them over and over is doing) is just ****ing sick.
Also gives false hope. Some people think the assessors are better trained than they are... Go back to their doctors saying that they have been told they seem better and fitter only to be told again that their condition hasn't improved at all medically. Or people putting too much strain on themselves after being told they are capable, only to make their condition worse.

[Maru]

Reassessing people with chronic, progressive illnesses to see if they've gotten any better has always been insane... Thank **** they're finally scrapping it. It's just cruel. People who already know they aren't getting any better don't need to be constantly reminded of it.

Yeah, that's almost as bad as being denied care entirely. My mother went through it with Dystonia (similar to Parkinsons) after years of complete denial of care. It was ridiculous forcing her wait in offices in the US and having to sit 6-9 hours causing unnecessary amounts of pain just to be seen by a social worker to just prove she is still ill. It's a crippling movement disorder so it's not like it wasn't obvious.

Some people will stop seeing their doctors entirely to avoid the embarrassment.

[jaxie]

I think that's completely appropriate. MY father had both legs amputated and each time they came to assess him they sat in awkward silence because they hadn't grown back yet.

[Maru]

I think that's completely appropriate. MY father had both legs amputated and each time they came to assess him they sat in awkward silence because they hadn't grown back yet.

In the US, it's said to be due to the system trying to weed out people who are faking illnesses. Like, maybe he used some kind of smoke and mirrors to make his legs invisible during those routine checks. People photoshop everything, maybe now they can photoshop real life too. Or... he is providing false documentation and is not actually a proper citizen, but an illegal alien that is very good at faking accents. (In which case that would be a bad mix up and the govt's fault). Or... Or.... I don't know...

It is amazing how shallow our governments can be towards it's own citizens sometimes.

[Maru]

My mother and my uncle who both have the disease are highly reclusive and are hermits. Many people with debilitating illnesses are often similar for many reasons (like avoiding the judgement of the small-minded individuals out there).

My uncle is in his 40's and won't come out of the room until he's been in the presence (same household) of the person enough to trust them. Even my husband who I had been with forever, he is just now getting comfortable with coming out of his shell. My uncle is just about blind now and his motor skills have deteriorated to the point he can barely hold a fork/spoon, but he won't go to the doctor because of how it makes him feel to be stared at... nothing wrong with him mentally, but he has poor vocal cords, so he can't really speak and be understood so no real way for him to voice his opposition or let the average stranger know the staring and treatment is bothering him... he is very shy and while he has own personality and opinions (when you find ways to understand him), he is not a fighter in the sense that he needs to take on the world... he is very kind.

I guess it's not entirely the govt's fault if a large portion of society would rather live in a bubble than acknowledge that some of their voting decisions/political positions due extensive harm to segments of the populace because they'd rather stay inside their comfortable (and generally fictional) reality...