Medical benefit test errors harm trust, say MPs
CLAIMANTS’ CONFIDENCE IN SYSTEM LOST, WARNS COMMITTEE
MISTAKES during controversial “assessments” of people with disabilities and long-term illnesses have destroyed confidence in the system, MPs have concluded.
They urged the government to consider dismissing private firms hired to carry out the assessments, which help determine whether or not claimants get benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance and Personal Independence Payments.
The Commons Work and Pensions Committee said it had an “unprecedented” response when it asked members of the public to get in touch with their experiences of being assessed.
Some people said reports of their assessments included the results of physical examinations that hadn’t happened. Some reports left out crucial information provided during the interview, and some seemed to refer to entirely different people.
Publishing their findings, the MPs said the number of mistakes taking place, and the number of decisions eventually overturned on appeal, had created “a lack of trust in both benefits” and led to fears the system is deliberately rigged against claimants.
They said: “At worst, there is an unsubstantiated belief among some claimants and their advisers that assessors are encouraged to misrepresent assessments deliberately in a way that leads to claimants being denied benefits.”
Responding to the findings, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) said it aimed to ensure every person feels they are treated fairly, with respect and dignity, and was looking at ways of making sure assessments were more transparent.
MPs published the conclusions in a 66-page report following a lengthy investigation, which included interviews with government ministers, assessors and claimants.
The MPs received more than 3,500 written submissions from members of the public, many of whom had been through assessments, as well as almost 200 from organisations
It follows long-standing concern that firms such as Capita, Atos Independent Assessment Services and Maximus Centre for Health and Disability Assessments, who are employed by the Department for Work and Pensions, are not doing a good job.
Campaign groups and some backbench MPs have claimed that assessments are riddled with mistakes, and claimants are humiliated or asked irrelevant questions
Evidence presented to the inquiry appeared to back this up. The Down’s Syndrome Association reported parents of children with the genetic condition being asked how long they’ve had it and how they caught it. One person with serious mental health problems read in the report of their assessment that their mental health clearly wasn’t an issue because they had smiled.
The Work and Pensions Committee pointed out that, since 2013, 290,000 claimants of PIP and ESA – 6% of all those assessed – only received the correct award after challenging the DWP’s initial decision.
But even for people whose claims are dealt with properly, a belief that the system can’t be trusted leads to “distress and confusion” and encourages more appeals, driving up costs, the MPs said.
They said assessments should be recorded, to increase transparency and improve trust in the process. And the MPs said the DWP should consider whether to replace the current private assessors. “The Department will need to consider whether the market is capable of delivering assessments at the required level and of rebuilding claimant trust. If it cannot – as already floundering market interest may suggest – the Department may well conclude assessments are better delivered in house.”
Laura Pidcock, Labour MP for North West Durham, is one of a number of politicians to have raised concerns. She said: “I definitely would say Atos and Capita are not capable of carrying out these contracts.” Assessments appeared to focus on physical abilities, such as whether people could raise their arms or walk a given distance, but did not take into account mental health conditions that may cause different symptoms from day to day, she said.
“Many constituents have said to us that there are lies in the report.
“I know that sounds like a very strong thing to say. But the assessors are under so much pressure, they have targets for the number of people they have to get through in a day, that it just doesn’t make for a morally sound system.”
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “As the Work and Pensions Committee highlights, assessments work for the majority of people, with 83% of ESA claimants 76% of PIP claimants telling us that they’re happy with their overall experience.
“We continue to work closely with our providers to ensure people receive high-quality assessments, and are exploring options around recordings to promote greater transparency and trust.”
Many constituents have said to us that there are lies in the report MP Laura Pidcock