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A shocking revelation has come to light after a recent report revealed that only 6% of new disability benefit claimants undergo a face-to-face assessment with a qualified medic / doctor. When you think of the numbers of those living on disability allowance due to their ‘inability’ to work, this is quite the eye-opener. There’s no doubt that there will be people living off disability allowance that can actually work in some way or another, by no means all claimants can, but certainly some. In this case there needs to be a re-think about how people are assessed for their ability to work, which is exactly what the Government have announced for this month. What the Experts Say Mike Penning, the current disability minister stated that ‘it is morally wrong that so many people get welfare payments ‘for life’ based on a form they often fill in themselves’. Mr Penning also went on to say that ‘the Labour Party tried to ‘control unemployment’ by putting people on disability benefits’. This is a believable motive for Labour to make it easy for disability benefit claimants to receive an allowance, however, let’s not forget that things are not as always black and white as they first appear. Government Plans to Tackle False Disability Claims So, as promised by the coalition Government, there will be a review into disability living allowance (DLA) and that claimants will have to make a new claim through the ‘personal independence payment’. The assessment process for this new type of disability claim will ‘apparently’ have a more rigorous assessment of individuals claiming to be unfit to work. In addition, regular reviews will be carried out in order to try ensure that those who are not working because they chose not to are sent back to work, otherwise benefits will be stopped. This is good in terms of local and national Government saving vast amounts of money, however, there is worry among those who really can’t work to be forced back into work; the assessment may not cater for every need and therefore, some who really can’t work could be forced to go back into work or lose their disability benefit. Additionally, there are other concerns, one being that those who are badly disabled may have to go through numerous tests and assessments, in which case is wrong. This poses a question of where would the line be drawn for not having to undergo assessment? Or should it be the same for everyone? What about those who are mentally ill and face a ‘physical’ examination? There are many questions still to be answered, which in time the new system would reveal; a little trial and error perhaps. What the Others Say New Government plans of restructuring the disability living allowance system have made medical charities and disability groups angry, who suggest that they cause uncertainty for current claimants. However, in defence of new proposals, the Government state that ‘without reform, by 2018 one in 17 people would be claiming a benefit designed for those unable to walk’. How Much Does DLA Cost Tax Payers’? Since the launch of the disability living allowance back in 1992, the number of people claiming has risen by an unprecedented amount; from 1.1 million (1992), said to rise to a staggering 3.6 million by the year 2015. 3.6 million Claimants, cost the Government / tax payer £13billion every year, which is almost as much as the total budget for the Department for Transport. Yes there are more people living in the UK than there was in 1992, however, these figures seem to have risen a little too high in relation to the increased numbers of people living here in the UK. Claimants currently only have a form to fill in and sometimes are asked to present a doctors note. This is simply not good enough, especially when the amount of money involved is vast. The figures collected, illustrated that 55% of decisions for the disability allowance claimants have only ever filled with no evidence that corroborates with what it is they claim to have wrong personally. Andy is a specialist when it comes to healthcare and has provide advice and information on the subject matter. Andy specialises in providing healthcare aids, such as Incontinence Pants, wheelchairs, living aids, bath lifts and other products.
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Disability, Incontinence Pants, Disabilities, Disability Living Allowance,
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