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Iain Duncan Smith plans changes to benefit assessments Iain Duncan Smith plans changes to benefit assessments
(35 minutes later)
Iain Duncan Smith is planning a shake-up of the rules on sickness benefit to encourage more people into work.Iain Duncan Smith is planning a shake-up of the rules on sickness benefit to encourage more people into work.
The work and pensions secretary will argue in a speech that the current system is too "binary" - with claimants deemed either fit or unfit for work.The work and pensions secretary will argue in a speech that the current system is too "binary" - with claimants deemed either fit or unfit for work.
Instead, claimants should be made to take up any work they can, even if it is just a few hours, he will say.Instead, claimants should be made to take up any work they can, even if it is just a few hours, he will say.
Mr Duncan Smith's previous welfare reforms have been criticised for penalising the most vulnerable. Labour says cutting benefits for people who are not able to work is punishing the disabled for government failures.
But Mr Duncan Smith insists that the "most vulnerable people in our society" will be protected under his latest reforms.But Mr Duncan Smith insists that the "most vulnerable people in our society" will be protected under his latest reforms.
And despite the "scaremongering" the UK spends more on the sick and disabled than the average in the other nations in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).And despite the "scaremongering" the UK spends more on the sick and disabled than the average in the other nations in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
'Mental health''Mental health'
His speech, in London, will not contain any policy announcements but aims instead to start a "conversation" about the next phase of welfare reform, according to DWP officials.His speech, in London, will not contain any policy announcements but aims instead to start a "conversation" about the next phase of welfare reform, according to DWP officials.
Mr Duncan Smith will be focusing on the Employment Support Allowance, which is paid to those unable to work on health grounds. Those who receive the payment have their fitness to work tested under the Work Capability Assessment.Mr Duncan Smith will be focusing on the Employment Support Allowance, which is paid to those unable to work on health grounds. Those who receive the payment have their fitness to work tested under the Work Capability Assessment.
He believes those assessments should be more personalised, so if someone is able to work for a few hours they are helped to do so.He believes those assessments should be more personalised, so if someone is able to work for a few hours they are helped to do so.
"It is right that we look at how the system supports people who are sick," he will say."It is right that we look at how the system supports people who are sick," he will say.
Mr Duncan Smith argues that instead of an either or assessment, what is needed is "a system focused on what a claimant can do and the support they'll need, and not just on what they can't" Mr Duncan Smith argues that instead of an either or assessment, what is needed is "a system focused on what a claimant can do and the support they'll need, and not just on what they can't"
He will add: "Nearly 11 million adults in the UK have a common mental health condition and people are much more likely to fall out of work if they do.He will add: "Nearly 11 million adults in the UK have a common mental health condition and people are much more likely to fall out of work if they do.
"We also know that being out of work for four weeks or more can actually effect people's mental health, even if the original reason for ill health was a physical one.""We also know that being out of work for four weeks or more can actually effect people's mental health, even if the original reason for ill health was a physical one."
'Government failures'
Labour has condemned the proposals.
shadow disability minister, Kate Green said the "disastrous" Work Capability Assessment had been "plagued with problems with contractors, poor assessments, and costly appeals".
She added: "Ministers need to focus on providing tailored support for disabled people who can work in order to help them do so.
"Cutting the benefits of those who aren't able to work, such as those with Parkinson's or Cancer, is punishing sick and disabled people for the government's own failures."
The Work Capability Assessment has been controversial since it was introduced under Labour.The Work Capability Assessment has been controversial since it was introduced under Labour.
It was planned to reduce the number on incapacity benefits by one million, but since 2010 there has been a fall of just 90,000.It was planned to reduce the number on incapacity benefits by one million, but since 2010 there has been a fall of just 90,000.