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| ESA benefit payments: Re-tests axed for chronically ill claimants | ESA benefit payments: Re-tests axed for chronically ill claimants |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tens of thousands of people claiming the main benefit for long-term sickness will no longer face repeated medical assessments to keep their payments. | Tens of thousands of people claiming the main benefit for long-term sickness will no longer face repeated medical assessments to keep their payments. |
| Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green said it was pointless to re-test recipients of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) with severe conditions and no prospect of getting better. | Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green said it was pointless to re-test recipients of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) with severe conditions and no prospect of getting better. |
| More than two million people receive ESA, which is worth up to £109 a week. | More than two million people receive ESA, which is worth up to £109 a week. |
| The move has been welcomed by charities supporting those with severe illness. | The move has been welcomed by charities supporting those with severe illness. |
| It will be unveiled at the four-day Conservative Party conference, which begins in Birmingham on Sunday. | It will be unveiled at the four-day Conservative Party conference, which begins in Birmingham on Sunday. |
| Michelle Mitchell, head of the MS Society, described it as a "victory for common sense". | Michelle Mitchell, head of the MS Society, described it as a "victory for common sense". |
| Shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams said it was "a welcome U-turn" by the government, but "the devil was in the detail". | Shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams said it was "a welcome U-turn" by the government, but "the devil was in the detail". |
| "What about mental health conditions, conditions that are fluctuating, conditions that may not necessarily have a physical manifestation?" she said. | "What about mental health conditions, conditions that are fluctuating, conditions that may not necessarily have a physical manifestation?" she said. |
| 'Unnecessary stress' | 'Unnecessary stress' |
| Applicants for ESA have to undergo a work capability assessment to find out if they are eligible and they are re-tested to ensure their condition has not changed. Some are re-tested every three months and others up to two years later. | Applicants for ESA have to undergo a work capability assessment to find out if they are eligible and they are re-tested to ensure their condition has not changed. Some are re-tested every three months and others up to two years later. |
| Under the government's change, those who are deemed unfit for work and with conditions that will not improve will no longer face re-testing. | Under the government's change, those who are deemed unfit for work and with conditions that will not improve will no longer face re-testing. |
| Illnesses such as severe Huntington's, autism or a congenital heart condition are among those that are likely to qualify for continuous payments without reassessment. The criteria will be drawn up with health professionals. | Illnesses such as severe Huntington's, autism or a congenital heart condition are among those that are likely to qualify for continuous payments without reassessment. The criteria will be drawn up with health professionals. |
| Mr Green said a "key part" of making sure those who were unable to work received "full and proper support" included "sweeping away any unnecessary stress and bureaucracy". | |
| 'Financial security at risk' | |
| Andrew Grantham has claimed ESA for seven years and told the BBC having to be reassessed was frustrating and annoying. | Andrew Grantham has claimed ESA for seven years and told the BBC having to be reassessed was frustrating and annoying. |
| "I've had MS since 2006... it's chronic, fluctuating and the only guaranteed thing about it is that it will get worse. | "I've had MS since 2006... it's chronic, fluctuating and the only guaranteed thing about it is that it will get worse. |
| "I've had three assessments and I will have one next year. The first time, I was found fit for work and I had to go to a tribunal. | |
| "The other two assessments, I had some really good medical evidence from my dedicated nurse and I was found not fit for work. | |
| "These assessments are stressful for people because they don't know which way it is going to go. There is also a chance that you lose your financial security and you are told that you are fit for work and you have to look for work." | "These assessments are stressful for people because they don't know which way it is going to go. There is also a chance that you lose your financial security and you are told that you are fit for work and you have to look for work." |
| Mr Green told the BBC: "If you have got a condition that has made you unfit for work and which can only stay the same or get worse, I think it is just pointless... to just bring someone back again. | Mr Green told the BBC: "If you have got a condition that has made you unfit for work and which can only stay the same or get worse, I think it is just pointless... to just bring someone back again. |
| "It's the severity of the condition that matters, because indeed there are some people with MS... that can work, but we know that it's a degenerative disease so there will come a point when it may well be that they can't work. | "It's the severity of the condition that matters, because indeed there are some people with MS... that can work, but we know that it's a degenerative disease so there will come a point when it may well be that they can't work. |
| "After that it seems to me that re-testing and reassessing them doesn't do them any good - it might induce anxiety and stress in them - and it is also not doing the system any good because it is pointless." | "After that it seems to me that re-testing and reassessing them doesn't do them any good - it might induce anxiety and stress in them - and it is also not doing the system any good because it is pointless." |
| Currently, those in the "work-related activity group" - deemed unable to work at the moment but capable of making some effort to find employment - receive up to £102.15 a week in ESA payments. | Currently, those in the "work-related activity group" - deemed unable to work at the moment but capable of making some effort to find employment - receive up to £102.15 a week in ESA payments. |
| Those in the "support group" - deemed unable to work and not obliged to do anything to improve their chances of finding work - receive up to £109.30 a week. | Those in the "support group" - deemed unable to work and not obliged to do anything to improve their chances of finding work - receive up to £109.30 a week. |
| 'Fear of employment' | 'Fear of employment' |
| However, ministers remain committed to a cut to be introduced next April in the amount of money that some new recipients of ESA will receive, BBC social affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan says. | However, ministers remain committed to a cut to be introduced next April in the amount of money that some new recipients of ESA will receive, BBC social affairs correspondent Michael Buchanan says. |
| From April 2017, payments will fall to £73 for new claimants in the "work-related activity" category as ministers argue that too few people in the category are moving into work. | From April 2017, payments will fall to £73 for new claimants in the "work-related activity" category as ministers argue that too few people in the category are moving into work. |
| Keran Bunker, an ESA claimant who is on the autistic spectrum and has ADHD, told the BBC that the change would make people "fear trying to find employment". | Keran Bunker, an ESA claimant who is on the autistic spectrum and has ADHD, told the BBC that the change would make people "fear trying to find employment". |
| Mr Bunker said he would fear losing out if he took a job which he later might lose because of health issues, returning to the lower level of benefit. | Mr Bunker said he would fear losing out if he took a job which he later might lose because of health issues, returning to the lower level of benefit. |
| Former Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, welcomed the "progressive" reform to the re-testing regime, which he had set up when in office. | Former Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, welcomed the "progressive" reform to the re-testing regime, which he had set up when in office. |
| "I hope that the government will... move on to the fuller reform... where we lock together with the health department much more to be able to get a better health assessment of people, rather than a just strictly work assessment." | "I hope that the government will... move on to the fuller reform... where we lock together with the health department much more to be able to get a better health assessment of people, rather than a just strictly work assessment." |
| Are you receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |