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ESA disability benefit is 'failing', government document says | ESA disability benefit is 'failing', government document says |
(35 minutes later) | |
The new disability benefit is helping fewer people get jobs, while its rising cost is a big financial risk for the UK, an internal government memo says. | The new disability benefit is helping fewer people get jobs, while its rising cost is a big financial risk for the UK, an internal government memo says. |
The memo, obtained by the BBC, says the Department for Work and Pensions is struggling to deliver employment support allowance (ESA). | The memo, obtained by the BBC, says the Department for Work and Pensions is struggling to deliver employment support allowance (ESA). |
ESA was introduced in 2008 to replace incapacity benefit. | ESA was introduced in 2008 to replace incapacity benefit. |
The government acknowledged there had been problems but said it was bringing in a new firm to do tests for ESA. | The government acknowledged there had been problems but said it was bringing in a new firm to do tests for ESA. |
The document also says claimants face an average nine-month wait after assessments. The target is three months. | |
'Not delivering' | 'Not delivering' |
ESA is intended for people who are unable to work due to sickness or disability. Claimants undergo tests, called work capability assessments, before learning whether they are eligible. | ESA is intended for people who are unable to work due to sickness or disability. Claimants undergo tests, called work capability assessments, before learning whether they are eligible. |
The memo says that ESA "is not delivering more positive outcomes for claimants" than incapacity benefit did. | The memo says that ESA "is not delivering more positive outcomes for claimants" than incapacity benefit did. |
The payment's costs are expected to rise by £13bn by 2018/19, it says, warning the increase is "one of the largest fiscal risks currently facing the government". | |
Too many people find themselves as long-term recipients of the benefit, the document says, and more people than expected are becoming eligible for it. | |
This is thought to be partly due to restrictions on jobseeker's allowance leading to an increase in ESA claimants. | This is thought to be partly due to restrictions on jobseeker's allowance leading to an increase in ESA claimants. |
A key aim of the benefit is to get people off welfare and into work, but the document says this appears to be happening less than under incapacity benefit. | |
Earlier this month the government said more than 700,000 people were waiting for an assessment, blaming the delays on delays on Atos, the private contractor carrying out the tests. | |
Atos, which has agreed to end its contract early, has said its staff have been "vilified" and abused for doing what was asked of them by ministers. | |
Mike Penning, the minister for disabled people, said: "We do have problems with the ESA assessment." | Mike Penning, the minister for disabled people, said: "We do have problems with the ESA assessment." |
He said it was "something we inherited" from the previous Labour government - "but we are doing everything we can to address [it] which is why I've negotiated Atos out of the contract and we're bringing in a new provider so we make sure that we can have proper flow of the benefits coming through." | He said it was "something we inherited" from the previous Labour government - "but we are doing everything we can to address [it] which is why I've negotiated Atos out of the contract and we're bringing in a new provider so we make sure that we can have proper flow of the benefits coming through." |
Mr Penning said he did not recognise the comments about financial risk to the government. | Mr Penning said he did not recognise the comments about financial risk to the government. |
ESA is "fit for purpose", he said, adding: "It needs to evolve, it needs to change as we go forward and we need to make sure we get the right decisions - as in any other benefit - the right money goes to the right people and that's what the taxpayer would expect us to do." | |
Nearly two million people are currently claiming ESA, which entitles them to just over £100 a week. | |
Work capability assessments are carried out both on new claimants and those in receipt of incapacity benefit before they are moved to ESA. | Work capability assessments are carried out both on new claimants and those in receipt of incapacity benefit before they are moved to ESA. |
Some of those deemed eligible for the payment are given regular interviews to help them find work, depending on their level of disability. | Some of those deemed eligible for the payment are given regular interviews to help them find work, depending on their level of disability. |