Benefit crackdown begins

April 3, 2011 was last updated on 23 : 55 ET the Government wants to reduce the number of long-term incapacity benefit claimants of the one-and-a-half million people who claim incapacity benefit will begin to receive letters this week asking them to be tested on their ability to work.

The new evaluations are part of the Government plans to increase the number of long-term claimants in an ongoing programme through to 2014.

Nearly 30% of those who took the test during pilot projects in Burnley and Aberdeen were declared fit to work.

Disability Charities say however that many of the evaluations are unfair.

Potential

But Minister for work and pensions, Chris Grayling said: "my message to people who are worried about this process is that this is all about helping those who can return to work.

"It's not about forcing people to return to work, but we do the evaluations, unless we identify who has that potential, we never be able to offer help."

During the pilot scheme, a further 39% were rated as able to work but need the right support to do this.

Under the initiative, once plaintiffs have an assessment work capacity it will be placed in one of the three groups.

Directly suitable for work will be placed on the job seeker fee.

Which may be deemed unable to work because of illness or disability will be entitled to the highest rate of employment support allowance, and will not be expected to look for work.

A middle section-those who are long-term unemployed but judged capable of doing any kind of work will be placed in a "work-related activities group".

"Fair and effective"

They will be expected to prepare for a return to employment measures.

Early indications showed 70% of the incapacity benefit claimants had the potential to work.

The fitness test work was last year after widespread criticism changed.

Charities concern that wrongly focused on someone's physical ability to work and did not take into consideration other factors such as mental health.

They also warned that not enough people can prepare for the test were given.

This was supported by an independent evaluation of the system in November calling for a "more fair and effective" process.

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