Following the recent disclosures in the Channel 4 programme, Dispatches -The Great Benefits Row - on Monday 11th April 2016, there are now serious questions being raised about the reputation and the cost of the companies that the DWP are using to assess disabled people for the newly introduced PIP – Personal Independence Payment.   Capita was the company named in this programme but some ex- staff have also stepped forward from ATOS too stating that they were given financial incentives to race through as many applications as possible which included ‘failing’ them for the benefit.

 Charities including Mencap, Disability Rights UK, Sense and Scope plus the Labour MP, Owen Clive have all raised issues regarding the validity of the systems these companies have in place to use to ‘investigate and assess ’ claimants in which the latest figures suggest that two out of every three claims are not  being awarded.  Yet, one assessor on the Dispatches program blatantly claimed that he had earned up to £20,000 a month by rushing through the assessments and admitted on occasion to having completed the computerised form before the claimant had even been seen!  Capita have since disregarded his comments but this particular individual has been instrumental in causing a nationwide outrage. Indeed, Mr Smith has already published a letter to the newly appointed Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions,  Mr Stephen Crabb and is quoted as saying, ‘ In light of the appalling, unprofessional behaviour by Capita assessors on C4 Dispatches, Mr Crabb must now take action’.

Thousands of disabled claimants are now being refused the transfer of their old DLA  (Disability Living Allowance) to PIP and are having the added stress to their medical - both physical and mental - conditions by being plunged into a gross nightmare financial hardship. Through no other fault of their own other than the fact that they are sick and disabled.

We, the Disabled of this land,  DEMAND that further investigation is needed immediately in this draconian assessment process and that people are assessed honestly and responsibly, therefore avoiding the unnecessary financial and emotional disturbances to our health and wellbeing. This current government MUST launch an urgent independent review into the true extent of this continued abuse of both power and public money.