Public and Commercial Services Union
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Stop bullying disabled claimants, says PCS
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) which has thousands of members in the Department for Work and Pensions says the tests for claimants fail to address many serious health issues.
A House of Commons select committee report into incapacity benefit re-assessment – published on 13 July – said: “Our central conclusion is that the assessment process, as it is designed at the moment, does not accurately assess claimants' employability and needs in the workplace.”
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “This exercise is just about saving money by bullying people who are sick or disabled onto lower levels of benefit.
“It is not about finding people work – because there are is no work available. The government is failing to create jobs, while cutting thousands of posts in the public sector.
“The government has given £100 million to a private health care company to do these flawed assessments – instead of using the health service which is already there and trusted by the public.
“The government have set up a system that demonises disabled people and will encourage bullying and hate crimes.
“Disabled people need more support – not less – to lead independent lives, including working lives.”
Link to welfare booklet
PCS has produced a booklet: 'Welfare - an alternative vision' which has a chapter on disability benefit.
