ESA Campaign
+ CW Evidence to Harrington
August 18th, 2010
Here’s the evidence that CarerWatch have submittrd to Harrington.
Rhydian fon James – a journalist (see articles in Guardian) helped us write it.
Our main point is still that the groups aren’t fit for purpose – there is no safe place for the long term sick to ‘have a go’ in safety without fear of being sucked down through the coercive WRAG to undefended JAS.
So as the groups aren’t fit for purpose the test can’t work however much they try and improve it.
Some of our members are horrified by the current B&W thread about what happens to you if you win your appeal. Straight back to ATOS apparently.
+ ESA Scrutiny Panel – e-mail to MIND
July 28th, 2010
MIND are on the Scrutiny Panel
E-mail from carerwatch to MIND
Hi XXXXX
We see from today’s Guardian that Paul Farmer is on the Scrutiny Panel for ESA. We hope he will put the case forcefully and publish his briefing so that he isn’t associated later with anything the Minister decides that Paul doesn’t support.
It seems to us that people are talking here at cross purposes.
Under modern disability thinking almost every one can have the hope and aspiration of working so no one will fail a test for that which is what is happening and why no one is getting in to the support group. Why is this a surprise?
But it goes wrong when that morphs in to – sanctions, threats, bullying and you have to get back to work. The job market is too hard. Disability is too hard.
As long as the help back to work is voluntary ESA is a very positive
approach.
Our view is DROP THE SANCTIONS and you get a positive back to work program for all those who want it and won’t frighten people in to not coming forward and trying.
+ Many thanks to Crippen
July 26th, 2010
+ CarerWatch Statement on ESA
July 24th, 2010
This is the CarerWatch briefing statement on ESA
Firstly CarerWatch ask the Coalition to drop the sanctions under ESA and let sick and disabled people make their own choices freely and without pressure and coercion on their journey back to work.
Secondly Carerwatch ask the new government to stop and think carefully how to make the WCA test between JSA and ESA transparent so that it gains public confidence. And drop this terrifying target of moving 1 million people off IB/ESA to be unsupported on JSA.
CarerWatch are concerned that with the introduction of ESA the covenant between the state and the sick and disabled - established under the welfare state - is in danger of being broken. The state promised to support the sick and disabled if they became too ill to work so that they felt safe and secure.
CarerWatch welcome the positive promise behind ESA that all people however serious their illness or disability should be offered proactive help back to work. We are glad that there is no question of any one being ‘parked’ in the ’support’ group and written off. We welcome information about back to work programs being promoted energetically.
However CarerWatch do not accept the idea of coercion and sanctions on sick and disabled people in the main ESA group to force them to work. Our first demand is that the government drop the idea of sanctions within ESA.
The dynamic between a sick or disabled person and the modern, competitive, flexible labour market is multi-dimensional. Obviously the nature of the illness or disability and the prognosis plays an important part. But all research shows that the chances of disabled people finding work depend significantly on the buoyancy of the labour market. Negotiating for disability with prospective employers is a major factor.
The difficulties of this possible journey back to work are daunting and CarerWatch believe that in the end the choices must belong to the disabled person alone.
What is the point of sanctions? Is it meant to provide motivation, push people by threat to attempt something they would otherwise not feel confident to try. Surely the challenges of living with disability and the difficulties of entering a competitive job market with a disability are sufficient challenge on their own.
The threat of sanctions has caused widespread distress and anxiety. The mere threat of sanctions has changed the dynamic between the DWP and their agents and sick people and caused a break down in trust.
Who has the competence to judge when coercion will pay off and when it will just lead to distress and anxiety. You need Solomon to judge this. The mere threat of sanctions is terrifying many. Some people are saying that they are demotivated and frightened to demonstrate any skills or competences for fear of being pushed too hard. This is the opposite of a safe situation where people might take a risk and have a go.
Without sanctions the hated WCA assessment between the two ESA groups would be unnecessary. ESA would be a positive program of back to work help for all disabled people. Why ruin a great new initiative by adding unnecessary threats and sanctions.
Our second demand focusses on the ESA/JSA interface. CarerWatch do accept that there does need to be some kind of ‘test’ to identify people with disability at the ESA/JSA interface. It needs to be more discerning than merely reaching a target of 1 million. It needs to be transparent so that potantial claimants understand clearly who gets this benefit and so that the public understand why people are awarded ESA and respect people who claim the benefit. This is where the government should concentrate and focus on changing WCA to make sure it works and the public trust it.
CarerWatch are horrified by the baldly expressed intention to move 1 million people from ESA/IB to JSA where they will be unsupported. Professor Gregg has also expressed concern about this. ESA was introduced to help disabled people who wanted to work to achieve their goals. There is no place for any kind of calculated cost cutting exercise.
We accept that at the ESA/JSA interface detection of fraud is necessary. But we have to separate the argument about fraud from the majority of people claiming ESA who are have a disability.
CarerWatch ask the new government to stop and think carefully about the way the test between ESA/JSA should work and drop this terrifying target of 1 million.
These two changes would simplify the hated testing system, gain public confidence, return respect and control of their lives to sick people and allow the government to concentrate its resources and energy on positive ways of helping people get back to work.
please tell us if you agree with this statement or if you think we should modify it in any way.
+ Minister makes Concession on ESA
July 20th, 2010
In Parliament yesterday – Monday 19th July 2010
Nadhim Zahawi: In my constituency, people are rightly worried about relatives with severe mental health disability attending the work capability assessment. Can my hon. Friend tell us what safeguards will be put in place for those people?
Maria Miller: The work capability assessment was, of course, developed in consultation with medical experts and disability specialist groups. There will be an annual review to ensure that any problems with the assessment are dealt with, and there has already been a Department-led review dealing with some of the issues that my hon. Friend raises in connection with people with mental health problems.
Modifications will be made, especially by expanding the support group to cover people with severe disability issues, to ensure that they are not inappropriately put into groups of activity.
CarerWatch welcome this statement from the Minister. This is exactly what we asked for in the CarerWatch General Election ESA campaign.
It’s a small step and we hope it will lead the way for more protection for the many groups of people with severe and enduring illness.
But it is certainly a very welcome statement from the Minister.
+ help needed
July 11th, 2010
CarerWatch done good. See the CarerWatch past campaigns on ESA here and here. We campaigned for them to show understanding to people with the most severe and enduring mental illness -and they did.
They said – ‘We will also extend the criteria for people with severe disability due to mental health conditions, meaning fewer very sick people will be asked to attend an assessment’
This of course in pathetically little in the face of the whole philosophy of ESA & arbeit macht frei. So CarerWatch are thinking how to take this ESA campaign on. We intend to hit the politicians on 6th September when they come back from recess.
At the moment we are struggling with the best way of focussing ESA campaigning.
We need to develop a strong campaigning message on ESA and get every one singing off a clear hymn sheet.
Are we attacking the concept of arbeit macht frei in general
Are we supportive of help for all sick and disabled people to get back to work
Is it the threats and sanctions that is so dangerous to sick people.
Is it the absurd ‘tests’ like WCA that are causing the problem
This isn’t straightforward in the context of savage cost cutting and the government spinning about what a wonderful tonic work is and the image attack against all benefit claimants.
We can’t do this on our own. We need help.
Please come & join the discussion in the CW group here
& help us. We need a group of volunteers to work this campaign out over the summer and to develop a blog which can be a resource for all campaigners.
+ Lord Freud in the Lords on ESA
July 22nd, 2010
There was a debate in the House of Lords on 20th July 2010. The questions were asked by Baroness Thomas – LibDem and a great friend of ours – and answered by Lord Freud – inventor of Welfare Reform when he was Labour and now a Tory Minister
There are extracts from the debate here
and a link to the full version in Hansard.
This shows exactly where they have all got to in their thinking. Embarassed Labour peers because they introduced it and it is turning out such an enormous mess.
Baroness Thomas is great. She is as critical in the Coalition as she was in opposition.
Lord Freud is our problem. He is making his name on this cruelty. Purnell is gone and we need Lord Freud to go for the madness to stop.
Look out for the term ‘personalised conditionality’. Conditionality means threats and sanctions. Personalised means you agree the activity program with them at your earlier interviews. They think this binds you in to take ownership of it and you can’t object if they put sanctions on you for failing with it. In reality it means you would be wise to go along and not agree to do anything. It’s the exact opposite of making you feel strong and willing to have a go.
RADAR follow modern disability thinking that people in 2010 are not disabled – they are just differently abled and EVERYONE can work.
So the division in to two groups of ESA is unnecessary. Back to work help must be offered to all – support group or not. The division is pointless
Which means the division between the support group and the main ESA group is purely and simply about sanctions. Sanctions on sick people are unhelpful and counterproductive and definitely inappropriate.
Freud’s argument at the end of this debate is wrong. He’s saying effectively that you get parked in support group. Totally unacceptable!
Debate in Lords here
+ Emergency – please help
July 12th, 2010
from Benefits and Work
Sterilise claimants urges racist treasury website
12 July 2010
This is a single issue newsletter asking for your urgent help in getting a government website closed down. The site, set up by the treasury to allow people to suggest ways to cut government spending, is full of hate-filled racist and disablist suggestions, including the sterilisation of benefits claimants, the return of the workhouse and the forced repatriation of asylum seekers and migrants. Some of the site’s content is so extreme it may even constitute a criminal offence. Read the full article…
+ Other Campaigns
July 11th, 2010
This is the place to post links to other campaigns
*johnny
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116432071735566
Black Triangle Human Rights Campaign
Dear Friends,
I’m John, Black Triangle’s campaign co-ordinator. First of all, a big thank you for your support!
We are hoping to be able to organise a mass demonstration of all campaign groups under our banner in time for the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham.
Add links to other campaigns as a comment here
Read the full article…
+ what other people are saying
July 9th, 2010
Guardian – food vouchers
IDS – my plans for benefits
Community Care - WCA assessments
yesminister – Professor Gregg
organised rage - private welfare providers
Iain Duncan Smith at loggerheads with Treasury over benefit cuts.
Minister told to ‘do his sums’ over proposal for multi-billion welfare and benefits revolution
Ann Clywd SICK ex-miners are being “upset and insulted” by the drive to medically assess benefit claimants, a Welsh MP claimed last night.