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.

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 24th, 2010 at 10:47 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.