'Fit for work' tests to be improved after review

The Government yesterday announced changes to medical tests designed to assess whether people are fit for work after improvements were suggested following a review.

Professor Malcolm Harrington said the Work Capability Assessments (WCA) were not working as well as they should be, adding that the system was too "impersonal and mechanistic".

Many people found to be fit for work felt they had not been treated fairly and so were more likely to lodge an appeal to a judge, he said.

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Professor Harrington recommended that more "decision makers" should be appointed to deal with cases and make the system more "human" as well as improving the system for assessing people with mental health problems.

He also called for better communication and feedback between staff and those assessed.

Employment Minister Chris Grayling said the Government accepted all the recommendations, adding that it was determined to press ahead with tackling

the "long term culture" of welfare dependency in the UK, which

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has led to more than two million people claiming incapacity benefits.

He denied the Government had any targets for moving people from welfare to work and pledged to treat people "sensitively".

"We are committed to the most radical overhaul of the welfare state for generations.

"Hundreds of thousands of people have been on incapacity benefit for more than a decade.

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"It's unacceptable that so many people have been written off to a lifetime on benefits. We know that many of these people could and do want to work, but the current system doesn't allow them to.

"Improving the WCA is central to our commitment to help thousands of people start the journey back to work and the Harrington Review is a crucial step towards this.

"It's in everyone's interest that we get the WCA right and Professor Harrington's recommendations will make the assessment fairer and more effective.

"The WCA should be seen as a positive first step towards returning to work.

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"Those who are found fit for work will get the help and support they need to get a job.

"Those found too sick or disabled to work won't be expected to and will continue to receive the help and support they need to lead fulfilling lives."

Arthritis Care also welcomed the recommendations of the review.

Policy and campaigns head Federico Moscogiuri said: "Many people with arthritis have had valid applications thrown out on highly questionable evidence, causing extreme distress and hardship to very vulnerable people.

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"Almost one in three of all decisions are appealed, and many are won on appeal.

"Quite simply, the way this assessment is currently being conducted cannot be deemed to be fair or accurate, and is in urgent need of reform."

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