The charity Sense, which represents Deafblind people, has responded to the Channel 4 programme Dispatches that aired last night, investigating the planned changes to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) which in two years will disappear, to be replaced by the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The programme revealed the PIP system being abused and private contract ‘assessors’ acting unprofessionally and making disparaging remarks about claimants.
Richard Kramer, Deputy CEO of Sense, said:
“We’re deeply concerned by what we have seen in tonight’s episode of Dispatches. The sight of “fitness for work” assessors ridiculing claimants will cause distress for disabled people that already fear the assessments are geared towards saving money, rather than ensuring they receive sufficient benefit to live their lives.
The Government must focus its efforts on improving the life chances for disabled people and making a long term commitment to protecting the dignity and independence of some of the most vulnerable people in this country.”
More on the story can be found here: http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/watch-fitness-work-assessor-mock-7732900
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pennybsl
April 12, 2016
I haven’t seen the programme yet but saw the trailers – good to see Ade leading the documentary.
For once the BBC TV Licence proves its worth.
Will see it via BBC iPlayer with a stiff drink later this week.
It is an embarrassedly huge scandal in 2016 that in the United Kingdom, a democratically- elected government allowed such dishonourable, undignified, unlawful (in accordance to the Equality Act and Human Rights Act) and disgustingly inhumane processes to be carried out in this manner.
WASTING and ABUSING much needed funding in the process, as well as HUMILIATING us Deaf & Disabled people, even causing worsening health conditions (adding to the NHS’ burden). Those people who allowed this to happen should be taken to court in the same way benefit fraudsters have been convicted.
The DWP, as a ‘business’ in using taxpayers’ money properly, has broken all kinds of decent standards of care and monitoring where vulnerable citizens are concerned.
All charities, employers of D/D people, families, professionals etc. must rise up in one accord to stop this unbelievable nonsense.
ALL of this carnage would have been avoided if a PROPER Equality Impact Assessment was carried out in the first place, with strict training / monitoring of assessors INCLUDING skilled D/D professionals.
Cathy
April 12, 2016
This programme on channel 4 was indeed disparaging and a shock to most of us.
However, it did get me thinking especially about the man who mentioned someone was too fat to wipe their own behind. How far are we going to go with the “Disability label?’
It is interesting that some deaf people do not deem themselves as disabled: “only deaf!” Yet being overweight is a disability?
How can something which is perfectly preventable be classed as a disability, when deafness, which is in no way preventable, not be classed as such?
The assessor although showing disrespect does have a point: why should taxpayers be forced to pay for people who are so overweight that they cannot wipe their own behind?
Is this scenario not serious enough for us to discuss and evaluate properly? I think it is time we did. People should be compelled to start taking responsibility for themselves and not let their weight balloon to such heights that they cannot function normally.
People who are blind or deaf cannot change their situation whatsoever and deserve support, but in all honesty, I do not deem overweight people to be in need of extra money for excess weight. This may sound harsh but the obesity time bomb in Britain is steadily ticking away and it has been reported that it will bust the NHS!
People have a duty to keep their weight down then money can be diverted from them to pay the real disabled people that we have.
That assessor on the programme has opened Pandora’s box, but I, for one, am very glad he has!
mjfahey
April 12, 2016
Cathy . In some cases weight gain has nothing to do with how much a person eats, it can be caused by other health problems. You should beware of jumping to conclusions and diagnosing a person’s disability without knowing anything about that person…. which is something the assessor was doing ( on Saturday before the assessment, his words) in order to make as many assessments as possible to boost his income
Cathy
April 12, 2016
Mjfahey: I am well aware that being overweight can be caused by other problems, but the vast majority of people who are obese have been over eating for years! There is no way in this world every single one of them has another problem making them overweight.
In any case how do you prove which way round it is: the weight causing other problems or other problems causing the weight?!
This is a serious problem and if making excuses for everybody is the best we can do, we may aswell all just sit back and wait for the NHS to implode!!
No problem!
mjfahey
April 13, 2016
” the vast majority of people who are obese have been overeating for years! ” Oh yeah? How do you know? Have you been watching each and every one of them?.
There are so many causes of weight gain which are linked to other health problems it’s unbelievable… to label each and everyone of them a burden on the NHS is totally wrong.
To list just a few… genetics, mental health, diabetes, certain side affects of medication, disability which prevents exercise, poor diet caused by poverty…ie cheaper junk food, high sugar foods pushed by certain companies, food addiction( linked to mental health) education in childhood…. so many things it’s impossible to list. But certain people just lump them all together under the ” fat person who is unable to wipe their own behind”
Anyone would think being fat is a lifestyle choice for all these people…
You know what? I’m deaf, and some times it’s such a pain, such a challenge, such an inconvenience…. but the biggest problem I have with deafness is other people who are so ignorant and uneducated about deafness that they have not a clue what it’s about, and are not prepared to go a little deeper and say “Hey, this guy’s got a problem, I need to understand what it is and how to deal with it so that we can both rub along nicely together”
Yeah… the biggest problem I have is getting people to educate themselves before jumping to conclusions…
We certainly need less people like Alan the PIP assessor and his bosses who let him get away with abusing people with disabilities….cos who knows what his thoughts are about my deafness?
Tim
April 13, 2016
I’m glad Sense is speaking up for us again. Other charities take note.
This so-called “welfare reform” is purely ideological and is all about snatching support from disabled people.
There was a precedent stating that Deaf people are entitled to DLA (Halliday/Fairey,) and what the government has done is to come along and try to cancel that result by creating a new benefit with different rules. They wish to disqualify people by moving the goalposts.
So what we have here is a private company attempting to do the dirty work of this ideological agenda. If you’re Deaf and claiming PIP, I would suggest:
1) Get good evidence as early as possible – an audiogram with a statement about the type and severity of deafness. You can write to your audiology department and ask for this.
2) Do not fill in the form yourself unless it is by using a step by step guide, such as Benefits and Work or CAB.
A well filled in form, together with good evidence, may increase your chance of getting an award on paper.