Unfit for Purpose - Scottish CAB evidence on ESA

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Evidence report Published 26 May 2010 Format: A4 report ISBN: Price per hardcopy: Free [downloads are free]

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Summary

Citizens Advice Scotland’s latest research report, Unfit for Purpose, which looks at the significant impact that Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) has had on Scottish bureau clients. The main findings of the report include:

• Many clients with serious conditions are being found fit for work, including clients with Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, terminal cancer, Bi-Polar disorder, heart failure, strokes, and agoraphobia.
• Over two thirds (68%) of claimants are being found fit for work compared to the original target of 50% of claimants.
• The Work Capability Assessment, which assesses whether a claimant is fit for work, is inflexible and fails to take into account a client’s full condition.
• Around 1 in 4 fit for work assessments reach a tribunal, with 39% of these appeals being won by the claimant. Where a bureau represents a client, 70% of appeals are won by claimants. 
• Scottish bureaux have reported a massive workload helping clients with ESA appeals, which places increased pressure on already much stretched CAB resources.

If you have any questions about this report, please contact Keith Dryburgh, Social Policy Officer by email at keith.dryburgh@cas.org.uk or by phone on 0131 550 1015. 

For additional hard copies please contact Rosie Cooper on 0131 550 7181 or at rosie.cooper@cas.org.uk.