Work Capability Assessment consultation – Inclusion London’s response

Inclusion London believes that a new assessment should be co-designed with Deaf and Disabled people . In our response we put forward suggestions to contribute to the discussion and to indicate some fundamental principles regarding the assessment. Read on for the full response…

Inclusion London responded to Ekklesia’s consultation on the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) for Employment Support Allowance (ESA).

Recommendations

Inclusion London key recommendations regarding an assessment for ESA are:

  • The assessment /benefit process must express and reflect the UNCRPD – it must explicitly support Deaf and Disabled people to live independently with choice and control.
  • The assessment is based on the social model of Disability and a ‘barriers-approach’ that identifies the barriers operating in society that cause unemployment rather than a medical or psycho behavioural approach that do not address the primary reasons for unemployment
  • Is a self-assessment verified by health professionals
  • The assessment process is holistic and looks at all the barriers to employment; for instance lack of personal assistance, lack of accessible transport, lack of funding from Access to work, lack of reasonable adjustments by employers or lack of sufficient income from welfare benefits.
  • Also that other issues are also addressed, such as:
  • Cuts and caps to Access to Work support because of inadequate funding.
  • Employer’s lack of reasonable adjustments.
  • Employer’s discriminatory attitudes.
  • The DWP decision makers acknowledge that some Deaf or Disabled people are either unable to work at all or the number of hours of work have to be curtailed due to the impact of impairments or long term health conditions
  • Disabled people are not separated into different groups.

After the assessment

  • There is no welfare benefit conditionality, no compulsory work related activities and no sanctions.
  • Intensive, one to one, long term ‘into work support’ is provided, preferably by local, user led DDPOs
  • Into work providers are also funded to provide information and support to local employers, including information about making reasonable adjustments.

 

Inclusion London’s full response is available to download: ekklesia-wca-esa-consltation-inclusion-london-2016