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Reforms have worsened “minefield” of support claims

22 Gorffennaf 2014

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Some Citizens Advice clients have waited a further three months for decision

New research from national charity, Citizens Advice, shows 1,600 people a month are seeking help with mandatory reconsideration for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

The news comes as the Work and Pensions Select Committee releases a report today about ESA which shows it is not achieving its aims of getting people into employment. The committee’s report reflects the evidence that Citizens Advice provided on the problems that many claimants are facing.

The Select Committee report also looks at the impact of the new ‘Mandatory Reconsideration’ phase in the Department for Work and Pensions appeals system. The new element of the ESA process is designed as a ‘second opinion’, during which an individual’s application for financial support is reconsidered before they can appeal against a rejected claim.

Citizens Advice's new research [ 130 kb] shows the lack of financial help for sick and disabled people during the ‘second opinion’ mandatory reconsideration phase leaves people at risk of falling into debt and making their health even worse. The research found:

  • Some Citizens Advice clients were forced to wait more than three months for an answer on their claim.
  • The majority still appeal a decision after getting a second opinion, meaning mandatory reconsideration is just making the process more drawn-out, more expensive and more difficult for people who need help.

Citizens Advice Chief Executive, Gillian Guy, said:

“Claiming ESA is a minefield which recent reforms have only made worse. The new ‘second opinion’ stage of the appeals system has created another obstacle to sick and disabled people whose illness or disability prevents them from working. Citizens Advice now sees more problems with ESA than any other issue: since it was introduced we have helped people with over 1.5 million problems with ESA.

“Being charged for seeking medical evidence to help lodge an appeal can be a serious blow for people whose sickness or disability is a barrier to seeking work. A system that drives people to pay for the basic medical evidence needed to appeal their assessment is putting unnecessary pressure on both GPs and ordinary people.

“Today’s Select Committee report has rightly highlighted the deep-seated problems with ESA that Citizens Advice has identified and been helping claimants with. The Government needs to overhaul this broken benefit, beginning with supporting people throughout their appeal and ensuring they obtain medical evidence without having to pay.”

Notes to editors:

  1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website.
  2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
  3. To find your local bureau in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk. You can also get advice online at adviceguide.org.uk
  4. You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers
  5. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.3 million clients on 5.4 million problems from October 2013 to September 2014. For full 2013/2014  service statistics see our quarterly publication Advice trends
  6. Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 3,000 service outlets across England and Wales.