Iain Duncan Smith has serious questions to answer
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has just published figures showing that between 2011 and 2014, 2,380 people died shortly after being declared ‘fit for work’.
Published in response to Freedom of Information requests, the statistics show that more than 50 people are dying each month just after a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) has declared them fit for work.
These deaths relate to just two benefits, Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance (IB/SDA), both paid to people too ill or disabled to work.
Between December 2011 and February 2014:
270 former IB/SDA claimants died shortly (scans are conducted fortnightly for ESA and six-weekly for IB/SDA) after being declared fit for work and having their benefits withdrawn.
1,340 ESA claimants who had recently completed appeals against the fit for work assessment died.
The DWP document states that ‘the mortality rate [for people of working age out of work] has remained around three times higher than for the general population. There are a higher proportion of people who are sick or disabled amongst those on benefits than in the general population.’
The fact that the DWP feels this needs to be said at all speaks volumes about the way it treats sick and disabled people – with suspicion and lack of compassion.
These figures are truly alarming for disabled people, especially as they come just days after Iain Duncan Smith announced an overhaul of the WCA system which would force many sick and disabled people to work. An investigation is also currently underway into the deaths of people who have recently had their benefits sanctioned.
Ruby Stockham is a staff writer at Left Foot Forward
Want to read more posts like this? Then *sign-up to Look Left* and make sure you have the facts to rebut right-wing spin
35 Responses to “New DWP statistics: more than 80 people are dying each month shortly after being declared ‘fit for work’”
JAMES MCGIBBON
Paul. It was Labour who started the ball rolling under Brown although his intention was to get people out of the institutional rut where they never worked or dreamt of working. However that is different from attacking the sick and mentally disabled. Duncan Shmitt seems to really enjoy his job.
remarx
It is my considered belief as an historian that this government does want the sick, lame and disabled to – let’s say – perish. They are seen as ‘a burden’ on the state and as such need purging. It seems the DWP is the means of applying this ‘solution’.
The latest utterance from this government through the mouth of the disgusting IDS says that even though you are so mentally or physically impaired that employment in a pressurised, un-compassionate and low paid workforce will probably make you suicidal, that ‘work will be good for you’.
The German’s ( yes I do know about Godwin’s Law) for their solution made camps for their undesirables. One such camp, to this day, has a slogan over the entrance announcing “Arbeit Macht Frei” which translates to “Work will set you free”. This is not an hysterical comparison but a frighteningly historical one.
Of course these camps are the past remnants of an evil elitist regime that will not be allowed to happen again. But has there not been mentioned in the recent press by our present elitist government that ‘ the unemployed should be sent to Boot Camp ‘?
Perhaps I am being paranoid about this government but the comparisons that have been made – and more that haven’t – are there for all who study.
The leadership of our present elitist government really need to stop and think what they are doing before it is too late.
blarg1987
No doubt you have done a stringent fact based investigation whereby you knew each of the deceased beforehand and monitored all their habits?
madasafish
Nice collection of hyperboles there.
remarx
Yes you’re right of course, but I did intend it to be an exercise in wordiness. However, after comparison of text, the venacular (no need to repeat) does make the point better.