UK government’s response to Work and Pensions Committee’s benefits assessment report falls flat
UK government’s response to Work and Pensions Committee’s benefits assessment report falls flat
Nil Guzelgun, Policy and Campaigns Manager at Mind, said: “Back in April, the Work and Pensions Committee released a report revealing the massive psychological distress that too many of us are experience after undergoing benefits assessments. We welcomed the Committee’s considered recommendations on how to make the process fairer for people struggling with their mental health, so it is extremely disappointing to see the UK government largely dismiss most of these sensible suggestions.
“The UK government’s response claims that the health and wellbeing of claimants is central to service delivery, and as a result, we expected to see the Committee’s recommendations taken more seriously.
“It should be taking advice from the Committee to make real improvements for people undergoing benefits assessments. The UK Government needs to show real commitment to improving benefits assessments by establishing a commission led by disabled people to redesign the benefits assessment system.
“We urge the UK government to reconsider its approach to the Committee’s thorough recommendations, particularly after such an extensive inquiry which took evidence from a wide range of stakeholders and people with lived experience of navigating the current complex and emotionally taxing system.”
