At the moment, people with disabilities have to complete and undertake a work capability assessment to test which work-related responsibilities need to be kept to receive benefits in full.
This will be abolished, & benefits entitlement will be separated from an individual’s ability to work, as part of a planned overhaul of the system.
In future there will only be one health & disability assessment – the Personal Independent Payment (PIP) assessment.
I think there is going to be a lot of worry and confusion about this, personally I cannot see how this will work in practise. The PIP assessments and the Work Capability Assessments look at completely different things, so I am doubtful that this is a practical and sensible solution. I would imagine that the PIP guidelines and assessment criteria will have to change somewhat.
I know all this is meant with the aim of getting more disabled people back into work, but the issue isn’t solely about money from a disabled person’s point of view.
Some people are unable to work, however much they want to, and this is never going to change. Others are able to work if the circumstances are exactly right and the necessary support is provided and 100% reliable.
One big barrier as well as the actual disability involved, is the Social Care System. You cannot do a job, however capable you may be with support, if you can’t rely 100% on your PA/Carer arriving early enough every morning for you to get up, dressed and ready for work.
Public transport issues too, if you don’t drive and use public transport – remember that only one wheelchair user can go on the bus at a time, so how are wheelchair users who commute by bus all going to get to work for 9am?!
It just isn’t as simple as find a job, you need to be totally sure that the company will be inclusive, you can get to work, and you can get the support/equipment to allow you to do your job to the best of your ability, also whoever you work for needs to understand you may need time off for hospital appts, physio etc…
Access, Inclusion, & Other Stuff. 