DWP has at last published the mortality statistics for the ESA group. It will take time to analyse them, but what they show is that the WCA is not fit for purpose. 2500 people have died after being found fit for work. Another 7,200 people died after being placed in the WRAG, the group for disabled people who can do ‘some work’, another 7540 died waiting to be assessed
But these figures do not tell the whole story. They ignore the suffering of disabled people who survived, being found fit for work but unable to claim JSA because they cannot meet the conditionality of the benefit. The suffering of 3000 disabled people sanctioned every month, and who cannot compensate for their loss of income, because they were found unfit to work, and they are.
The suffering and the humiliation of disabled people who have to prove their impairment/long term health issues over and over again to DWP staff who don’t believe them. The suffering of disabled people being portrayed as scroungers by the media. This suffering cannot be captured by statistics.
Under the last Labour government, the aim was to force 1 million disabled people out of benefits and into work. Almost 10 years later, the aim is the same, while in a meantime a Coalition minister recognised that people on disability benefits were ‘sicker’ than they thought.
This has not changed. Some people will never get better and need long term support. To pretend that they can do ‘some work’ is disingenuous, as no employer is prepared to offer ‘some work’ to disabled people.
People died because of the welfare reforms, but others suffered and still suffer. Let’s not forget any of them
The figures released by the DWP will need to be looked at carefully before any further conclusions can be drawn from them, and we will be doing just that, and will report back when we have done that. You can see the release of data for yourself here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mortality-statistics-esa-ib-and-sda-claimants
IDS should be accused of pre-meditating a pogrom against the weakest and defenceless in our society. he should be accused of crimes against humanity and waging a war against people who usually wish to live as independently as they possibly can and heroically endure despite invasive illness, prejudice and bigotry – and actually contribute much to our society, often saving the tax-payer billions in hospital costs or care fees.
If this was during a war, they would be referred as ‘war criminals.’ The culprit would not be just IDS and DWP but their masters, the Tory Government – they should resign.
The High Death Toll is an Outrage which must Not be Brushed Under the Carpet
The Resignation of Ian Duncan Smith as Secretary of State For Work and Pensions is in Order
The Dwp has killed more British people than The Terrorists
absolutely disgraceful, the aim of the tories and labour before was to either kill off disabled people by depriving them of even basic finances to survive or die because of the sanctions. you wait 12 months now the ILF has gone, there will be many many more. We need all unions, all disabled and relatives to confront all MPS and show our disgust. It comes to my mind what a certain group did in the 2nd world war, get rid of disabled and sick as they are no use. The WCA is the right medium for them to achieve this aim.
I don’t care what anyone says re my comments
, I was a nurse and midwife so I know only too well what happens to the sick and disabled under this type regime
Lest we forget the suffering caused by the DWP. ..shame on them.
About time. .absolutely shocking and disgusting that this coward Smith withheld it for so long. ..power to the people. .Smith you can run but you can’t hide.
I am still starting to get to grips with the magnitude of the scandal revealed by these figures. Clearly the DWP knew they had something to hide or they would not have fought such a long and determined rearguard action against having to release the figures as they did.
It is great news that there figures have finally been released, however there is still a long, long way to go. The whole benefit system is not fit for purpose, not just the WCA. One day I was disabled, claiming IB and DLA at both high rates, however on review (which I have to suffer every two years for a non-treatable, incurable condition) I was suddenly fund to be all well again and lost everything overnight. All because I did not fully understand the forms and, wrongly, completed them as a person who tried hard. I got back some on appeal, but lost my home and ended up in massive debt in the meantime. Then when my IB was changed to ESA I wasn’t even called for a WCA, or anything, and have been placed in WRAG – the group which the DWP consider are capable of taking immediate steps towards being in work! Most of the time my condition leave me housebound, if not bed bound, yet I have to go to work focused interviews every 6 months (shortly to be reduced to 3 months, then monthly) to help me get ready for work and if i don’t I will get sanctioned – I had to postpone an appointment once and was in no doubt of the sanctions that would be applied if I did it again. Equally these interviews only ever try to deal with the depression caused by my chronic pain, as if by curing the depression (which isn’t really an issue and is expected when you live in pain 24/7) I’ll be all better. I’ve been given fact sheets on depression to read and made to use a mental health charity for advice or, again, be sanctioned – the fact is the charity didn’t even run in my area! I’ve tried to get out of WRAG, but been told (by Job Centrer+) that unless my condition deteriorates or I get something else wrong with me I will not be considered, and that is unlikely to happen. The whole process is so messed up and IDS needs to be made to resign for the mess!
I found this site almost by accident, as for your situation Rebecca, it is almost like reading about myself, and although I wouldn’t want anyone to suffer as I am, to read that you have had the same idiotic stupid and pointless runaround as me at least makes me feel not so alone. I have joint hypermobility syndrome and have pain 24/7 suffer severe depression but have always worked even with depression, but the physical illness wont go away ever and I will never be able to work. They have done exactly the same to me and the ESA as it is now, I have been told stops from next month! My condition hasn’t changed, why they put me in Wrag group I will never know!! I am isolated, stay in the house and barely go out, I have a 5 year old so I have to push myself a bit more, which makes me feel even more guilty that I am so incapacitated. Hope we all get a miracle!! Highly unlikely with these criminals running the country………..
It Seems like there is Now over 75,000 Signatures for Ian Duncan Smith to Resign as Secretary
of State for Work and Pensions
There has been Far too High a Death Toll as Well as Suffering in General due to the Obnoxious
Policies against Caring Welfare Provision for People to just Bury their Heads in the Sand
I am Amazed that Apparently they do ” Not Hold Information on the Reason for Death ” and
therefore ” No Casual Effect between the benefit and the number of people who Died should be
assumed from these Figures ” .
It is Clear as Crystal that at least 2,500 Deaths after Wrongly being found ” Fit to Death ” is a Total
Outrage
Decent People Need to be Out Demonstrating to Demand his Resignation as Secretary of State
for Work and Pensions
I am Starting to Read them Myself and it Already looks Shocking
A Tragedy in British History and a Crime against Humanity the Huge Number of Poor and Vulnerable
who have Died
Only someone without a Human Heart could Fail to be Incensed by this Outrage of Infamy