Only as sick as the Conservatives want you to be

The Government is considering making it mandatory for those in the Support Group of Employment and Support Allowance to take part in Work Related Activity. Currently such claimants are considered too disabled or unwell to be required to do these activities, they can do them voluntarily. Work related activity can include, not limited to, regular interviews, work experience, job club, training or education.

I don't agree with this proposal anymore than I do those on the Work Related Activity rate doing them. Sick people are no longer allowed to be sick, the Government no longer wants them to exist, they want to change the law so that they don't.

This proposal endangers the well being of those too ill to work. Forcing people to take part in activities decided by someone else to be suitable, won't help people get back to work. Instead it will add to their stress and uncrease their symptoms. Many will attempt to participate for fear of losing benefits if they don't. Disabled people have already had benefits sanctioned in the WRAG for  not attending interviews or activities and among all claimants for not attending assessments with good reason including being in hospital, being too ill, or dealing with family emergency. Some people who have already died have received letters threaning4 their benefits. These propsals will further the serious harm, including thousands of deaths, already done to sick, disabled and vulnerable since the Conservatives turned welfare into open warfare.

Source Evolve Politics

Can't work is not won't work

Some people on Employment & Support allowance  are sqnctioned for up to 6 months if they don't or can't take part in work related activities deemed suitable by Job Centre staff or their appointed providers. ESA is paid to those unable to work due to disability or illness with those in the work related group, WRAG, assessed as able to take part in certain activities and deemed likely to return to work within 6 months In reality its anyone who does not score 15 points in any one section of the Work Capability Assessment, regardless of how many points they get above 15 over the whole assessment. These are still often significantly disabled people.

These activities can be anything that the worker decides is appropriate, it may be work schemes, education, training or anything else judged relevant to your situation. Your benefits can be sanctioned if you do not participate.  In short people already too ill to work are punished if they do not do activities similar to those demanded of unemployed people. This on  top of changes that mean that from  earlier this year  new ESA claimants  in the WRAG now get the same amount of benefit as Jobseekers Allowance clainmants,  a cut of £30 per week.

I have long thought that the Conservative Government saw those that can't work in the same  light as those that won't. Certainly this appears to be proof that they view those with heath conditions as simply unemployed. Whilst in reality the effects of significant and/or longstanding medical conditions mean that finding and keeping work is a major challenge for many people if they are able to work at all. Forcing people to do activities they do not feel, or are not capable of, puts them at risk, both from the effects of the activity, and from the fear of what will happen if they do nor comply. 

Many thousands have already died or been seriously harmed by Conservatives welfare policies, this regime also puts people at serious risk. The government must now be held accountable for its actions and failure to keep its pledge that those unable to work would be supported.

Note Those in the Support Group of ESA receive higher benefit payments and do not have to participate in work related activity.