{"id":99923,"date":"2024-12-19T14:20:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T14:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/?p=99923"},"modified":"2024-12-19T13:41:51","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T13:41:51","slug":"dwp-25-9-billion-benefits-disabled-claimants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/dwp-25-9-billion-benefits-disabled-claimants\/","title":{"rendered":"DWP\u2019s \u00a325.9 Billion Benefits Overhaul : What the High Court Case Means for Disabled Claimants"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The <strong>Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)<\/strong> is facing a pivotal legal challenge regarding its proposed changes to <strong>disability benefits<\/strong>. With the <strong>High Court<\/strong> now involved, scrutiny has intensified over the fairness of the consultation process and the potential impact on claimants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Legal Challenge Over Consultation Process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ellen Clifford\u2019s <strong>legal team<\/strong>, comprising solicitors from the <strong>Public Law Project<\/strong> and barristers <strong>Jenni Richards KC<\/strong> and <strong>Tom Royston<\/strong>, has argued that the <strong>DWP consultation process<\/strong> lacked transparency by withholding <strong>key information<\/strong>. In court, Tom Royston remarked, <em>\u201cIt\u2019s scarcely imaginable that that wouldn\u2019t have been pointed out by consultees, but it couldn\u2019t\u2014it was information only available to the defendant.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Today our client <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EllenClifford1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@EllenClifford1<\/a> is in the High Court, challenging the DWP over a rushed and disingenuous consultation that was held on reforms tightening the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WorkCapabilityAssessment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#WorkCapabilityAssessment<\/a>.<br><br>If these reforms go ahead, more than 400,000 people will be worse off by \u00a3416 a month. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cIQ2Iad0zr\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/cIQ2Iad0zr<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Public Law Project (@publiclawprojct) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/publiclawprojct\/status\/1866526448049152193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">December 10, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The consultation revealed that <strong>14.6%<\/strong> of new claims awarded <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/dwp-work-capability-assessment-universal-credit\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4624\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity<\/a> (LCWRA)<\/strong> status relied on <strong>substantial risk criteria<\/strong>, forming a core argument for reforming the <strong>Work Capability Assessment (WCA)<\/strong>. Campaigners contend that these changes fail to offer clear benefits to <strong>disabled individuals<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Issues Highlighted :<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>14.6% reliance on substantial risk criteria<\/strong> lacks sufficient justification for narrowing eligibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consultees were denied access to <strong>critical data<\/strong>, raising concerns about transparency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Proposed changes risk reducing <strong>support for claimants<\/strong> with no evidence of better outcomes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Broader issues of <strong>fairness and accuracy<\/strong> in the WCA system remain unresolved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The reforms risk worsening challenges for disabled people, with transparency concerns and unclear benefits making the upcoming green paper crucial for future policy.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Background on the WCA and Proposed Changes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/health-conditions-disability-universal-credit\/after-assessment\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/health-conditions-disability-universal-credit\/after-assessment\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The <strong>Work Capability Assessment <\/strong><\/a><strong>(WCA)<\/strong>, introduced in <strong>2008<\/strong>, determines eligibility for disability benefits such as <strong>Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)<\/strong>. It evaluates the severity of disabilities or illnesses using a <strong>points-based system<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The proposed reforms aim to restrict the application of <strong>substantial risk criteria<\/strong>, currently used to grant LCWRA status in <strong>exceptional cases<\/strong>. <a href=\"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/dwp-struggles-under-pressure\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/dwp-struggles-under-pressure\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">According to the DWP<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/dwp-struggles-under-pressure\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/dwp-struggles-under-pressure\/\">,<\/a> the criteria are applied <strong>too broadly<\/strong>. The consultation document stated, <em>\u201cThe application of LCWRA risk has gone beyond the original intent.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Statistics :<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>14.6%<\/strong> of LCWRA awards stem from <strong>substantial risk criteria<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Approximately <strong>1.8 million people<\/strong> in the UK receive <strong>out-of-work disability benefits<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The DWP aims to reduce the <strong>\u00a325.9 billion annual cost<\/strong> of disability benefits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Advocacy Groups Warn of Disproportionate Impact and Systemic Flaws<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Disability rights organisations<\/strong> have raised serious concerns about the potential consequences of the reforms. Ellen Clifford of <strong>Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC)<\/strong> described the changes as <strong>financially motivated<\/strong>, warning they could disproportionately harm individuals with <strong>complex or fluctuating conditions<\/strong>, including <strong>mental health issues<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Critics have also pointed out flaws in the WCA process. Data shows that <strong>70% of appeals<\/strong> against WCA decisions are successful, highlighting persistent issues with <strong>accuracy<\/strong> and <strong>fairness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Government Response and Reform Goals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A <strong>DWP spokesperson<\/strong> defended the reforms, stating, &#8220;<em>We can\u2019t comment on live legal proceedings. We\u2019ve been clear the work capability assessment is not working. That\u2019s why we will bring forward a green paper on our proposals for reforming the health and disability benefits system as part of a proper plan to genuinely support disabled people into work and, in turn, bring down the benefits bill.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>We will work closely with disabled people and their organisations as we develop our proposals, which we will publish in the spring.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The government has committed to working with <strong>disability organisations<\/strong> to refine its proposals, with a <strong>green paper<\/strong> expected in the <strong>spring<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Objectives :<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Increase <strong>employment rates for disabled people<\/strong>, currently at <strong>53.5%<\/strong>, compared to <strong>82%<\/strong> for non-disabled individuals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Address <strong>benefit overpayments<\/strong>, which reached <strong>\u00a34 billion<\/strong> in 2022 (4.5% of total payments).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This case highlights the <strong>challenge of balancing fiscal objectives<\/strong> with ensuring equitable support for vulnerable populations. The outcome is likely to set a critical precedent for <strong>disability policy<\/strong> in the UK, shaping how <strong>employment and welfare reforms<\/strong> are approached in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can the DWP justify its controversial disability benefits overhaul? With 14.6% of claims under scrutiny and transparency questioned, the High Court battle could reshape the future for millions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":99927,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-99923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-retirement","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33","no-featured-image-padding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=99923"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99923\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":99955,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/99923\/revisions\/99955"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/99927"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=99923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=99923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=99923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}