Paul Farmer, Chief Exeutive of the mental health charity Mind has quit his position as the charity representative on a four man panel appointed by the Government to approve the WCA. Mr Farmer said that the Government has refused to listen to criticisms of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and that people with serious mental health conditions were wrongly being told to find work after being deemed fit for work. Appeals against the WCA have so far cost the taxpayer £50m.
The feeling is that the process which is assessing 11,000 claimants a week is being rushed.
Quite right too! Well done, Paul Farmer. Let’s hope all the other disability charities support him. These reforms are damaging the already challenged health of disabled people. Sign and share Pat’s Petition which calls for the government to “Stop and review the cuts to benefits and services which are falling disproportionately on disabled people, their carers and families”. The link is here http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20968