9-03-04

Barrett highlights shortcomings of Disability Benefits system

John Barrett, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, has called for urgent Government action to improve the disability and sickness benefits system.

In 2003 almost 70,000 people appealed against decisions that denied them access to Disability Living Allowance. Of these, 54% were successful. This highlights a severe incompetence on the part of the Government to assess people’s needs correctly the first time around.

For the same year there were 46,000 appeals against decisions made on Incapacity Benefit. Of these, 48% were successful.

In a statement, Mr Barrett said:

“The proportion of successful appeals for both forms of benefit have risen year on year since 1998. This means that the Government is getting progressively worse in its primary decision-making process.

“Taking a broader overview, what these figures show is that, for 2003, almost 15% of the total number of people eligible for these benefits were initially refused them.

“One of the most basic measures of a decent society is how it helps those in most need. This Government needs to readjust the benefits system in such a way that it becomes easier, not more difficult, for people to claim the welfare to which they are entitled.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The figures in this news release are sourced from The Department for Work and Pensions.

Disability Living Allowance (successful appeals) 2003 = 36,855

Disability Living Allowance (unsuccessful appeals) 2003 = 32,095

Disability Living Allowance (total beneficiaries) 2003 = 250,000

Incapacity Benefit (successful appeals) 2003 = 22,055

Incapacity Benefit (unsuccessful appeals) 2003 = 24,155

Incapacity Benefit (total beneficiaries) 2003 = 150,000