9 November 2007

Labour announces the new work capability assessment for claiming employment and support allowance, with DWP claiming that “Fifty per cent of those who take the assessment will not pass it”.

What: Work and pensions secretary Peter Hain announces a new assessment process for claiming employment and support allowance – the work capability assessment. DWP claims that “Fifty per cent of those who take the assessment will not pass it”. The press release states that the 2.64 million working age people claiming incapacity benefits “cost the country nearly twelve and a half billion pounds in 2006/7”.

Why significant: Builds the narrative that many of those currently claiming incapacity benefits are doing so fraudulently.