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Originally Posted by Gary L
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And those that are told they are fit to work, (but are really in no fit state to do any work), have to go through the appeals process, and are normally having to wait around 8 to 9 months for their appeal to be heard. (probably a lot longer now due to a backlog).
Also, what about the genuinely disabled who are too scared to appeal the DWP's (with the help of the ATOS examiners) decision? I wonder what the figures would drop to then?
No wonder some of these "victims" find suicide to be the only viable option. What effects do they have on the overall figures?
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However, the new figures did not include information on appeals claimants are entitled to lodge.
Charities claim that as many as 40 per cent of people who are assessed fit to work appeal against that verdict and 40 per cent of those appeals succeed.
Paul Farmer of the mental health charity Mind accused ministers of being misleading by omitting appeals from the figures.
He said: "Today's figures do not accurately reflect how many people are genuinely fit for work. The numbers are misleading as they do not show the full effect of the people who appeal the outcome of their assessment and the 40 per cent of these appeals which are successful.
"The work capability assessment is a flawed process and is causing anxiety and pain for thousands of people who are trapped in a cycle of reassessments and appeals.”
The DWP conceded that appeals will eventually reduce the headline figures from the reassessment exercise.
“The final proportion who are deemed fit to work is likely to fall as some appeals will be successful,” the department said.
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