THE rate of successful appeals against the Government’s fitness for work tests is rising despite a series of reforms to the system.
In the quarter to September 2012, 42 per cent of appeals against Work Capability Assessments were upheld but in the first two years of the programme the rate of successful appeals was below 40 per cent.
The figures raise fresh concerns about the efficiency of private firm Atos Healthcare, which carries out Work Capability Assessments for the Government. Employment Support Allowance claimants must pass the Work Capability Assessment test.
Appeals against the decisions are costing the taxpayer £50million a year.
The rate of appeals is also rising despite a raft of reforms to the system. In the 12 months to March 2011, 127,000 cases went to tribunal of which 37 per cent were upheld.
The following year 168,000 appeals were heard and 65,400 disabled people (39 per cent) were successful.
Justice Minister Helen Grant said: “Appeals can be made against elements of an ESA award, such as the rate of entitlement, as well as the decision to refuse ESA.”
Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said failure to get medical assessments right the first time was undermining the Government’s welfare reform programme.
She said: “Disabled people and taxpayers are still paying far too high a price for mistakes made in benefit assessments of who is fit for work.”
