Reading's Disabled Benefits Claimants Are Being 'Systematically Short-Changed', Says Expert

Work and Pensions secretary Damian Green

An experienced benefits adviser has accused the Department for Work and Pensions of short-changing "people who are the worst off in our society"

Severely disabled people in Reading are being "systematically short-changed" by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

That is according to experienced benefits adviser Edda Stentiford, who has spent the last three years helping more than 50 sick and disabled people in Reading claim back thousands in arrears.

She has accused the DWP of "short-changing people who are the worst off in our society".

Mrs Stentiford says many people who have been transferred from incapacity benefit (IB) to employment support allowance (ESA) have not applied for all the money they are entitled to because they are being misled by the DWP.

She believes the Government department has been using a "faulty calculation" to figure out whether a claimant is entitled to a means-tested benefit called income-related ESA, which is for people who have little or no savings and are unable to work due to illness or disability.

She claims the calculation does not factor in the enhanced disability premium (£15.75 per week), even when the DWP knows an individual is entitled to it.

She is also concerned that other claimants are not being told they are entitled to the severe disability premium (£61.85 a week per person) and missing out on thousands of pounds.

"This is deception, it's been happening for years"

She added: "I have been trying to get this corrected and in the end been shouting at them [the DWP] for the last 18 months and they haven't done anything about it.

"This is deception, it's been happening for years and it's quite clearly not a mistake anymore.

"This is a nationwide scandal, I don't believe people in Reading are getting a different letter to everyone else I the country. That's just not how the DWP work."

Claimants receiving less money under another form of the benefit, known as the 'contributions-based ESA' (non means tested) do not receive the enhanced disability premium or severe disability premium.

The claimants can find out whether their circumstances mean they are entitled to receive income-based ESA.

However, some of these claimants are being wrongly told they are not entitled to apply for it, says Mrs Stentiford.

Mrs Stentiford, helped pensioners Jacqueline and Alfred Maskell, who care for their severely disabled 28-year-old son Christopher, claim back £1,142 earlier this year.

"Government seems to think 'tough luck, just leave them to it'"

Christopher, who had been receiving contributions-based ESA, was actually entitled to income-based ESA. She helped the family successfully apply for income-related ESA and win back two years of arrears.

Mrs Maskell said: "Christopher is a high-maintenance disabled person, who needs 24 hour care. If we don't look after him then it will cost [the Government] a lot of money to care for him.

"Every day he needs to be fed, washed and toileted.

"Money from the benefits pays for support, activities, trips, his clothes, special bed covers and pull ups. If we didn't get this money, he wouldn't get the money for all the things he needs.

"We didn't know how much money Christopher was entitled to and if Edda hadn't found out for us we would still be on the lower rate."

Mr Maskell added: "We are in our 70s now and it's getting harder and harder to look after Christopher, but the Government seems to think 'tough luck, just leave them to it'.

"We are saving the Government thousands by working as carers but we get nothing in return and they were actually keeping money back from us."

Employment Support Allowance

ESA is a benefit for people who are unable to work due to illness or disability. There are two types of ESA: contribution-based and income-related.

Applicants must complete a work capability assessment so the DWP can determine how their illness or disability affects their ability to work.

They are then placed in a work-related activity group or a support group.

Some of the poorest claimants in the support group, who either get the highest rate of disability living allowance or the higher daily living component of the personal independence payment (PIP) are entitled to the enhanced disability premium (£15.75 per week).

While disabled people who do not live with able bodied people and who do not have a family member or friend being paid a carers' allowance are entitled to the severe disability premium (£61.85 a week), so they can pay for assistance in their daily life.

"They have been systematically short-changing people"

Mrs Stentiford, who works for a publicly funded organisation, said: "They are short changing people who are the worst off in our society and they have been doing it for years.

"They have been systematically short-changing people and it wouldn't be difficult for them to correct their mistake now.

"I want the DWP to send a letter to all affected claimants inviting them to claim what is their due and to pay their arrears.

"Anyone who thinks they may be affected should ring the ESA Contact Centre on 0345 608 8545 and request a ESA3 form.

"When they complete it, they should ask for backdating to the conversion date in the 'Further Details' section at the end."

DWP response

A DWP spokesman said: "Arrangements are in place so that people transferring from IB to ESA have their entitlement protected.

"Claimants placed in the support group are asked to supply further information to make sure they qualify for additional premiums where appropriate.”

Article repoduced courtesy: Reading & Berkshire News