Disability medical assessments ‘bring added stress’

Chancellor George Osborne’s announcement that those wanting to claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will have to undergo medical assessments to verify their handicap has been criticised as adding unnecessary stress.

Writing for the Guardian, economy expert Rhydian Fon James said that fraudulent recipients count for 0.05 per cent of all DLA claims and there is no real need to introduce policy to stop such a small number of ‘cheats’.

He argued that going after the criminals is not worth risking people being unable to receive DLA, adding that medical examinations can even cause stress for disabled people and may aggravate underlying conditions.

"I am interested in protecting my rights, and the rights of my fellow DLA claimants. I want to get on with my life and DLA helps me … do just that," he concluded.

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Mr Osborne’s announcement came in the government’s emergency Budget and will mean that three million DLA claimants will need to be retested with the hope of taking benefit rights from 600,000 people.

Posted by Colette Paxton