EVERY day, it seems, brings another shocking revelation about the cruelty of Iain Duncan Smith’s welfare regime.
Last week, it was revealed almost 90 people a month die shortly after being declared fit for work and having their claim for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) ended.
That news came days after it emerged Job Centre staff were being issued with guidelines on how to deal with claimants who wanted to end their lives.
Today, we publish the story of Stuart Chester, a 25-year-old with complex and extreme physical and intellectual problems, who is wholly dependant on his mother Deborah.
Stuart cannot speak or read or write. He cannot wash, dress or feed himself, but recently a 20-page work capability assessment form was sent for him to complete in order for him to continue to receive ESA.
Now, UK ministers are right to point out that many people with learning difficulties or physical disabilities can and do want to work.
The National recognises that men and women with Down’s syndrome or autism or who may have other conditions impacting on their physical or intellectual skills should be given the support and opportunities to earn a living.
However, Duncan Smith, who is ultimately responsible for these work capability assessments, seems to be increasingly losing sight of the cruel reality of the situation for many of society’s most vulnerable.
Stuart is a case in point. It must be heartbreaking for him and for his family that he is never going to be able to work or live independently.
Deborah should be praised for the selfless work she does as a full-time carer, but instead she is facing additional pressure to complete a rigorous and stressful new assessment about her son’s health and needs.
We congratulate Deborah for bravely speaking out and drawing attention to their situation and the anxiety the forthcoming test is causing.
Their story will resonate with other carers and their families in similar situations.
We hope her intervention will reach the corridors of the Department for Work and Pensions and persuade Duncan Smith and his team to stop targetting vulnerable people and their carers such as Stuart and Deborah.
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