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Charity’s investigation finds flawed disability benefit assessments

People with disabilities are being wrongly denied the financial support they are entitled to. That's according to a new report from Citizens Advice Exeter.

The leading local advice charity is calling for the Government to tackle the flawed system which determines whether people are eligible as a result of a disability for benefits.

 

Its research reveals many people in Exeter and across the country are having their applications for personal independence payment (PIP) or employment and support allowance (ESA) rejected, only for the decision to be reversed on appeal many months later.

 

The report, Appealing for Common Sense, reveals the injustice and wastefulness inherent in the benefit application and appeals process.

 

Steve Barriball, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice Exeter, said: “Anyone trying to get on with life while coping with a serious illness or disability deserves a quick and accurate experience when applying for personal independence payment (PIP) or employment and support allowance (ESA).

 

“Our investigation has exposed fundamental flaws in the way that eligibility to receive these benefits is being assessed. Many people give up after hearing that their application has been unsuccessful, but we find that where people are willing to endure the long and often distressing appeal process, tribunals are awarding the highest rates possible when the original assessment did not support any entitlement.

 

“This is simply wrong and the system needs a fundamental overhaul so that decision makers get it right first time and don’t subject those living with serious illness or disability to lengthy and often traumatic delays which risk them getting into financial hardship.”

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