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Catherine McGinty, 10 Jul
The decision by the Department for Communities (DfC) to re-appoint
Capita to carry out assessments for Child Disability Living Allowance
(DLA) has been slammed by local anti-poverty campaigner, Sinéad Quinn.
Capita will also carry out assessments for Personal Independence
Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal
Credit (UC).
Ms Quinn, who is herself chronically ill and disabled, said it was
“absolutely despicable” Capita had been awarded a further social
security contract in the North.
She added: “This is a disgraceful decision coming as it has in the wake
of the June 2021 Own Initiative Report by the Northern Ireland Public
Service Ombudsman (NIPSO) into PIP, which highlighted ‘systematic
maladministration’ in Capita’s approach to PIP assessments.
“At that time we were promised by DfC minister, Deirdre Hargey, the
assessments would be brought in-house.
“However, Capita’s contract has been renewed for PIP assessments and,
in addition, it will now be carrying out assessments for ESA, UC, and
Child DLA. This is disgusting.
“PIP claimants, adults with disabilities, already live in exceptional
fear and stress when it comes to undergoing Capita assessments. In most
cases, these take place every three years so people like myself can
have a ‘breather’ in between each reassessment. However, in addition,
we will now have Capita assessing us for UC and ESA to see how fit we
are for work,” said Sinéad.
According to Sinéad, fitness to work assessments currently take place
regularly on an annual basis.
“The thought of having to run the Capita gauntlet every year, and twice
in a PIP year, genuinely makes me feel sick,” said Sinéad. “Just
thinking about it has already increased my stress levels.”
Sinéad, the former spokesperson for the now dissolved Derry Against
Fuel Poverty campaign said “private companies should not be enabled to
profit off the misery of sick and disabled people.
She added: “Over assessing people who are chronically ill and disabled
is a waste of taxpayer money.
“This cruel Tory government knows no bounds. Capita will be filling its
boots and terrorising the vulnerable at the same time. For this
government, it kills two birds with one stone.
For us, it is horrific. The impact on the mental health of claimants
will be huge and so far, we have not heard one word of opposition from
any of our elected representatives,” said Sinéad.
Sineád said it was astonishing local politicians were completely
ignoring the “comprehensive and damning indictment” of Capita published
recently by the Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR) group.
PPR was founded in 2006 in Belfast and Dublin, by revered trade
unionist, Inez McCormack.
Sinéad added: “In the PPR report, author Chloë Trew quoted Mary
McManus, the former director of East Belfast Independent Advice Centre;
the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; and the
Right to Work Right to Welfare Group, in relation to assessments
carried out by Capita.
“Ms McManus said it was not uncommon for people to be awarded zero
points at their DfC / Capita assessment, only to have an independent
tribunal panel award them enough points to qualify for the highest rate
of the benefit at the tribunal hearing.
“The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities also
concluded that ‘the needs, views and personal histories of persons with
disabilities were not taken into account or given appropriate weight
[by Capita] in the decisions affecting them.
“Finally, the Right to Work Right to Welfare Group found that Capita’s
processes ‘resulted in worse mental health, increased poverty and a
lack of due process among people making claims.’ When can we expect to
hear any objections from our politicians to the fact Capita is now
carrying out assessments for Child Disability Living Allowance here?”
said Sinéád Quinn.
In relation to the Ombudsman’s report, Own Initiative Report, which was
followed up in May 2023, a spokesperson for the Department for
Communities told Derry News: “The Department is fully committed to
continuing to improve service delivery, including support for
claimants.
“The recent NIPSO follow-up report acknowledged the considerable action
undertaken by the Department to implement its recommendations.
“We remain focused on driving forward positive change for our
customers, working closely with the Department for Work and Pensions
and all our stakeholders.”
The Department of Work and Pensions referred Derry News to the Health
Transformation Programme update given on May 25, 2023, by British
Minister for State for Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove.
Speaking on the “outcome of the procurement of new health and
disability benefit assessment contracts – the ‘Functional Assessment
Services’ contracts – for the period 2024 to 2029,” Mr Pursglove said:
“These important new contracts have been subject to a rigorous and
competitive process in line with public contract regulations.
“This represents a positive step forward in delivering our ambitions
for disabled people and people with health conditions. It shows that
this Government is committed to delivering a more effective health and
disability system for people now and in the future.”
The Department added that it had “conducted an open and transparent
procurement under the Public Contract Regulations and in line with
Government policies.
“[And] an evaluation process was undertaken, which evaluated bids based
on a combination of quality and pricing to achieve the most
economically advantageous tender for each geographical area.”