Thread by @AgnesClackett

100 TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS A MONTH DIE STILL FIGHTING FOR THEIR BENEFITS

DWP drags its feet over reform of the terminal illness rules

100⬆️people a month are dying whilst still fighting for an award of PIP in spite of having less than 6 months to live

theguardian.com/society/2021/j…

2/ As the DWP drags its feet over reform of the terminal illness rules for benefits, it has been revealed that more than 100 people a month are dying whilst still fighting for an award of PIP in spite of having less than six months to live….

3/ A report by the Motor Neurone Disease Association and Marie Curie found that in the 18 months between April 2018 and October 2019 1,860 people died within six months of being refused benefits.

4/ The Guardian reports on one claimant who is terminally ill and receiving end-of-life support.

Nonetheless, on being forced to move from DLA to PIP, her benefits were reduced.

theguardian.com/society/2021/j…

5/ She told the Guardian

“The assessor didn’t recognise that I was terminally ill. He didn’t want to see the doctor’s letters, consultant’s letter or letter from the hospice. He didn’t want to know. I have Crohn’s disease, osteoporosis, brittle bone disease & intestinal failure”

6/Exclusive: DWP Questioned NHS Consultant Three Times Over Terminally Ill Patient's Condition Before Granting Benefits.

politicshome.com/news/article/e…

7/ Politics Home has reported on a case in which a consultant neurologist was questioned no fewer than three times by Capita about their assessment that claimant was within the terminally ill definition of their death being reasonably expected within six months.

8/ This not only caused the claimant distress and needlessly delayed their access to much-needed benefits, but it also wasted the valuable time of an NHS consultant when the health service has a record 5 million people on its waiting lists.

9/ In this case the claimant had motor neurone disease, but the Capita assessor wanted further information about "bulbar involvement" and "respiratory difficulties". Even when these were provided, Capita asked further follow-up questions.

10/ Susie Rabin, head of policy at the MND Association, told Politics Home the Capita assessment was “heartless and utterly unnecessary”….

11/ Susie Rabin, head of policy at MND association said,

“To have questioned their clinician on whether this person has got six months to live is so insensitive, so heartless and utterly unnecessary.”

12/ TOTALLY TORY TOTALLY NASTY PARTY

The government have been promising changes to the terminal illness rules for many months, but claimants are still dying without benefits and without any improvements to what many see as a barbaric assessment system.

@threadreaderapp unroll please