
Do you want to live in a society with a just, efficient welfare benefit system that supports those who need it, when they need it most? So does Citizens Advice. The Fair Welfare campaign is calling for a welfare benefits and tax credits system which:
This is an ambitious vision, so we’re breaking it down into stages. Right now, we're looking for your support to call for improvements to the way medical reports are conducted for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claims.
Almost all ESA claimants must attend a medical assessment, after which a medical report is produced. This report is used to decide whether or not the benefit will be awarded. Bureaux regularly report gross inaccuracies in many of the medical reports they see in Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) appeal papers. This can impact on people’s chances of receiving ESA. We want to monitor this problem in order to lobby for improvements. If you are in the process of applying for ESA, or are about to apply, you can help us by taking part in a survey to assess the accuracy of your medical report. This process may also help support your claim. To take part, please visit your local CAB, where an adviser can explain the survey and allow you to take part.
For more information on what the survey will entail, please see
this briefing (
26kb).
For more information about the campaign, please email the Citizens Advice campaigns team.