Work Capability Assessment reforms

Early day motion 666, tabled 24 April 2024 by Marion Fellows (Scottish National Party). Signed by 18 members.

That this House expresses its deep concern that the Government’s proposed Work Capability Assessment reforms will expose more people, including disabled people and those with long-term health conditions to work conditionality and the threat of benefit sanctions; recognises that there is considerable evidence, including the Department of Work and Pension’s own report entitled The Impact of Benefit Sanctions on Employment Outcomes, published on 6 April 2023, that conditionality, and in particular the use of sanctions, is counterproductive in efforts to support people into sustainable work and causes unnecessary hardship; acknowledges that the use of sanctions are harmful to people’s health and wellbeing, further punishing society's most vulnerable people; notes that removing the Work Capability Assessment risks conflating incapacity and disability payments, as not everyone who is sick and not able to work will qualify for disability payments; further notes that there is no safety net for people with short-term ill-health and sickness to manage their condition and live a dignified, independent life; and calls on the Government to stop the implementation of their Work Capability Assessment changes which will lead to disabled people and those with long-term health conditions losing out financially.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 9, Labour 4, Plaid Cymru 3, Green 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.