More Than 4,000 Died Within Six Weeks Of Being Deemed 'Fit For Work', Reveal Government

More than 4,000 people died within six weeks of being found “fit for work”, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed.


Figures released today show that between December 2011 to February 2014, 4,010 people died after being told they should find work following a “Work Capability Assessment”.
Of that figure, 1,360 died after losing an appeal against the decision.


TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady was shocked by the figures, and said: “We urgently need an enquiry into the government’s back-to-work regime. These disturbing findings cannot be swept under the carpet.
“The fact that more than 50 people are dying each month shortly after being declared ‘fit for work’ should concern us all. These deaths relate to just one benefit – Employment Support Allowance (ESA).

“We need a welfare system that supports people to find decent jobs not one that causes stress and ill health.”
The figures show that of the 4,010 who died after being told they were "fit for work", 3,720 were in receipt of ESA, while 290 where on either Incapacity Benefit or it's replacement, Severe Disablement Allowance.


http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/08/27/benefits-death-claimants-welfare-ids_n_8047424.html?utm_hp_ref=tw


They very carefully put in a disclaimer saying nothing can be deduced from these figures.  Like hell it can't!!!!!

IDS should be put up against a wall and shot for mass murder and torture inflicted on the dying.

Subjective to say the least.
Was being told the cause?
Are they even connected?
Again to make such an assertion would require how they all sadly passed away where there was irrefutable evidence this led to their deaths.
Its very easy to make an association, but without their causes of death, most could be very much circumstantial.

They were told they were fit for work.  They died within six weeks of that assessment.   Fudge it all you like.

Is this people who were mainly on ESA and were placed in the work-related activity group? If so, they didn't actually lose their ESA did they?

What is the suggestion here? Is it that the people died because of the stress of being told they could work, or is it that the assessment was wrong because they were clearly about to die?

That does not mean that was what caused their death Sassy.
You are making a very subjective claimed where you like I say need to show this was the cause of their death.
Its all very circumstantial.

Spin it all you like, they were classed as fit for work, they died.

sassy wrote:Spin it all you like, they were classed as fit for work, they died.

So are you claiming they died specifically because they were told they were fit for work?

Nothing to spin Sassy.
You need toclearly show and prove they died based off being told.
Hence its important to show how they died and if there was a connection.
Its that important to know because if there is a connection or not, then you can look to help prevent further deaths or shows that there is no connection.
Its easy to state there is based on a number of deaths, which is again on circumstantial

There would need to be much more detail in order to establish a causal relationship. Are those who claim ESA generally older than those who claim JSA? Did those people who were deemed fit to work actually do any work?

There's no breakdown of what the people died of, or what condition they had which led them to claim ESA in the first place.

Raggamuffin wrote:There would need to be much more detail in order to establish a causal relationship. Are those who claim ESA generally older than those who claim JSA? Did those people who were deemed fit to work actually do any work?

There's no breakdown of what the people died of, or what condition they had which led them to claim ESA in the first place.

Exactly, people are attempting to make a connection, where there might not be any connection at all.
I certainly believe that such figures certainly warrant further investigation to see if there is and to take action, but to claim they are connected based off stats is poor to say the least.

Other than accident or sudden severe onset of something unforeseen, none of those classed as fit to work should have died. It doesn't matter what they died of (excepting above) it matters that they died.

The Department for Work and Pensions has admitted defeat in its attempt to hide the number of people who have died while claiming incapacity benefits since November 2011 – and has announced that the number who died between January that year and February 2014 is a shocking 91,740.

This represents an increase to an average of 99 deaths per day or 692 per week, between the start of December 2011 and the end of February 2014 – compared with 32 deaths per day/222 per week between January and November 2011.

The DWP has strenuously asserted that “any causal effect between benefits and mortality cannot be assumed from these statistics”.

It is correct to make this point.

The DWP has also claimed that “these isolated figures provide limited scope for analysis and nothing can be gained from this publication that would allow the reader to form any judgement as to the effects or impacts of the Work Capability Assessment”.

However, the increase in the frequency of these deaths is enough to raise questions about the way the incapacity benefit system is being run – questions that demand full, frank and immediate answers.

For example, the work-related activity group is composed entirely of people who are expected to recover from their illnesses and be well enough to return to work within a year. In that group, there should be no deaths at all – barring accidents. Why have nearly 10,000 people lost their lives after being assigned there?

Deaths in the support group and the assessment phase are more problematic because they involve people who do have serious illnesses, many of whom may be expected to die while claiming. But are these deaths being hastened artificially by the DWP’s treatment of them?

A statistical release published today (August 27) in response to my Freedom of Information request dating back to May 28, 2014, states that the total number of deaths involving claimants of Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance and Severe Disablement Allowance – between the start of December 2011 and the end of February 2014 is 81,140, including 50,580 (ESA claimants) and 30,560 (IB/SDA claimants). All figures are rounded up to the nearest 10.

Add this to the 10,600 deaths that were already known between January and November 2011 and you have 91,740.

Information for ESA claimants shows:
◾7,540 deaths while claims were being assessed, bringing the known total to 9,740.
◾7,200 deaths in the work-related activity group, bringing the known total to 8,500.
◾32,530 deaths in the support group, bringing the known total to 39,630.
◾And 3,320 deaths in which the claimant was not in receipt of any benefit payment and is therefore marked as “unknown”.

The total number of claimants who flowed off ESA, IB or SDA whose date of death was at the same time and of those the number with a WCA decision of “fit for work”, between December 2011 to February 2014 was 2,650 (2,380 ESA, 270 IB/SDA).

And the total number of individuals who flowed off ESA, IB or SDA whose date of death was at the same time with a completed appeal following a WCA decision of “fit for work”, Great Britain: December 2011 to February 2014 was 1,360 (1,340 ESA, 20 IB/SDA).

The new numbers suggest the average number of deaths per day between January 2011 and February 2014 was around 79.5 – 556 per week.

This compares with an average between January and November 2011 of around 32 per day – 222 per week.

This Writer has not yet examined the DWP’s accompanying statistical release – providing the fudged Age-Standardised Mortality Rates between 2003 and 2014. The information in this one states that mortality dropped from 1,111 deaths per 100,000 (across all three benefits) to 1,032.

But claims for Incapacity Benefit (ESA didn’t exist at the time) were at an all-time high in 2003 – of nearly three million throughout the year. The numbers claiming this kind of benefit have both fallen and risen since then.

So what are we to conclude?

Firstly, the figures released today demand more considered, in-depth study than can be managed by This Writer within an hour or so of their release.

Second, that the DWP should drop its appeal against publishing them (for obvious reasons).

Third, that the Age-Standardised Mortality Rates give a false picture of the number of deaths – as predicted on this blog.

Finally, that serious questions must now be asked about the way incapacity benefits are being administered by the Department for Work and Pensions under Iain Duncan Smith.

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/08/27/known-number-of-deaths-while-claiming-incapacity-benefits-nears-100000/

Nems wrote:Other than accident or sudden severe onset of something unforeseen, none of those classed as fit to work should have died. It doesn't matter what they died of (excepting above) it matters that they died.

Do you mean that those who died shouldn't have been classed as fit to work prior to their death?

You can't really say that people shouldn't die - everyone dies eventually.

Nems wrote:Other than accident or sudden severe onset of something unforeseen, none of those classed as fit to work should have died. It doesn't matter what they died of (excepting above) it matters that they died.

Again that is again making an assumption based off no information on the actual deaths.
It matters when anyone dies.
Like I said its very easy to make assumptions based off stats presuming to make a connection.
What is needed is to show is whether there is or not.
Where there would be a strong case would be in regards to where someone has taken their own life.
Its very easy to jump to conclusions where little is known here

Raggamuffin wrote:

Nems wrote:Other than accident or sudden severe onset of something unforeseen, none of those classed as fit to work should have died. It doesn't matter what they died of (excepting above) it matters that they died.

Do you mean that those who died shouldn't have been classed as fit to work prior to their death?

You can't really say that people shouldn't die - everyone dies eventually.

Yes people die but I think the high number in the category told they were fit for work is a disgrace and should be the subject of a public enquiry.

Nems wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

Do you mean that those who died shouldn't have been classed as fit to work prior to their death?

You can't really say that people shouldn't die - everyone dies eventually.

Yes people die but I think the high number in the category told they were fit for work is a disgrace and should be the subject of a public enquiry.

Again you are making the assumption they are connected based off nothing more than a time frame of death.
Again is poor to make assumptions until this is further investigated as it would also be as bad to claim something has brought about peoples deaths, when it could very well be the case it had nothing to do with their deaths.
I suggest people await further research here before jumping to poor conclusions

Nems wrote:
The Department for Work and Pensions has admitted defeat in its attempt to hide the number of people who have died while claiming incapacity benefits since November 2011 – and has announced that the number who died between January that year and February 2014 is a shocking 91,740.

This represents an increase to an average of 99 deaths per day or 692 per week, between the start of December 2011 and the end of February 2014 – compared with 32 deaths per day/222 per week between January and November 2011.

The DWP has strenuously asserted that “any causal effect between benefits and mortality cannot be assumed from these statistics”.

It is correct to make this point.

The DWP has also claimed that “these isolated figures provide limited scope for analysis and nothing can be gained from this publication that would allow the reader to form any judgement as to the effects or impacts of the Work Capability Assessment”.

However, the increase in the frequency of these deaths is enough to raise questions about the way the incapacity benefit system is being run – questions that demand full, frank and immediate answers.

For example, the work-related activity group is composed entirely of people who are expected to recover from their illnesses and be well enough to return to work within a year. In that group, there should be no deaths at all – barring accidents. Why have nearly 10,000 people lost their lives after being assigned there?

Deaths in the support group and the assessment phase are more problematic because they involve people who do have serious illnesses, many of whom may be expected to die while claiming. But are these deaths being hastened artificially by the DWP’s treatment of them?

A statistical release published today (August 27) in response to my Freedom of Information request dating back to May 28, 2014, states that the total number of deaths involving claimants of Incapacity Benefit, Employment and Support Allowance and Severe Disablement Allowance – between the start of December 2011 and the end of February 2014 is 81,140, including 50,580 (ESA claimants) and 30,560 (IB/SDA claimants). All figures are rounded up to the nearest 10.

Add this to the 10,600 deaths that were already known between January and November 2011 and you have 91,740.

Information for ESA claimants shows:
◾7,540 deaths while claims were being assessed, bringing the known total to 9,740.
◾7,200 deaths in the work-related activity group, bringing the known total to 8,500.
◾32,530 deaths in the support group, bringing the known total to 39,630.
◾And 3,320 deaths in which the claimant was not in receipt of any benefit payment and is therefore marked as “unknown”.

The total number of claimants who flowed off ESA, IB or SDA whose date of death was at the same time and of those the number with a WCA decision of “fit for work”, between December 2011 to February 2014 was 2,650 (2,380 ESA, 270 IB/SDA).

And the total number of individuals who flowed off ESA, IB or SDA whose date of death was at the same time with a completed appeal following a WCA decision of “fit for work”, Great Britain: December 2011 to February 2014 was 1,360 (1,340 ESA, 20 IB/SDA).

The new numbers suggest the average number of deaths per day between January 2011 and February 2014 was around 79.5 – 556 per week.

This compares with an average between January and November 2011 of around 32 per day – 222 per week.

This Writer has not yet examined the DWP’s accompanying statistical release – providing the fudged Age-Standardised Mortality Rates between 2003 and 2014. The information in this one states that mortality dropped from 1,111 deaths per 100,000 (across all three benefits) to 1,032.

But claims for Incapacity Benefit (ESA didn’t exist at the time) were at an all-time high in 2003 – of nearly three million throughout the year. The numbers claiming this kind of benefit have both fallen and risen since then.

So what are we to conclude?

Firstly, the figures released today demand more considered, in-depth study than can be managed by This Writer within an hour or so of their release.

Second, that the DWP should drop its appeal against publishing them (for obvious reasons).

Third, that the Age-Standardised Mortality Rates give a false picture of the number of deaths – as predicted on this blog.

Finally, that serious questions must now be asked about the way incapacity benefits are being administered by the Department for Work and Pensions under Iain Duncan Smith.

http://voxpoliticalonline.com/2015/08/27/known-number-of-deaths-while-claiming-incapacity-benefits-nears-100000/

So 10,000 died in one year, and then 4,000 died in the next two years? Do they mean 10,000 died who were found fit for work, or people who were on ESA in general?

I don't think it's helpful to lump all these people together.

Nems wrote:

Raggamuffin wrote:

Do you mean that those who died shouldn't have been classed as fit to work prior to their death?

You can't really say that people shouldn't die - everyone dies eventually.

Yes people die but I think the high number in the category told they were fit for work is a disgrace and should be the subject of a public enquiry.

What we don't know is whether they were put on JSA or were in the work-related group on ESA though. The figures are a mass of confusion. Three articles have been posted here, and none of them are very easy to follow re the statistics.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Nems wrote:

Yes people die but I think the high number in the category told they were fit for work is a disgrace and should be the subject of a public enquiry.

What we don't know is whether they were put on JSA or were in the work-related group on ESA though. The figures are a mass of confusion. Three articles have been posted here, and none of them are very easy to follow re the statistics.

None of them show if there is any connection at all and it could be nothing more than coincidence.
I am all for something to be done if found to be true, but like I say far much more research is needed before people jump to the wrong conclusions.

Raggamuffin wrote:

Nems wrote:

Yes people die but I think the high number in the category told they were fit for work is a disgrace and should be the subject of a public enquiry.

What we don't know is whether they were put on JSA or were in the work-related group on ESA though. The figures are a mass of confusion. Three articles have been posted here, and none of them are very easy to follow re the statistics.

I agree its a bit confusing. The link I posted does say it was done within an hour of the figures being published so hopefully info will become clearer or maybe Korben who understands the DWP maze may shed some light.
Either way its worth remembering that the DWP and its odious little leader fought tooth and nail to prevent these figures from being published which tends to suggest they don't like what the figures say.

In a lot of respects the figures are good news for the odious IDS , as it means for every death there is less to pay out in benefits, and his appalling Fascist Department will achieve it's savings targets.

Four thousand???? Four thousand???!!!

That's a lot!

eddie wrote:Four thousand???? Four thousand???!!!

That's a lot!

The DWP deliberately set out to give the information in as fudged a way as possible.  They fought tooth and nail not to have the figures released which says everything.  There are going to be more questions asked and lawyers are advising how they can be worded so that IDS cannot wiggle out of them.   Whatever way they try to spin it, over 4,000 were told they were fit for work and died within 6 weeks.  Only a very small percentage of that will have been through accidents etc and the truth will come out, he can no longer avoid it.   That's what Tory voters voted for, the inhuman treatment of the sick and vunerable in their own country.   And he plans to make it worse, he has already said that mental illness is going to be ruled out as a reason to claim benefit.  Has he actually thought about what that might lead to?  Never mind those that will kill themselves, what about those that will be pushed over the edge and become violent?  Job Centres are being told what to do about people who say they will commit suicide!  They are not bloody psychiatrists!


As part of a six-point plan for dealing with suicidal claimants who have been denied welfare payments, call-centre staff in Glasgow have been told to wave the guidance, printed on a laminated pink card, above their head.
The guidance is meant to help staff dealing with unsuccessful applicants for Universal Credit who are threatening to self-harm or take their own life.
A manager is then meant to rush over to listen in to the call and workers – who insist they have had no formal training in the procedure – must “make some assessment on the degree of risk” by asking a series of questions.
One section of the six-point plan, titled “gather information”, demands that staff allow claimants to talk about their intention to commit suicide.
The call-centre workers, who earn between £15,000 and £17,000 a year, must “find out specifically what is planned, when it is planned for, and whether the customer has the means-to-hand”, according to the guidance seen by the Sunday Herald.
Staff are also warned in the plan that they may have “thoughts and feelings” about the situation afterwards and offered reassurance that “this is all part of the process of coping with the experience and is normal”.
Glasgow-based call-centre workers have accused the DWP of asking them to carry out the job of a psychologist or social worker.
The SNP have accused the UK Government of “playing a dangerous game with people’s lives”.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13620988._Suicide_guidance__given_to_benefits_staff_preparing_for_desperate_calls_on_welfare_reform/


Why the hell are we letting them get away with this?  Has Britain collectively taken leave of it's senses?

IDS getting a terminal illness or getting caught fisting Teresa May would alleviate most of these issues.
Whoever replaced him would never be quite as evil.

Amazing, thousands of people die and the RW want to discount it.  Says it all about the RW.