ESA and the Work Capabilty Assessment - Ten Key Points

by tonybritton on April 13, 2011:

1 Feedback to the MEA during the past year indicates that people with ME/CFS are finding it very difficult to qualify for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). This is the relatively new long-term sickness benefit for people who are unable to work. ESA has replaced Incapacity Benefit (ICB) for all new sickness benefit claims.

2 The situation is likely to become even more difficult following legislation to bring in a set of revised Work Capability Assessment (WCA) descriptors – a key part of the complicated medical assessment procedure for ESA. In addition, this legislation removed some of the original descriptors (eg the one on cognitive dysfunction – problems with short-term working memory and concentration) that were very relevant to people with ME/CFS. This legislation came into force on 28 March 2011. More information on the new WCA descriptors can be found here: ... Read more>>