Meacher hits out at disabled tests delays

OLDHAM MP Michael Meacher is demanding answers on how many people in Oldham are still waiting for vital disability assessment tests.

The Oldham West and Royton MP said his constituents are waiting an unacceptable amount of time for help.

New Personal Independent Payments (PIPs) are worth between £21 and £134 a week to disabled claimants, replacing Disability Living Allowance.

Mr Meacher said: “My constituents are being forced to wait months, it seems, for vital assessments.

“At a time of increasing austerity, particularly for those on low incomes, it is shameful that possibly thousands of people across the country and many, many in Oldham are being denied benefits because of failings in carrying out assessments.

“Atos are still in charge of these PIP assessments and it is another blatant failing of the French company.”

Mr Meacher has tabled Parliamentary questions asking how many people in Oldham and nationwide are waiting for assessments, amid fears people are waiting more than nine months to be assessed.

No payments are made until an assessment has been carried out.

A recent National Audit report found claimants were waiting an average of 107 days for a decision on their cases, and even terminally-ill patients waited an avereage 28 days. The original prediction was for terminal cases taking 10 days and other claims 74 days.