By James Simon-
Theresa May is to axe repeated testing for those on sick benefits, it has been announced.
Under the current system, those on sick benefits in the Uk are periodically assessed for continuous eligibility to their benefits.
However, Theresa May stated that the system is unproductive for those who have no prospect of getting better. The prime ministers stance rests on the view that it is a waste of resources, and serves no useful purpose.
Millions of people in the UK are on sick benefits, because of a long term mental or physical illness. Every few months, recipients of sick benefits are usually required to attend appointments for the purposes of assessing their condition.
Often, the same reasons of sickness that make up their illness, is the same reason many cannot attend these appointments. Many are sanctioned for not attending appointments, meaning that they are refused benefit payment on top of their sick condition.
NEW SYSTEM
Under the new system, those arrangements will be scrapped for those with no prospect of improvement. One loophole in the new law is that it could be debatable which group of individuals fall under the bracket of those who have no prospect of improvement.
Secondly, even those who are believed to have no prospect of improvement, may actually be able to improve later. Whilst expectations may be high that those who improve would pursue work, the degree of laziness in many people should not be under estimated.
LAZINESS
Many individuals on the sick are resigned to a lifestyle of unemployment, even where they are capable of working. Laziness plays a big role in the reason lots of people are unemployed.
The difficulty in distinguishing those with a genuine disability, and those who are simply too sick to work, will always be an issue even under a system with the most rigorous scrutiny.
However, Theresa May’s reform package altogether makes sense because it serves to guarantee benefit payments to those who have a genuine illness, even if some none genuine ones benefit too. Our benefits system is one of those things that makes Britain one of the greatest or safest countries in the world to live.