'We are extremely worried about the treatment of some disabled benefits claimants by the DWP'
The Department for Work and Pensions is being investigated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission over how it has treated disabled people in recent years. The inquiry will focus on "fit to work" assessments, which can result in disabled people losing a significant amount of financial support.
Chair of the EHRC, Kishwer Falkner, said: “We are extremely worried about the treatment of some disabled benefits claimants by the DWP. We suspect the department may have broken equality law. We have decided we need to take the strongest possible action and that’s why we’ve launched this investigation.
This inquiry comes just two months after the DWP was attacked by the United Nations for "demonising" disabled people. A DWP spokesperson said: “The government is committed to improving the lives of disabled people and our recent disability action plan sets out 32 actions we are taking to make the UK the most accessible country in the world for disabled people to live, work and thrive.
DWP Disability Benefits Benefits
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