Treasury member for Social Security Bill Henderson MLC has responded to what he describes as misleading commentary and ‘misconceptions’ over the programme of personal work capability assessments for claimants of long-term incapacity benefits.

Concerns were raised this week by the Manx Labour Party, which alleged that people were being deemed fit for work by non-medical assessors and that the process took little account of mental health issues.

Said Mr Henderson: ‘It is a pity that the Manx Labour Party did not check the facts before airing such alarming misconceptions.’

‘All health care professionals engaged in undertaking personal capability assessments are professionally and clinically qualified, are registered with their relevant professional body, and have received training in undertaking these assessments.

‘Furthermore, they have all received training in mental health issues and two are actually registered Mental Health Nurses. They have a clinical background and medical knowledge of drug and alcohol dependency. All physical and psychological issues are taken into account as part of the personal capability assessment.’

Mr Henderson also denied the Manx Labour Party’s claim that the assessment process is merely a ‘tick-box exercise.’

He commented: ‘We fully accept that the initial questionnaire for claimants to complete is lengthy, but the intention is to obtain as much information as possible from the claimant, and importantly from their GP via a separate questionnaire, and from any other relevant health care professional to help decide if a face to face assessment is needed. A face to face assessment is always carried out if it is initially thought that a claimant could be capable of some sort of work.

‘If a face to face assessment is required, it takes on average 45 minutes to one hour, some times longer, which is pretty thorough. In contrast, a GP has far less time to see their patient before signing them off work’.

At the beginning of 2015 there were around 2,200 people receiving long-term incapacity benefits. Of the 712 work capability assessments completed in 2015, 314 claimants were assessed as being capable of work.

Of the 314 found capable of work 40% are no longer claiming any benefits, 30% transferred to jobseeker’s allowance and have been able to access the specialist support they need to return to the workplace, and a further 30% have since been re-awarded incapacity benefits.

Mr Henderson continued: ‘There is a body of evidence which shows that, for those who are able, work is good for you – it gives you a sense of purpose, pride, self respectand well-being.

‘This process is not about removing benefits from claimants. It is to ensure that they are receiving the correct benefits according to whether or not they are capable or incapable of work. And we want to ensure that those who are capable engage with the specialist support available to help them get back into work.

‘Being found capable of work does not mean that support will be cut off. On the contrary, the person may be entitled to other benefits, predominantly jobseeker’s allowance, until they are able to find work. Or if they cannot agree with the decision that they are capable of work they may exercise their right to appeal, and while waiting for their appeal to be heard they may be entitled to income support.’