The mess in the Employment Support Allowance system is staggering, and, with legal aid centres being shut down to save money, many innocent claimants are being deprived of essential help. Channel 4 News exposes the full extent of this scandal:

“The number of appeals for employment and support allowance (ESA) heard by the Tribunal Service, has quadrupled in two years, rocketing from 68,000 in 2009 to a projected 240,000 by the end of this financial year. The cost to the taxpayer is staggering: £80m so far, and rising. Rosanna was cleared fit for work and not entitled to benefit. She appealed. She won, scoring almost top marks during the appeal’s medical assessment. Her benefit was reinstated. The appeals are dominating the caseloads of Citizens Advice Bureaux across the country and putting enormous pressure on GPs too.

Thanks to @suey2y for her continued passionate campaigning on this.

Here are some other resources you may find helpful:

– some general information about the Employment Support Allowance

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/benefits_e/benefits_sick_or_disabled_people_and_carers_ew/employment_and_support_allowance.htm

– some practical advice about improving your chances of appeal:

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/employment-and-support-allowance/esa-appeals

– appealing decisions

http://www.dls.org.uk/advice/factsheet/welfare_benefits/employment%20support%20allowance/Employment%20Support%20Allowance%20Appeal%20%20Decisions.pdf

We’re in this together!