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| Failures of ESA angering Alex Neil MSP | |
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Alex Neil MSP has expressed his anger at the ongoing problems faced by his constituents trying to access Employment and Support Allowance. Mr Neil's criticisms comes off the back of the recent Citizens Advice Bureaux report into the failures of the benefit, the contents of which Mr Neil says he recognised in his own constituency casework. "I fully recognise the criticisms levelled by CAB. I have been trying to help a number of people who have approached me after being let down by the benefits agencies." Mr Neil said. "I have seen so many people who have been passed 'fit for work' when clearly they are no condition for work and are desperately needing help. ESA was developed to try to get more people back into work, but what they are doing is forcing people off benefits who are vulnerable and clearly needing help. "Clearly not all benefits applicants are entitled to help but it is clear that too many people are getting turned down when they are obviously in need of help. That is backed up when you consider that 70% of all ESA appeals are upheld. Why should people be forced to wait for what they are entitled to? Why should they be forced through this highly stressful and demeaning situation? ESA needs to be reformed as soon as possible." |
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