Disability groups welcome a review of disability benefit assessments

Disability campaigners have welcomed a government review of the way disabled people who get benefits are assessed.

Charities and disability rights group have long said the controversial Work Capability Assessments are unfair and cause stress and penuary to disabled people.

UK work and pensions secretary Damian Green is set to announce plans to reform the system today in a bid to ensure those who most need support from job centres get it.

We must recognise that a supportive welfare system is essential for those who are unable to work at all - Rebecca Hilsenrath

It is thought that the plans will mean that peopel with severe, long-term health conditions will no longer have to be reassessed for their benefits.

Mark Atkinson, chief executive of disability charity Scope, said: "The current fit-for-work test doesn't accurately identify the barriers disabled people face in entering or staying in work."

The chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Rebecca Hilsenrath, said the system should not be a "one size fits all" approach.

"Employment is crucial for disabled people to live independently," she said. "Government strategy must be intelligent, informed and not one size fits all. We must recognise that a supportive welfare system is essential for those who are unable to work at all."

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has been consulting on its appraoch to social secuirty in Scotland. It will take over the running of certain benefits, including disability benefit and employment support allowance, next year.