The process is too difficult for many to navigate, a court heard.

The Department for Work and Pensions says there are safeguards in place and it will appeal against the ruling.

Work Capability Assessment (WCA) tests, which measure a person's entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) by determining whether they are fit for employment, were introduced in 2008 and are carried out on behalf of the government.

The claimants alleged the system discriminated against them but the judges have asked to see further evidence before it can make a decision on this.
'Significant improvements'

The court was told people who have conditions that mean they lack insight can struggle to gather the right documents needed for a successful claim, such as doctors' reports.

The judgment was the result of a judicial review brought by two claimants with mental health problems, whose identities have been protected.

Lawyers for the two argued that where a claim is from someone with a mental health problem, it should be the government's responsibility to seek additional medical evidence.

UK charities Rethink Mental Illness, Mind and the National Autistic Society intervened in the case to provide evidence based on the experiences of their members and supporters.

Almost 20,000 people are assessed each week for ESA - including those moving over from the old benefit system of Incapacity Benefit (IB) - in England, Wales and Scotland, DWP figures show. The benefits system in Northern Ireland is administered separately.

More than a third of these people are claiming primarily for mental health problems, meaning tens of thousands of people each month are going through a process that puts them at a substantial disadvantage, the mental health charity said.

Under the current system, evidence from a professional, such as a GP or social worker, is expected to be provided by claimants themselves. There is no obligation for the DWP to collect this evidence, even on behalf of the most vulnerable claimants - apart from in some rare cases.

The charities involved in the case called on the government to suspend use of WCA tests for the people they help.

Mind's chief executive Paul Farmer said: "The judgment is a victory, not only for the two individuals involved in this case, but for thousands of people who have experienced additional distress and anxiety because they have struggled through an assessment process which does not adequately consider the needs of people with mental health problems."

The DWP said it wished to work with charities to "continually improve" the WCA for people with mental health problems.

But a spokesperson said: "We disagree with today's ruling and intend to appeal.

"We believe we have made - and continue to make - significant improvements to the WCA process for people with mental health conditions. The percentage of people with mental health conditions who go into the support group for ESA has more than tripled since 2010.

The DWP said the tribunal had made clear that there are safeguards built in to the WCA process to help ESA claimants.

David Gooding District Manager of the Citizens Advice Service covering Nuneaton and Bedworth, Rugby and Tamworth said:

"This ruling is good news for those who are the most vulnerable including people with mental illnesses as the Government’s Work Capability Test is a difficult and stressful process for people to go through and to gain the evidence they need to be taken into consideration. As a result we see a considerable amount of people who have been deemed fit for work, who clearly are not. Sadly our ability to assist people with reviews and appeals has been drastically reduced since the coalition government scrapped Legal Aid for welfare benefits cases.

He added "Whilst we aim to assist clients to help themselves through general advice the most vulnerable need on-going casework support which we can no longer provide effectively leaving these people with no access to justice to remedy wrong decisions which is a disgraceful situation."

Source: BBC News

Campus university staff have admitted taking steps to stabilise the Canada geese population on campus after a video emerged of one of the birds attacking a student. The video shows an angry goose taking on two students walking around the University of Warwick campus. Both students were so scared of the bird they were forced to turn around and take shelter in a nearby building.

David Gooding District Manager of BRANCAB said:

"I hope the people from bureaux helping Citizens Advice plan the Conference will take this on board and issue appropriate instructions as to how to fend off a geese attack. After last year’s disappointment over the venue at Exeter I suspect others like me are wondering why we ever moved from York which was a popular and accessible venue where many memorable and successful conferences had previously been held."

But Atos Healthcare says it submits "clinically justified reports" and completely refutes Dr Wood's claims.

Atos, which has been criticised in the past by disability campaigners and MPs, carries out work capability assessments (WCAs) on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Claimants have to score a required number of points in order to qualify for the full sickness benefit under the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

In a statement, Atos said: "We never ask healthcare professionals to make any changes to a report unless there are specific clinical quality issues identified within it.

"We do not deviate from government guidelines in our training. We do not have targets for getting people on or off benefits.

"We have a large team of fully trained doctors, nurses and physiotherapists who provide a professional and compassionate service through what we recognise can be a difficult and emotional process for people."
'Compelled to speak'

In an interview with the BBC, Dr Wood says he believes Atos assessors are not free to make truly independent recommendations.

He said he felt compelled to speak out because it was "embarrassing to be associated with this shambles".

"It's very unfair on the people making claims, they deserve a fair assessment and as a taxpayer I'm pretty cheesed off about the £100m plus that's being sprayed away on this dog's breakfast," he said.

The assessments - or fit to work tests - sparked protests from disability campaigners after their introduction in 2010.

But Dr Wood has criticised some of the tests which he says contain "dubious concepts and shaky reasoning".

He claims assessors are told that if a claimant can walk from the kitchen to the sitting room, it proves they can walk 200m (650ft); and if a person can dress themselves once during the day that is proof they have enough concentration and motivation to hold down a job.

He insists these rules are not published in handbooks and guides, instead they are simply spoken about in training sessions.

Atos senior vice president Wayne Gibson said the rules detailed by Dr Wood were incorrect and several questions were asked to build up a complete picture, alongside the medical evidence.

David Gooding District Manager for the CAB Service covering Nuneaton and Bedworth, Rugby and Tamworth said:

"I welcome Dr Gregg Wood's candid views on the medical assessment process that ATOS undertakes which confirms our views from clients we see where clearly their assessment has not been carried out properly.

"It seems ironic that as these poor decisions are being made and need challenging the government have withdrawn Legal Aid for welfare benefits cases meaning many of these wrong decisions now go unchallenged as resources in advice agencies have been cut as a result of this.

He added:

"ATOS need challenging on their performance as ultimately wrong decisions that have to be rectified cost more of taxpayers money and this companty benefits from our money as tax payers and we should be able to expect that they do a proper job or be replaced by a company that can"

Source: BBC News - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22546036

The changes affect tenants and owner occupiers. If Council Tax payments are ignored or allowed to lapse, Councils will make efforts to recover the debt which could in some cases, cause severe financial hardship. If the changes affect you and you are concerned about how you will pay your Council Tax, talk to your local council or Citizens Advice Bureau immediately.

A cap on the total benefits working age people can receive is being rolled out across England, Scotland and Wales.

The UK Statistics Authority was asked by unions to investigate comments made by Mr Duncan Smith in a Daily Mail interview, which coincided with the release of figures by his department on households which could be hit by the cap, and on Jobcentre Plus work with people who could be affected.
'Behavioural change'

The figures state that although 8,000 people who would potentially have been hit by the cap had got jobs, they were "not intended to show the additional numbers entering work as a direct result of the contact".

And they point out that although the number of households expected to be affected had fallen by 16,000 from 56,000 to 40,000 - that was due to policy changes and changes due to the "normal benefit caseload change", and did not assume any "behavioural change" as a result of the cap.

But the article suggested that the 16,000 "decided to act" after Mr Duncan Smith's department wrote to them, telling them their benefits were to be cut.

And the secretary of state is quoted as saying: "The benefit cap sets a strong incentive for people to move into work and even before the cap comes in we are seeing thousands of people seeking help and moving off benefits ... Already we've seen 8,000 people who would have been affected by the cap move into jobs. This clearly demonstrates that the cap is having the desired impact."

Andrew Dilnot, the chairman of the UK Statistics Authority, has written to Mr Duncan Smith to say the two sets of figures released in April "do not comply fully with the principles of the Code of Practice [for official statistics]".
'Further assurance'

He said he had been assured, following an earlier statistics complaint against the department, that DWP staff had been told about their obligations to make sure statistics met official guidelines adding that the watchdog now sought "further assurance" on the matter.

And he told the TUC's Nicola Smith, who made the complaint that Mr Duncan Smith's quoted comments linking the 8,000 jobseekers to the benefits cap were "unsupported by the official statistics published by the department".

TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Only people with weak arguments need to make up statistics. Of course we need a welfare system that guards against abuse, but this government is now causing real hardship and worry to many who have done nothing to cheat the system and are desperate to work."

And Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Liam Byrne accused Mr Duncan Smith of "living in la la land".

"His ideas don't work so he's now literally making up stories," he said.

"For the third time in just six months, the head of the UK Statistics Authority has written to ministers to warn them about their misuse of statistics."

But a spokesman for the DWP said: "The secretary of state has long held the position that the benefit cap would have an impact on the behaviour of claimants.

"As the minister for employment made clear in a recent interview, DWP staff and claimants are telling us the cap is impacting behaviour and leading to those affected finally entering the world of work."

But Mr Jackson says the watchdog's actions are "heavy handed and disproportionate and are clearly intended to bully me into submission".

He disputes valuations of his property done in 2010 and 2012 and says they assume his property rose by almost 20% in value, while others in his constituency fell by 3% over the same period. He still lives in the house and points out that he is being asked to repay more than he claimed.

"IPSA have negotiated with 70 other MPs in a secretive and arbitrary manner but in respect of my case, regrettably, they have refused to negotiate. I am merely seeking fair play and consistency and will pursue legal action to receive it."

No profits

In total, the 71 MPs claimed £926,159 of public money to cover mortgage interest over the 15-month period. Twenty nine of them were told to repay a total of £484,828 - of which nearly £390,000 has been repaid so far.

The largest claims were made by Labour's Michael Connarty - who received £34,168 and has repaid £6,833 - and Mr Jackson.

But 42 of the 71 MPs have not had to repay anything, as their properties fell in value over the period.

Among those repaying the most is Mr Jones, Conservative MP for Clwyd West, who claimed £18,060 in expenses but due to rising value of his London property has had to repay £81,446.

The DUP's Gregory Campbell, who claimed £16,755 towards a London property he still owns, has repaid £61,403. Conservative Philip Hammond repaid £34,610 - more than the £20,967 he claimed and DUP MP David Simpson paid back £30, 308 having claimed £11,208.

Some are still repaying money, such as Conservative David Willetts and Labour's John Denham, who have not sold their properties, and Lib Dem Andrew George.

Source: BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22462265