- A committee of MPs heard benefit seekers have been grilled during assessments
- Ruth George said some people were asked why they hadn’t ‘killed themselves’
- It comes as a woman with mental health difficulties won a High Court battle
An MP has claimed depressed benefit seekers are being asked ‘why haven’t you killed yourself?’ during tough assessments.
The committee of ministers was told that the tests are questioning hard-up people while they are ‘crying’ and ‘curled up on the floor’.
Labour MP Ruth George was addressing Sarah Newton, who is the disabilities minister, in front of the Commons Work and Pensions Committee.
She said: ‘There are people curled up crying on the floor and they’re in assessments. The assessor will simply not look at them but will repeat questions to them.’
Labour MP Ruth George (pictured) said that some people were asked why they hadn’t killed themselves
According to the Mirror, Ms George continued: ‘Do you think that is an appropriate way to support people with very serious mental health conditions?
‘One of the standard questions in the Work Capability Assessment for people with serious mental health conditions who’ve had suicidal thoughts is ‘why haven’t you killed yourself then’.
After being told about the reported behaviour, Ms Newton said it was ‘not acceptable at all’.
It comes on the day a woman with mental health difficulties won a High Court battle with ministers after she questioned the fairness of a state benefit designed to help disabled people maintain independence.
MS George was addressing disabilities minister Sarah Newton (pictured) in front of the Commons Work and Pensions Committee
The woman said regulations governing personal independence payments – a benefit designed to cover some of the extra costs run up by people who need help with everyday tasks or with getting around – were discriminatory.
She claimed that people who suffered from ‘overwhelming psychological distress’ were treated less favourably than people with other conditions when their ability to make journeys was assessed.
Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke disputed her claims – but a judge on Thursday ruled in her favour.
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