Disabled People's Consultative Group
The council's Disabled People's Consultative Group acts as a champion of disabled people's issues in the district and a consultative body on key council policies that impact on disabled residents’ lives.
The main aims of the group are to:
- Advise the council’s Cabinet on the implementation and interpretation of legislation with regard to the delivery of Council services
- Identify and promote equal opportunities for disabled people
- Raise awareness of equal opportunities and disability
- Make formal representations to other bodies on matters relating to all disability issues.
The Group is chaired by Councillor Tricia Williams, Portfolio Holder for Social Inclusion, and meets every quarter in the Council House. It is open to anyone who has an interest in local disabled people’s issues.
The next meeting of the Group will take place on Wednesday 7 December 2011 at 10am. Please contact Matthew Kane, Principal Governance Officer, on 01246 217753 if you would like to be added to our circulation list.
DPCG considers changes to medical assessments
The new medical assessments process for people in receipt of sickness benefit was considered at the most recent meeting of the Disabled People’s Consultative Group on 12 September 2011.
The issue was raised by Shirland member, and welfare rights officer, Cllr Derrick Skinner who explained that as part of the Government's reforms to the benefits system all sickness claimants would need to undergo an assessment for their sickness eligibility.
As part of this process, claimants would receive a work capability assessment form which covered all physical and mental health descriptors. It was then up to the claimant to assess themselves as to their ability to work, using the form.
Once the form was completed, claimants would be expected to undergo a 30-minute medical assessment by a trained medical assessor at ATOS (acting on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions). Decisions on whether a claimant was fit enough for work would usually be received within two to three weeks.
If a claimant was classed as fit for work they will be unable to continue claiming sickness payments and it may affect other benefits they receive. If the outcome was that a claimant was unfit then they would receive sickness payments in the form of the new Employment Support Allowance.
The Group was advised that anyone who disagreed with the decision made by the assessor should appeal within a month, otherwise the decision would stand.
In the meantime, appellants were advised to get another doctor's note and to send this to the Jobcentre which would ensure that a portion of the benefits continued to be paid whilst the appeal was in motion.
If the appeal did not change the decision, then claimants were advised to contact the CAB, the Unemployed Workers' Centre, the County Council or a solicitor.
Earlier on in the meeting, the Group considered a briefing from Deborah Oddy of Derbyshire County Council on the community transport service.
Community transport is available to a number of residents and groups across the county who do not have access to mainstream services.
The most popular community transport service is Dial-a-Bus, a door-to-door service available for a £2 return for Gold Card holders. The community transport service can also run tours for local groups.
Further information about the service can be found on Derbyshire County Council’s webiste.
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