NAS asked to help improve Employment and Support Allowance

The National Autistic Society has submitted proposals which we believe will make Employment and Support Allowance fairer for people with autism.

The NAS was asked by Professor Malcolm Harrington, an independent specialist carrying out an annual review of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) for the Government, to look at how the assessment for ESA can work better for people with autism.  The NAS worked with Mind and Mencap to develop the proposals. 

The assessment, called the Work Capability Assessment, uses descriptors to decide who should be eligible for ESA and what level of support they get.  The three charities have worked to make sure that the descriptors better reflect the needs of people with autism, learning disabilities and mental health problems.  You can read the report we submitted here.

The proposals will be examined by a group of experts and the NAS will have another opportunity to influence the proposals before they are sent to Government ministers for consideration in spring.

You can tell us what you think about the proposals by emailing policy@nas.org.uk by the end of January 2011.

Professor Harrington published his first Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment in November 2010 and made 25 recommendations to make the system work better, including this piece of work.  You can read more here.