Two Thousand People Have Died Soon After Being Declared ‘Fit For Work’

More than two thousand people have died shortly after being declared ‘fit for work’ by the Department of Work and Pensions.

Statistics released today show that 2,380 people have died between December 2011 and February 2014, after being found able to work by a work capability assessment (WCA).

The data was released in response to freedom of information requests.

The Department of Work and Pensions cautioned against reading too much into the figures.

The DWP said, ‘These isolated figures provide limited scope for analysis and nothing can be gained from this publication that would allow the reader to form any judgement as to the effects or impacts of the Work Capability Assessment.’

Mark Serwotka of the PCS Union said, What lies behind these figures is a cruel climate generated by some politicians and sections of the media that seeks to demonise those in need and undermine public confidence in our welfare state.'