Last night two high-profile TV programmes put the spotlight on the controversy surrounding the flawed assessments and criteria for disability benefits.
Channel 4's Dispatches and the BBC's Panorama both examined the debate around whether the system is working or whether the new tests wrongly victimise those who deserve support the most.
Blind and partially sighted people, who face some of the biggest barriers to finding and retaining work, are routinely being found 'fit for work' under the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and put onto Jobseekers Allowance.
Most blind and partially sighted people do want to work but need the support, and the time, to find a job.
RNIB is campaigning to make sure that any changes to the benefits system, in particular the Work Capability Assessment, take into account the additional challenges and costs that blind and partially sighted people face every day.
Steve Winyard, Head of Campaigns at RNIB, says:
"The Dispatches and Panorama programmes highlighted a deeply flawed Work Capability Assessment for deciding whether disabled people are fit for work.
"Not only are a high proportion of assessment decisions wrong, but the process itself is creating fear, distress and anger.
"Both programmes confirmed that the assessors are given de-facto targets for getting people off benefits - in essence, creating an arbitrary 'cap' on the proportion of disabled people who can received the highest level of disability payments.
"These programmes should be a wake-up call to Government. A fundamental review of the WCA is urgently needed. It is deeply flawed and fails to recognise the real barriers that disabled people face in obtaining and retaining paid work."
Dispatches was aired on Channel 4 at 8 - 8.30pm and Panorama on BBC2 at 8.30 - 9pm on Monday 30 July 2012.
ENDS
For more information please contact Lucy Stanyer in RNIB's Public Relations Team on 020 7391 2223, email pressoffice@rnib.org.uk
To catch our media releases as they arrive you can follow RNIB Media on Twitter @RNIB_Media
Notes to editors:
About RNIB
Every day around 100 people in the UK start to lose their sight. There are around 2 million people in the UK with sight problems. RNIB is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information for anyone with sight difficulties. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk