Petition · past parliament

Suspend benefit claimant assessments until a public inquiry is undertaken.

Closed 2,217 signatures

What the petition asks

The assessment ideology and implementation has serious failings whose accumulated effect mandates an inquiry, and should be suspended until inquiry recommendations are put in place.
Whilst helping claimants back into work is commendable, the implementation has serious failings :

1. Thousands assessed as fit for work died within 6 weeks
2. The report on these deaths was inappropriately held back
3. The assessment process is overly demanding, intrusive and inflexibly handled, often aggravating mental health issues of claimants
4. There are claims of flawed recording of assessments
5. The assessors are inappropriately given sanctions targets
6. The costs far exceed advantages

Timeline

2 Mar 2016 Petition opened for signatures
2 Sep 2016 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 2,217
Status Closed
Opened 2 Mar 2016
Closed 2 Sep 2016

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.