Work Capability Assessment to the DWP and would no longer be allowed to recommend any claimants for the Support Group without asking for permission first. When the doctor asked an experienced assessor where these rules had come from, she replied: "DWP". Both the DWP and Atos categorically denied ever having had any target for getting claimants "off" sickness benefits. However, both eventually admitted that Support Group "norms" were being used nationwide, though they both denied that the purpose of "targeted audit" was to limit the number of claimants placed in the Support Group. Atos said that the audit process triggered by the breach
Criticism of the Work Capability Assessment Criticism of the Work Capability Assessment The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is used by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in the United Kingdom to assess Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claims and some claims for Universal Credit. Concerns have been raised over its design, its reliability in practice, its value-for-money, and the effect of wrong decisions on vulnerable claimants.Citizens Advice said of it: "Bureau advisers have expressed grave concern at the number of people unexpectedly being found fit for work". In response to criticism, the DWP said a group of outside experts had studied the test and concluded