Marsha de Cordova responds to ESA underpayment statistics

Marsha de Cordova MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Disabled People, responding to ESA underpayment statistics, said:

“It is a national scandal that a decade of delay has meant that 5,000 ill and disabled people have died before receiving the money that they were owed as a result of ESA underpayments.

“The government must now speedily complete the remaining reassessments for the thousands of people still waiting so that everyone who has lost out receives payment as quickly as possible. 

"The Conservatives have consistently failed sick and disabled people. The continued delay in righting this wrong is disgraceful.”

Ends

Notes to Editors:

·       ESA underpayment statistics published today can be found here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esa-underpayments-progress-on-checking-january-2020/january-2020-esa-underpayments-forecast-numbers-affected-forecast-expenditure-and-progress-on-checking