ESA payments error: tens of thousands on benefits to receive £5,000 refund
The IndependentGet the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Tens of thousands of disabled people are set to receive backdated benefit payments averaging £5,000 following a government error. Ministers have been accused of creating a “hostile environment for sick and disabled people” following the blunder, which occurred when claimants were transferred onto the main sickness benefit, employment and support allowance. Reacting to the news, Marsha de Cordova, Labour’s shadow minister for disabled people, accused the Conservatives of creating a “hostile environment for sick and disabled people”. The government must ensure that disabled people who have been so unfairly treated are properly compensated.” Richard Kramer, chief executive of disability charity Sense, said he welcomed the news that ministers were "getting to grips" with the problem, but said it was important that there are no further delays to backdated payments.
History of this topic
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More than 4,500 disabled people wrongly stripped of their benefits, DWP minister admits
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