Former Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Farron has welcomed the news that from today (Friday 29th September), people with chronic illnesses who claim Employment and Support Allowance will no longer be re-tested.

Tim Farron raised the issue earlier this month, after a number of constituents had contacted him to say they’d been dragged to medical assessments despite having a long-term illness.

After submitting a freedom of information request to the DWP, Tim learnt that the government do not record do not record data which is exclusively related to chronic illnesses.

As the DWP do not hold this information, people with chronic diseases such as Hungtingdon’s and MS will still have to be tested once more before they can become exempt from future re-tests.

Tim Farron said:

“Today’s news that the DWP have finally started listening to concerns of millions of people up and down the country who have chronic illnesses is welcome and long overdue.

“The fact that it’s taken them nearly a year to implement since they originally promised to stop re-testing is frankly pathetic.

“I’m also disappointed that people currently claiming ESA will have to be tested again before they can become exempt – meaning even more pain and discomfort for people with chronic illnesses.”