Polly Toynbee, The Guardian, Tuesday 8 July 2014: Ministers
promise 'parity of esteem' for mental and physical health services. Instead the
reality is scandalous cruelty ... “Neglect of the mentally ill is bad enough, but now consider
how the Department for Work and Pensions deliberately torments them … Letters
are sent to the vulnerable who don't legally have to come in, but in such
ambiguous wording that they look like an order to attend. Tricks are played:
those ending their contributory entitlement to a year on ESA need to fill in a
form for income-based ESA. But jobcentres are forbidden to stock those forms.
These ill people's benefits are suddenly stopped without explanation: if they
call, they're told to collect a form from the jobcentre, which doesn't stock
them either. If someone calls to query an appointment they are told they will
be sanctioned if they don't turn up.
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