The SNP have criticised the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for extending the contract of the controversial company which carries out disability assessments.
Maximus UK Services Ltd was given a seven-month extension to its Health and Disability Assessment Service contract earlier this month. This is the fourth time that contract has been extended since it was first awarded in 2014.
The extension will cost the DWP £90million and will take the contract to March 2024. Maximus is employed to decide whether people who apply for Employment Support Allowance are fit for work.
But the SNP's social justice spokesperson David Linden said that the company is not fit to carry out the contract.
He also criticised the DWP for employing a private company to do the assessments, saying that "you can’t run a compassionate social security system when the primary motivation is driven by profit."
Between October 2020 and September 2021, the majority against the DWP's Fit for Work assessments which were taken to appeal were overturned. According to DWP figures, 658 of the assessments were overturned while 591 were upheld.
Maximus also came under fire in February 2021 after it emerged the company broke Covid rules by holding a Christmas party.
The UK statistics regulator announced in March that it was examining the DWP's "shameful" failure to provide statistics about work capability assessments.
The Disability News Service also reported last week that scores of benefits claimants in the last three years had died due to the way in which the DWP was managing the benefits system.
David Linden, the SNP's social security spokesperson, said that the extension of Maximus' contract showed that "Westminster’s social security system is a total mess". He also criticised the DWP for "throwing public money" at what he called a "failing private sector company".
Linden said: “Westminster’s social security system is a total mess and the frankly bonkers decision to extend Maximus’ contract is nothing more than a reward for failure.
“Using our limited social security powers, the SNP Government has banned private companies from carrying out complex and sensitive assessments for vulnerable claimants. The fact is, you can’t run a compassionate social security system when the primary motivation is driven by profit.
“The British Government’s botched work capability assessment scheme demonstrates the need for Scotland to take full control over its social security system, instead of 85% of policy being dictated to us by Tory governments we haven’t voted for, and one that seems obsessed with throwing public money after a failing private sector company.”
A DWP spokesperson said: “We support millions of people with disabilities each year and always work to provide a supportive and compassionate service. We have made improvements to our decision-making process and in the majority of cases make the right decision.
“We have robust systems in place for spending public money and departments always seek to achieve value for money for the taxpayer. As with all our contracts, performance is kept under constant review.”
A Maximus spokesperson said: “Since we took over delivery of work capability assessments, we have invested in specialist training for our healthcare professionals, reduced the amount of time a customer spends in the assessment process, and provided additional support to make the process more accessible.
"We have also achieved record levels of customer satisfaction by working in collaboration with charities and expert partners, seeking feedback and continuously improving the service we provide. We remain focused on delivering a sensitive and respectful service.”
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