MORE than 60 per cent of work capability assessments are overturned at appeal.

A Bolton MP asked the government about these assessments and was told only 39 per cent of decisions were upheld.

David Crausby. MP for Bolton North East said: “I frequently meet with people who are genuinely suffering because the assessments system is clearly seriously flawed.

"Six out of every ten appeals are successful.

"Thousands of people with long term health conditions are being stripped of financial support for months at a time for no reason. The system is aggressive and stressful, they don’t treat people with basic dignity and respect, and quite frankly it isn’t fit for purpose.”

Sir David has previously written to Government Ministers to condemn the “sanction first, appeal later” attitude of the work capability assessments process which can leave people with long term health conditions cut off from financial support for months at a time.

This can result in short-term extreme financial hardship says Sir David and he is campaigning to reform disability allowances.