A third of people claiming incapacity benefits who are declared fit for work later go on to win appeals against the decision, a local Citizens Advice Bureau has said.

Last week the Government announced that 43% of incapacity claimants in Pembrokeshire have been found fit to work.

However, the numbers do not include decisions overturned on appeal.

Nikki Neufeld, of Pembrokeshire Citizens Advice Bureau, said that nationally, in new Employment and Support Allowance claims, 41% of all fit for work decisions have been appealed against and, of the appeals heard between December 2010 and November 2011, 32% were successful.

“Evidence from Citizens Advice ‘Right First Time’ found that the medical assessment was not fit for purpose and that 60% of people who successfully appealed had scored nil points in their original assessment.

“It is clear from the evidence that an appeal is more likely to succeed if a claimant attends the hearing in person to explain their difficulties, if they have medical evidence to support their appeal and particularly if the claimant has advice from a welfare benefits adviser,” added Nikki, the advice service manager.

While appealing a decision that they are capable of work, a claimant will be paid Employment and Support Allowance at the assessment rate until the appeal is heard.