The Government's aim of helping people with disabilities and long-term health conditions back into work is "laudable", but the process is causing much "anxiety" among benefit claimants, a group of MPs has concluded.

A report by the Commons Work and Pensions Committee published today found the incapacity benefit (IB) reassessment was not yet fully understood by claimants, putting the Government's objectives at risk.

It said that the "positive messages about the IB reassessment are not getting through to the public" and the Government needed to be "proactive" in explaining the aims of the process and support available to claimants.

Current incapacity benefit claimants are being reassessed to determine if they are able to work.

The scheme was trialled in Burnley and Aberdeen in October last year and rolled out across the country earlier this year.

If claimants are deemed fit for work, assistance is given to find a job through the Government's new welfare to work scheme, the Work Programme.

Those found not fit for work are moved on to the new benefit Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Committee chair Dame Anne Begg said: "The Government's aim of helping benefit claimants back into work is laudable, but the scale of the challenge should not be underestimated and nor should the level of anxiety which surrounds the process.

"People are suspicious that the Government's only objective is to save money."

It added "care" needed to be taken in Government communications to stress that being found fit for work was a positive outcome and should not be interpreted as "failing the test".

The report said it was "widely accepted" that the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) - the test used to assess whether an incapacity benefit claimant is capable of work - as introduced in 2008 was "flawed" and this had been borne out in the high number of appeals.

Dame Anne added: "There have been failings in the service Atos Healthcare (which carries out the WCA) has provided, which has often fallen short of what claimants can rightly expect.

"This has contributed significantly to the mistrust which many claimants feel about the whole process."

However, the report welcomed the changes made to the WCA mainly in response to the recommendations in Professor Malcolm Harrington's independent review and the reassessment trials in Aberdeen and Burnley.

It added the Government had acknowledged the WCA required further refinements and the Committee looked forward to Professor Harrington's second review.

The committee concluded: "It is vital that the reassessment process assesses claimants' employability and needs in the workplace accurately and that information from the assessment is directly linked to the Work Programme to ensure that the level of support provided matches the needs of the claimant.

"As the WCA is designed at the moment, there are concerns that this may not yet be the case.

"The Government needs to take steps to strengthen the link between the assessment process and employment support under the Work Programme."

The report also drew attention to some media coverage, stating portraying the reassessment as a scheme to "weed out benefit cheats" showed "a fundamental misunderstanding of the Government's objectives".

The report is entitled: "The role of incapacity benefit reassessment in helping claimants into employment."

Charity Rethink Mental Illness said the report echoed many of its concerns relating to the reassessment.

Associate director of campaigns Jane Harris said: "We agree with the principle that the benefits system needs simplifying, but the way in which it is being done is inhumane and is causing widespread fear and anxiety amongst people with a severe mental illness.

"Over 87% of people with a mental illness surveyed by Rethink said they found their Atos medical assessment stressful and 80% said the test has made their mental health worse.

"Many of our members and supporters have been in touch to tell us how stressful they are finding the process and some have even said it's making them feel suicidal."

She added: "We are therefore pleased that the report calls on the Government to do more to ensure that Atos 'treats claimants properly' and 'produces accurate assessments'."

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "The assessment is about helping people who can work get back into employment and we have been clear that disabled people who need unconditional support will receive it.

"It is vital that we also support people who were written off to a lifetime on benefits into jobs and our new Work Programme will help them overcome the barriers they face to get back into work.

"We are committed to continuously improving the Work Capability Assessment through a series of independent reviews."