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Disabled people are being forced to shell out more than £1,000 for state-of-the-art recording equipment by the DWP, a Labour candidate has revealed.

Frank Field, who is hoping to be retain his Birkenhead seat, says many are missing out because sickness and disability assessments are not recorded.

This means they are unable to prove what they said has been misinterpreted, he said.

At present, those who want an audio recording of a benefits assessment interview need to actively request it, the Liverpool Echo reports .

Mr Field said people applying for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or the sickness component of Universal Credit can request meetings are recorded - but this requires specialist equipment.

The DWP insists it must be done on a NEAL CD Interview Recorder, which are most commonly used by the police to record interviews.

However, the DWP has not bought enough machines to go around, and not all claimants are able to have their interview recorded.

But the situation for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) applicants is even more stringent.

Mr Field, who is the chair of the Work and Pensions Parliamentary committee, explained how individuals can request that their interview be recorded, however, they must provide the equipment themselves.

He said the Neal CD Interview Recorder 9102 used by the DWP retails at £1,400+VAT.

(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Although Neal does not display prices publicly on its website, this figure was also confirmed in the DWP's reply to a 2012 Freedom of Information request .

Mr Field has also acquired two such devices immediately to help people who wish for their assessments to be recorded.

He said in many instances the lack of an assessment recording has led to claimants being incorrectly denied benefits.

In many cases, claimants take their claim to a tribunal - and in the overwhelming majority, the original decision is overturned.

This was the case with Liverpool man Stephen Smith, who was repeatedly and wrongly denied benefits but managed to overturn the decisions at tribunal.

Sadly he died before his money was paid back.

Mr Field said: "These prohibitive rules have left people frantically scratching around to find equipment that satisfies the Department.

"There is now a flourishing second hand market for NEAL machines, with sellers expressly pointing out that these machines were used for PIP assessments.

"Of all the issues I am contacted about in the course of my work, from constituents and the wider public, 'The DWP told lies on my assessment report' is the most common refrain.

"The great majority of tribunal appeals are made and upheld on this basis, at great expense to the public purse. I believe that it makes sense that every interview should be 'On the Record', and that is why I have arranged for charity Involve Northwest to be provided with a NEAL Interview Recorder which it can loan to claimants."

Responding, a DWP spokesperson said: “PIP assessments can be recorded, with equipment provided by the claimant, however we ask that claimants request any recording of a Work Capability Assessment before an appointment.”