Proposed Government Cuts to Welfare Benefits
Cuts to Welfare Benefits
Proposed by the Government
The Government recently published a green paper detailing sweeping changes to welfare benefits, relied on by millions of disabled people including PIP (Personal Independence Payments) and Universal Credit.
The paper, titled Pathways to work: Reforming Benefits and Support to get Britain Working, professes to tackle a broken welfare system and get people into work. Whilst working can be beneficial for so many, the government’s method appears to be to remove financial support from disabled people, which is likely to have the opposite of the desired effect.
One of the proposals is a tightening of the PIP criteria. PIP is a benefit paid to those with a health condition, impairment or other challenges, to help with the extra difficulty and costs of daily life disabled people face (please see the Disability Price Tag work by Scope).
PIP is a benefit not linked to work and is not means tested, and although some who claim this benefit are not working, many who claim do. PIP can be a great help for those who are working, to enable them to be able to take part in work activities and lead more fulfilling lives.
The proposed changes will heavily affect those living with mental health conditions. People with mental health conditions often score two points across a number of daily living activities to be eligible for PIP. This does not demonstrate a less serious condition or any less of a need. This change will lead to more fear and anxiety among an already desperate group, more pressure on already stretched mental health services and considerable risk of harm.
Another proposal within the paper is a cut to the health element of Universal Credit, yet again, taking money away from disabled people. These are already some of the poorest and most marginalised in society, and the proposal is not a viable solution. The proposed changes will only serve to increase barriers to disabled people moving into work.
For many of the changes listed in the green paper, including the change to the PIP eligibility criteria and reducing the health element of Universal Credit, the government are not holding any consultation, therefore robbing disabled people of having a voice in changes that will have a huge impact on our lives.
These changes, at best, show an ignorance of the difficulties that disabled people face in their daily lives, or, at worst, display a callous disregard for the dignity, independence and safety of disabled people. These cuts are short sighted, as any money saved by taking away from the most vulnerable, will be offset by increased pressure and dependence on health and support services. These cuts will also have a cost that cannot be measured in pounds and pence: human lives.
We echo the sentiments expressed by Scope and many other charities.
“ Work with us, those who live with disability, to create meaningful change.
“ Safeguard disability benefits from cuts, because the cost of cuts is too great.
“ Give us a voice in any changes that affect us, including holding consultations on ALL Proposals
Please see the open letter to the Chancellor from Scope:
https://www.scope.org.uk/campaigns/open-letter-to-the-chancellor-the-cost-of-cuts-to-disability-benefits
The call from NAWRA (National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers) for all proposals to be open to consultation:
Time to Stand Together: Say No to Devastating Disability Benefits Cuts from Inclusion London:
and Disability Price Tag – Scope
David Ashton
Welfare Rights Advice Project Manager
Orchard House
15a Purley Road
South Croydon
Surrey
CR2 6EZ
Tel: 020 8681 6888