Inclusion London’s response to the Welfare Reform and Work Bill call for evidence
We would like to see all Deaf and Disabled people lifted out of poverty and welfare benefit system that ensures at a minimum ‘an adequate standard of living’.
Article 28 of UNCRPD states that Disabled people have right to
‘an adequate standard of living for themselves and their families, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and to the continuous improvement of living conditions’.[1]
We would like to see all Deaf and Disabled people lifted out of poverty and welfare benefit system that ensures at a minimum ‘an adequate standard of living’.
The measures contained in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill (the Bill) are being brought in at a time when many Deaf and Disabled people already live in poverty, struggling to pay for basic food, fuel and rental bills.
We are very concerned that Deaf and Disabled people and people on low incomes are bearing a disproportional impact of public spending cuts. We believe Deaf and Disabled people and those on low incomes should not bear the brunt of the government’s ambition to cut the deficit. We oppose the changes to Welfare Benefits in the Bill, but wish to ensure that at a very minimum Deaf and Disabled people are protected from them. Therefore we recommend the amendments below:
Recommended amendments:
- Clause 1: The government reports on progress on halving the employment gap between Deaf and Disabled people and non-disabled people. The report captures good practice and shares effective models of into work support.
- Clause 2: The government reports on the number of apprenticeships taken up by Deaf and Disabled people. The report should capture and share good practice in supporting Deaf and Disabled people into apprenticeships.
- Clause 7: – Households containing Deaf and Disabled people, (as stated under Article 1 of the UNCRDP) are exempt from the benefit cap.
- Clause 8: The impact of the benefit cap on Deaf and Disabled people and their families should be reported to parliament.
- Clause 9: Households containing Deaf and Disabled people, (as stated under Article 1 of the UNCRDP), are exempt from the four year freeze on social security benefits.
- Clause 9: The impact of the freeze of benefits on Deaf and Disabled people and their families should be reported to parliament.
- Clause 10: Deaf and Disabled people, (as stated under Article 1 of the UNCRDP) are exempt from the four year freeze on tax credits.
- Clause 11 and 12: Households containing Deaf and Disabled children are exempt from changes to child tax credit and changes to the child element of universal credit.
- Clause 13 is removed.
[1] http://www.un.org/disabilities/default.asp?id=288