Response to Govt disability benefits announcement

Government mounts another brutal ideological attack on Disabled people, after 10 years of austerity

Read the Government announcement or read the summary at the bottom of this post

We are appalled that the Government is yet again mounting another brutal ideological attack on Disabled people, after 10 years of austerity, disproportionate Covid deaths (ref 1) and a cost-of-living crisis. The social security system should be there to promote and protect our rights. Instead of focusing on improving the inclusiveness of the workplace, the government chooses to demonise those Disabled people who are not able to work.

The proposed reforms clearly are driven by reducing costs. 27% of working-age Disabled people in the UK already live in poverty (ref 2). These reforms will cost lives and unleash misery.

We are also really concerned about the renewed hostility towards Disabled people who are now portrayed as costing too much, which may lead to an increase in hate crimes, discrimination and injustice. The United Nations said in 2016 that the UK Government had committed “grave and systematic violations” of our rights by instituting a regime of austerity and benefit sanctions which has tragically cost many people their lives (ref 3, ref 4). These new developments show that the Government is set on further removing our rights.

The Government claims that their plans will provide “vital support only to those who need it most” and ensure “they are supported to live with dignity and independence”. There is no dignity and independence in further cuts to our vital social security system.

Summary of the Government announcement:

  • Consultation on changing PIP to ‘better target’ system, including considering ‘alternatives’ to payments, such as ‘treatment or access to services’
  • Removal of all benefits from long-term ‘fit to work’ unemployed who don’t accept a job after 12 months on benefits
  • Work Capability Assessment to be ‘more ambitious’ in assessing fitness to work
  • Fit Note review, considering moving from GP to work coach fit notes
  • Rollout of Universal Credit for people on Employment and Support Allowance
  • Increasing Administrative Earnings Threshold (AET), triggering ‘intensive work search’ if working fewer than 18 hours (£892 per month)
  • New Fraud Bill to give new powers for investigating benefit fraud