Today's blog is very much removed from my usual topics, but it is about something that is extremely important, concerning changes to disability benefits. As someone sensible pointed out on twitter yesterday "anything that concerns 'disabled' should concern anyone that might become disabled - i.e. everyone". My connection to the issues is as carer and husband to Anna who receives DLA to help with disability resulting from Fibromyalgia, ME, Bipolar Disorder, Arthritis and a host of associated conditions.
The coalition government recently proposed wholesale reform of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and other benefits that provide essential support to disabled people to help them with the extra costs involved in mobility and care, both of which can be incredibly expensive. DLA is not an 'out-of-work' benefit and in many cases the support it provides can help disabled people remain in work.
The Responsible Reform researchers used the Freedom of Information Act to obtain more
than 500 responses to the consultation that were submitted by disabled
people’s organisations, disability charities and other groups –
including the response submitted by Boris Johnson – and have carried out
the first detailed, independent analysis of those responses
The report (referred to as #spartacusreport on twitter) finds that Government misled MPs
and Peers over the hostility to disability benefit reform. It finds
that Parliament has been given only a partial view of the overwhelming
opposition to the Coalition’s planned reforms of Disability Living Allowance. This
opposition was previously not released to public scrutiny by the
Government
Findings included:
* 98 per cent of respondents objected to the qualifying period for benefits being raised from 3 months to 6 months
*
99 per cent of respondents objected to Disability Living Allowance no
longer being used as a qualification for other benefits
* 92% opposed removing the lowest rate of support for disabled people
In
all three cases, as well as many others, unexpectedly considered response came from London’s Conservative Mayor,
Boris Johnson. He said in his
response
“The Mayor would call for the Government to
retain the three-month qualifying period as the increase to six months
will mean that people with fluctuating conditions have increased
difficulty meeting the qualifying period. People with fluctuating
conditions face the same barriers that all disabled face in relation to
higher costs of living and DLA is essential to maintain a decent quality
of life.”
“We would recommend that the passporting system
remains the same as under DLA as it has worked well when
signposting people to additional benefits to which they may be
entitled.”
“The Mayor does not support this change, as those on
the lower rate care component may have additional costs as a result of
their impairment but may lose their access to this benefit as part of
the proposed removal under the reforms.”
The Mayor also objected to the government's strategy for clamping down on disability benefit fraud, arguing:
"The
government proposes imposing penalties if disabled people do not inform
the government in changes in their circumstances. However, the
Department of Work and Pensions statistics give the overall fraud rate
for Disability Living Allowance as being less than 0.5%. For those with
fluctuating conditions asking them to report every change to their
condition would prove very stressful."
The new report has been researched, written and funded by sick and
disabled people, thousands of whom contributed to the research through
their use of social media.
Its authors now hope to use the report
to persuade members of the House of Lords to back an adjournment debate
calling for a pause of at least 6 months. In that time, plans for PIP
should be reconsidered with the views of disabled people properly taken
into account.
Please help the campaign by reading, sharing, and promoting the report. Contact your MPs, send them links to it.
Responsible Reform - full report: http://tinyurl.com/78erjru
Press release: http://tinyurl.com/86h82gb