Social security: which way...

Social security: which way for the new Government?

In our August disability newsletter, we reported that we were still waiting for a decision from the new Government on the future of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The previous Government had set out options to reduce the number of claims, or even abolish PIP altogether, replacing it with a voucher system or something similar.

Inclusion Barnet, along with many other Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations, have made it clear that these options are unacceptable and must be dropped. Any further examination of PIP must directly involve Disabled people and must have the aim of improving the benefit, not restricting or abolishing it.

And it isn’t just PIP. The previous Government had plans to alter the Work Capability Assessment (fit-for-work test) so as to make it harder to qualify for the higher rates of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and of Universal Credit. Inclusion Barnet believes that everyone who wants it should have access to good quality employment support (such as coaching or training) on a voluntary basis, without loss of benefits.

Then there is the roll-out of Universal Credit to replace older benefits like the means-tested version of ESA. The previous Government stepped up the timetable so as to finish by the end of 2025. But is the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ready to provide Disabled people with the support needed to make the change?

Working with partners and allies including the Disability Benefits Consortium, DPO Forum and locally, Barnet Learning Disability Strategic Partnership, we are meeting with DWP officials and the Disability Minister to make these points loud and clear.

Inclusion Barnet’s Campaign for Disability Justice has not arrived a moment too soon!

Members, check your email inboxes next week for a special edition newsletter on the campaign launch! If you are a Disabled person and/or carer in Barnet, you can join our membership for free.

Geoff Fimister,

Head of Policy, Inclusion Barnet

Continue reading our September newsletter

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