If the Welfare Reform Bill passes, the results will be horrific and at the Department for Work and Pensions, they are confident that it is a price worth paying.
Sue Marsh blogs at Diary of a Benefit Scrounger
Recently, it was reported that Crisis, the charity for the homeless, had warned 11,000 young disabled people were at risk of losing their homes due to the coalition’s housing benefit cap:
“Although 4,000 of the most vulnerable disabled claimants will be exempt because they need help through the day or night, most ill and disabled people will be forced to move into cheaper accommodation, often outside the area where they live.”
Those aged 25-34 will now only be able to rent shared accommodation rather than a one bed flat, on average, losing £41 per week towards their rent. The article makes the point that:
“This disturbing cut will force people suffering serious physical disabilities or mental illness to share with strangers, even if it damages their health.”
Well, yes it will and it is shocking. Not too shocking of course until we start to see things that make us feel uncomfortable. Not too shocking until we pass twisted bodies on the streets, their collecting cup lodged into their wheelchair handles, but shocking nonetheless.
Actually the really shocking thing is the accumulation of all the cuts faced by sick or disabled people and the effect it will have on their lives and almost certainly, their homes.
We already face the squeeze that able bodied people face. The VAT rise, the high inflation, the public sector cuts, the pay freezes, but overwhelmingly this group already live in poverty. On top of all of this, Scope report that sick and disabled people will lose £9.2 billion over the term of this parliament.
“The government’s proposed welfare reforms will see 3.5 million disabled people lose over £9.2 billion of critical support by 2015 pushing them further into poverty and closer to the fringes of society.”
The figure 9.2 billion is more than 10 per cent of Mr Osborne’s entire UK cuts to reduce the deficit. A full 10% taken from those with extra costs, extra needs and very, very difficult lives; it doesn’t matter how often I write it, I am shocked and terrified by its implications.
That’s 3.5 million people. Again, I write it and can hardly believe it’s true. Many don’t yet know what they face. Some will never know – their disabilities are too severe – but they will be affected just the same.
I have no idea how many of those 3.5 million will lose their homes, but the maths seems fairly clear. The entire cost (xls) to the welfare budget of sickness and disability benefits is £16 billion. 9.2 billion is over half of that.
I’m sure that unlike me, you won’t want to read this lengthy transcript of the Welfare Reform Bill committee, currently on its last stages through parliament, but I wish you would. After all these points were made and more, after a full discussion of the horrors that lie ahead for the sick and disabled, the poverty they are facing, the categorical failure of work programmes to help when their benefits are removed, Chris Grayling, Minister of State for Work and Pensions, had little to say.
To summarise, his answer was “I don’t care, we can no longer afford it…”
I don’t exaggerate – I wish I did. You can read it for yourselves. So, if I were you, I’d get used to seeing sick or disabled people on the streets. If this bill passes, the results will be horrific and at the DWP, they are confident that it is a price worth paying.
152 Responses to “The shocking impact of Osborne’s heartless cuts on the disabled”
Anon E Mouse
DavidG – Socialism doesn’t work – That’s why practically the whole world has got rid of it – certainly every country given a choice.
I have worked with the disabled and elderly in a care home – I’m fully aware of the plight of people that are disabled – I really don’t need a lecture thank you. I disagree with your opinion, that is all.
And you’re back on the am-dram again – no one has set out to demean anyone – you’re being too touchy and why don’t you want to stop fraud if it is occurring?
And when did I deny the truth? I do not believe that your silly remarks such as stating that newspaper stories are the same as government policy – you have no evidence whatsoever to prove that. Blame the media please not the government.
Your problem is Labour lost the election and the activists don’t like it. Instead of trying to act like Tony Blair and bringing people into the big tent you seem to be rewriting history.
Finally you should publicly withdraw your “Ethnic Cleansing” remark.
Government cuts, which is all they are, compared to the implications of genocide, is really offensive to any decent person of whatever political persuasion…
Douglas
It is almost getting to the point where some of the able-bodied resent disabled and sick people so much, they would be happy to have us all shot (to save them money) or simply put somewhere where the able-bodied don’t have to be reminded that there are people weaker than them who need support.
Why is it that in 2010, the sick and disabled face more cuts than anyone in society? Why have several sick and disabled people already committed suicide due to the cuts and there not been an outcry? Why are terminally ill people, with 6 months left to live, being found “fit for work” by the DWP and ATOS?
I just don’t get why so many people who have the ability to do what they want, when they want, are happy for those who cannot to suffer? What has happened to our society where most people are prepared to stomp on the weakest all so they can have a few extra pennies a weak?
Where will it stop? Will some people not be happy until NO money is spent on the sick and disabled? Money that most of us paid NI towards at one point or another?
Anon E Mouse
Barbs – I disagree on the cuts.
I do agree on the greedy landlords and their offensive rents and if the policy you advocate was adopted those rackmans would grumble and put up with it.
Remember we are giving the equivalent of a new primary school every 20 minutes in interest alone to city slickers and spivs and that is wrong.
Why do you believe it is right to continue to reward the money markets with our taxes?
Anon E Mouse
scandalousbill (Sorry fella I missed your post!) – I’m not saying this government is not out of touch but as a Labour supporter I’m surprised the plight of the poor and less well off in society are being ignored to pay our taxes to the greedy landlords.
I know it sounds Socialist (Urgghhhh) but I would cap rents where the taxpayer has to pick up the tab. And the landlords would just get on with it.
As for Sue Marsh she shouyld stand by her articles and answer questions when she is asked them directly. Let me try it on you scandalousbill.
Do you think it’s fair that minimum wage workers should allow greedy landlords to take all their taxes to provide housing for others that they themselves cannot ever even hope to afford?
Fair or not scandalousbill…
Douglas
@Anon E:
I do not think it is fair. However, we should not be asking the residents in these homes, especially sick/disabled people, to have to pay the price. These landlords should, somehow, be forced to reduce their rents or have caps placed. There should be greater protection for disabled/sick residents, especially when these homes have been converted for their needs.
Those on minimum wage should also fight for better wages. But I also do not understand why they resent sick/disabled people more than they resent those who are charging the extraordinarily high rents. Why accept cuts to sick and disabled people before cuts that hit the landlords themselves? When I was last well enough to work, I for one moment did not resent people who lived in homes more expensive than I could afford and especially not disabled people as I was fully able at the time and could do what I want when I wanted. I can muster up a lot of anger for landlords, but not for average people who happen to have a nicer home than I do paid through my taxes.
But then again, one learns what is truly important when one gets ill.