On International Women’s Day (IWD), an expert has warned of the ‘devastating impact’ proposed Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) cuts will have on women living with disabilities, issuing a dire warning
Today marks International Women’s Day (IWD), and sadly, for many women living with disabilities, the celebrations and upbeat social media posts may feel rather hollow.
Back in September 2024, the Women’s Budget Group (WBG) urged the government to take action, after their findings revealed that disabled women had suffered a “disproportionate decline in living standards” since 2010.
Now, things are likely to get even worse, with an expert warning that further proposed Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) cuts could have a “devastating impact”.
Revealing that she will slash billions of pounds from the welfare bill on Friday (March 7), Chancellor Rachel Reeves argued that the welfare system was in need of reform as it’s “letting down taxpayers”, asserting that it was a “travesty” a million young people were out of work.
In an interview Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Ms Reeves issued a firm stance ahead of her Spring Statement. She said: “We’ve got to reform our welfare system, because at the moment it’s letting down taxpayers because it’s costing too much.
“It’s letting down our economy because there’s too many people trapped on out of work benefits. And it’s letting down the people who are recipients of benefits because they are trapped on benefits rather than actively supported back into work.”
These expected measures will however come as a blow to those whose disabilities mean getting back into work isn’t quite so simple, and it’s feared disabled women in particular will be impacted.
David Southgate, Policy Manager at disability equality charity Scope, said: “Disabled women are at risk of being hit even harder by cuts to welfare.
“Women experience higher rates of poverty than men and are more likely to claim disability benefits. The government is going about welfare reform in the wrong way, and starting with how much money it wants to cut.”
He continued: “Making it harder to get benefits will just push even more disabled people into poverty, not into jobs. The Chancellor has a choice – cut benefits and increase poverty, or invest in an equal future for disabled people.
“Making the wrong choice will have a devastating impact on disabled people and their families.”
According to the 2024 WBG report, which addressed the impact of the impact of 14 years of austerity, women experience a higher annual loss in terms of living standards than their male counterparts, losing 9.4 per cent, or the equivalent to £3,162 per year, compared with men’s 5.8 per cent annual loss (£2,395).
For women with disabilities, this decline soars to 11 per cent – mote that £4,000 per year. This is compared with 8 per cent for men with disabilities (almost £3,500) and 5 per for men without disabilities.
Already, those who rely on disability benefits to survive are keeping their heads above water, and this latest announcement has sparked panic among those desperately trying to keep their families afloat.
Just last week, the mother of two disabled children spoke anonymously with the Mirror about how these savage cuts will affect her. Sarah, whose name was changed for the interview, told us: “I’m reading in the news about cuts and changing our payments to a ‘catalogue’ to get equipment
“How’s that going to help me pay my bills? Is this catalogue going to have the incontinence products I currently buy for my son? We get a supply of three incontinence pads per day, but use six or more. I also buy booster pads to make them more absorbent.
“I also buy special dry wipes and skin-cleaning foam – will those exact products be in this catalogue?
“And the non-foaming toothpaste both boys use, and the ointment for my son’s stoma site that’s not on prescription that I have to buy from America, and so many more things I use the PIP money for?”
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