‘Today we had a smash and grab raid by the Chancellor,’ says the director of strategy at the disability equality charity Scope, James Taylor, after benefit cuts unveiled
Today we had a smash and grab raid by the Chancellor. One of the biggest ever cuts to disability benefits. One in five of ALL disabled households will be worse off.
This is going to hit disabled people in the pocket for years to come; people who are not responsible for the condition of the economy or government spending plans. The numbers are mind boggling, and living standards will be cut to the core.
At least 250,000 will be pushed into poverty, including 50,000 children. 3.2 million families will lose an average of £1,720 per year. This will hit people with a learning disability, cancer, mental health conditions, and autistic people. It’s a sucker punch that’ll slam into your family, your neighbours, and your friends.
These cuts are a catastrophe, and they will push disabled people further into poverty. People who call our helpline are terrified, one customer said they are preparing for homelessness, and others reported worsening mental health and fear.
The country does have problems, but punishing disabled people isn’t going to solve them.
Today we had no analysis from Ministers about how many disabled people they are going to get into work off the back of their plans. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – the benefit that’s taking the brunt of the cuts exists because life costs more if you are disabled. It’s not an out of work benefit.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that by making these cuts the government is going to get more disabled people into work. That couldn’t be further from the truth. They’re simply planning to knock 400,000 people off PIP in the next 5 years, regardless of the impact.
It is obvious these cuts are simply about saving money and not by the “moral” desire of Ministers to get more people into work. This short-term thinking in No.10 and the Treasury will come back to haunt them as other parts of our creaking infrastructure – like the NHS – will have to pick up the pieces.
Today’s Spring Statement should shame the government to its core.