In today’s Queen’s speech, the government has failed to give further details on widely anticipated changes to the social security system that could affect millions of disabled people.
The Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) is calling on the Government to commit to the recommendations the DBC made to the next government before the general election.
Responding to the announcement, James Bolton, Parliamentary Chair of the Disability Benefits Consortium, said:
“Disabled people continue to live in fear about where the axe will fall on the likely £12bn of cuts to the social security budget. The Queen’s speech failed to provide any further details about spending cuts to the working-age social security budget, leaving disabled people in the dark as to whether they will still get the vital support that they rely on.
“With our combined knowledge, experience and direct contact with millions of disabled individuals and carers, we know that the social security system is currently not up to task. With hundreds of thousands of people waiting for benefit assessments and some being forced to wait over a year for a decision, the social security system is failing to meet the needs of many disabled people who rely on it.
“This must change. Alongside millions of disabled people, their families and carers, we call on the government to commit to our recommendations and help ensure that disabled people can get the support they need, when they need it.”
-ENDS-
1 Disability Benefits Consortium: Five things you and your party can do for disabled people, http://goo.gl/As7jsS
The next government should recognise the extra costs disabled people are forced to pay, and take steps to tackle this financial disadvantage in the longer term.
- The next government should ensure appropriate support for disabled people to work, and security for those who cannot.
- The next government should take a lead role in changing the way society talks about welfare.
- The next government should ensure overall spending on financial support for disabled people is allocated on the basis of need, not pre-determined limits to avoid disabled people losing the support they need in years to come.
- The next government should take action to ensure that a person’s disability does not mean that they are disproportionately affected by policy decisions.
Contact details
For more information, please contact Jonathan Caleb-Landy, PR Lead at Mencap, on 020 7696 6937 or jonathan.caleblandy@mencap.org.uk
Notes to editors
About the Disability Benefits Consortium
The Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) is a national coalition of over 50 different charities and other organisations committed to working towards a fair benefits system.
Using our combined knowledge, experience and direct contact with disabled individuals and carers, we seek to ensure Government policy reflects and meets the needs of all disabled people.
Disability Benefits Consortium 