Member News
8th January 2013Plans to cap benefit increases will make it harder for disabled people to find work, according to Scope.
This afternoon MPs will debate and vote on a bill that will cap benefit increases at one percent.
Disability charity Scope said that capping benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance for the next three years is effectively a cut that make it even tougher for disabled people looking for work.
“This bill doesn’t protect disabled people,” said Richard Hawkes, chief executive of Scope.
“In fact it cuts support for the many disabled people who are looking for work.
"Disabled people face massive barriers to finding work – a lack of skills and experience, a shortage of flexible work and attitudes of employers.
“But instead of breaking down barriers the Government adds to them. The fitness for work test is failing, the Work Programme isn't working and now this.”
The legislation before MPs today is designed to break the link between benefit rises and inflation. It replaces it with a cap of one percent on most working-age benefits and tax credits for three years from 2013/14.
Chancellor George Osborne announced the new policy in his Autumn Statement last month, saying it was "being fair to the person who leaves home every morning to go out to work and sees their neighbour still asleep, living a life on benefits”.
“We have to have a welfare system that is fair to the working people who pay for it,” he said.
Mr Hawkes said the language of ‘strivers not skivers’ or ‘training not claiming’ over-simplifies the needs of some people, including the disabled.
“It’s time both parties stopped benefits bashing,” he said.
“Some people need benefits. Get over it.
“Our polling shows this kind of language has a very real impact on people’s attitudes to disability. We have to stop over-simplifying welfare. It’s not black and white.
“The vast majority of disabled people need support.
"They aren't feckless, they aren't workshy and they aren't scroungers. Benefits mean disabled people can do things everyone else takes for granted.”
Labour has pledged to vote against the legislation, while some Lib Dem MPs are expected join them in the 'No' lobby.
Former Lib Dem minister Sarah Teather confirmed yesterday that she will vote against the bill.
"One of the things I feel particularly uncomfortable about is setting up these two groups, 'strivers' and 'scroungers'," she said.
"It's playground politics.”