Tipping point for welfare cuts

Posted Monday 22 October 2012

A new report has been published today by The Hardest Hit, a coalition of over 90 disability charities and organisations, which highlights the impact of the Government's welfare cuts and reforms on disabled people, including those with mental health problems.

The The Tipping Point (pdf) brings together a survey of over 4,500 disabled people, a poll of more than 350 independent welfare advisers, and more than 50 in-depth interviews with disabled people with varying conditions and impairments.

The report reveals some shocking statistics:

• 8 in 10 disabled people claim losing their Disability Living Allowance (DLA) would drive them into isolation, and would leave them struggling to manage their condition.
• 9 in 10 fear that losing DLA would be detrimental to their health
• More than three-quarters said their health got worse as a result of the stress caused by their Work Capability Assessment (WCA) for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Nearly 9 in 10 welfare advisers said the constant reassessments for benefits are damaging people’s health
• 9 in 10 welfare advisers said that too many disabled people are slipping through the net and are left without adequate support by the welfare system.

Mind is encouraging supporters to email their MP and alert them to the report. 

Every MP in Parliament needs to read The Tipping Point, to hear about how important these issues are to their constituents, and to support the recommendations made in the report.

Commenting on the report, Mind Chief Executive Paul Farmer said:

It is vital that more people know about the impact of cuts and changes to welfare and benefits on disabled people, including large numbers of people with mental health problems.

This report clearly demonstrates both that the current system is not working fairly and effectively, and that changes that are due to come in soon are likely to make things even worse for disabled people.

I hope that the Government pays close attention to this report and reconsiders the direction of travel they have chosen for welfare and disability.

Notes to Editors

For more information contact info@hardesthit.org.uk

Download the report (PDF or MS Word).

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