AROUND 30,000 people in Scotland could lose entitlement to disability benefits as a result of UK Government welfare reforms, according to a new report.
The Scottish Government research looked at the impact of welfare policies affecting disabled men and women, including the replacement of disability living allowance (DLA) for those of working age with the personal independence payment (PIP).
The report found that while 45 per cent of people being re-assessed for the new benefit are expected to see their award increase, 44 per cent will initially have their payment cut or removed completely. It estimated around 30,000 disabled people could lose their entitlement to non-means-tested disability benefits, with those worst affected losing benefits worth more than £7000 a year if disallowed for PIP.
The report also said between 7000 and 10,000 disabled people a year could be affected by the removal of the work-related activity component of employment support allowance (ESA). Those affected could lose up to £29 a week every year until the policy is fully rolled out, it concluded.
Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman said: “The Scottish Government is committed to full equality and human rights for disabled people, and we have published an ambitious delivery plan to help us achieve this.
“It is therefore with dismay that we see in this report the impact of the UK Government’s unrelenting strive for austerity.
“Like Universal Credit, these cuts are failing the very people they are designed to support. They are causing unnecessary hardship and suffering to people across the country.
“The UN’s Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities issued a report earlier this year which is damning of the UK Government and rightly highlights the changes urgently needed to halt the damage they are causing.
“That is why I’ve written to Penny Mordaunt, the minister for disabled people, calling on them to take action.
“The UK Government must listen to the cacophony of voices and growing evidence telling them about the damage their policies are causing and stop their assault on disabled people.”
Bill Scott, director of policy at Inclusion Scotland, said: “Inclusion Scotland are extremely concerned about the cumulative impact of the UK Government’s welfare reforms on Scots disabled people. A large proportion of the 30,000 losing entitlement to DLA will also be losing £29 a week of ESA.
“This means that tens of thousands of Scots households containing disabled people face a loss in income totalling several thousand pounds a year. That’s not even taking into account the hardship being caused to that same group by the introduction of Universal Credit.
“Disabled people and their families are being left hungry, cold and homeless by these cuts. Is it really any wonder that some have been driven to thoughts of suicide?”
Scottish LibDem equalities spokesperson Caron Lindsay said: “This is a government-sanctioned attack on the poor and disabled. The Tories’ cuts are intended to discourage vulnerable people who claim benefits. This is repellent, unacceptable and irresponsible. These Conservative cuts to disability benefits have been damned by the UN and opposed by charities who warn of an increase in poverty and deprivation. The UK Government should scrap this low blow immediately.”
A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said: “These claims are misleading and we do not recognise the figure. We are committed to supporting people with disabilities and health conditions.”
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