THE UK Government has been accused of waging “an all-out assault on people with disabilities” amid reports it plans to make £6 billion in cuts to the welfare budget.
The plans, first reported by ITV News, will see £5bn in cuts by making it harder to qualify for the disability benefit Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The Labour Government is also set to freeze PIP payments next year so that they do not rise with inflation.
PIP is not linked to work but is awarded to help with the additional costs of disabilities.
There will also be changes to the way Universal Credit is calculated. The basic rate paid to those searching for work will be raised, while the rate for those who are judged as unfit for work will be cut.
The remaining £1bn will reportedly come through “a major investment for employment support for those who are looking for a job”.
We told how charities have warned of the “catastrophic” consequences of the Labour Government’s plans.
James Taylor, executive director of strategy at disability equality charity Scope, said the cuts would have “a devastating impact on disabled people and their families”.
Meanwhile, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) chief executive Alison Garnham said the cuts “would be damaging to disabled people and risk undermining the government’s forthcoming child poverty strategy”.
‘Austerity on stilts’
Responding to the reports, the SNP said Labour have “restarted the austerity engines” and is “shamefully targeting disabled people”.
Kirsty Blackman, the party’s spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), said: “The Labour Party has boxed itself in with arbitrary spending rules and its refusal to rejoin the single market - in doing so they have reopened the same old Westminster playbook and restarted the austerity engines.
“Labour has scrapped the Winter Fuel Payment, delivered big increases in energy bills despite promising a £300 cut, and blocked Waspi women from getting compensation – and now, instead of supporting those who need it most, it looks like they are shamefully targeting disabled people.
“Labour's cuts agenda will be devastating. It doesn’t matter how hard Labour try to shamelessly spin it – if it looks like austerity and sounds like austerity then it is austerity and it is unacceptable.
“People across Scotland deserve better.”
Meanwhile, the Scottish Greens have accused Labour of “going further than even the Tories dared”, slamming the planned cuts as “indefensible”.
“Labour are going further than even the Tories dared. A ramping up of the destructive right-wing politics that weakened our economy, destroyed our public services, and pulled ever more people and families down into poverty.
“And not content with cutting the benefits that millions of the most vulnerable in our society rely on to survive, Labour are also putting out statements to demonise them in a disgraceful attempt to divide and conquer.
“Under Labour the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. It’s completely indefensible.”
A spokesperson for the DWP said they would not comment on speculation and that the department would set out its plans "shortly".
A DWP spokesperson said: “We have been clear that the current welfare system is broken and needs reform, so that it helps long-term sick and disabled people who can work to find employment, and ensures people receive the support they need, while ensuring fairness for the taxpayer.
“Without reform more people will be locked out of jobs, despite many wanting to work. That is not just bad for the economy, it’s bad for people too.
“We have a duty to get the welfare bill on a more sustainable path and we will achieve that through meaningful, principled reforms rather than arbitrary cuts to spending.
“That’s why as part of our Plan for Change we will bring forward our proposals for reform shortly that will unlock work and help us reach our ambition of an 80% employment rate.”
The Chancellor is set to deliver the spring statement on March 26 – although the planned cuts are set to be met with the biggest rebellion of this Parliament to date.
Labour have been contacted for comment.
