Cameron cuts even Thatcher’s disabled benefits

As the Welfare Reform Bill receives its Commons second reading today, cancer charities have joined the increasing chorus of those concerned about the potentially disastrous impact of the legislation; here, Neil Coyle continues Left Foot Forward’s analysis of the bill. Neil is Director of Policy for the Disability Alliance and a Labour Councillor in Southwark but writes here in a personal capacity.

Angry-disabled-man The Welfare Reform Bill confirms that Disability Living Allowance will be replaced by the Personal Independence Payment with a cut in expenditure of more than £2 billion. In the June budget George Osborne announced a 20 per cent cut to DLA. The benefit is paid to people with care or mobility needs whether in or out of work and was intended to help with the higher costs of living associated with impairments/health conditions.

DLA cuts were unpredictable: the 2010 Conservative manifesto stated DLA would be ‘protected’ and it seemed unlikely Cameron would remove a benefit announced under Thatcher.

The Department for Work and Pensions immediately balked at the chancellor’s statement that the cut would remove 20% of ‘caseload and expenditure’ - no doubt partly due to the PR nightmare of 360,000 disabled people immediately identified as the 20% caseload.

If an initial lack of clarity was a problem, things got far worse for disabled people trying to understand proposals.

The consultation to abolish DLA was hampered by incompetence: DWP failed to meet government standards on the length of time provided to ensure appropriate public involvement - despite the communication needs of many of the people affected; and the consultation included inaccuracies, including the claim there is no process for DWP to review DLA payments. IT problems forced the consultation to close after the Welfare Reform Bill’s publication.

The timing suggests the consultation is not valued and the approach has generated considerable anxiety - resulting in a petition for the government plans to be withdrawn until adequate time and analysis has been undertaken. However, the policy failings are worse given the potential number of people affected: it is estimated more than 800,000 will lose out to generate the £2.1bn cuts.

In June the government also announced that DLA mobility payments accessed by disabled people in residential care would be cut. These payments provide help with transport costs to see families, attend medical appointments and help some disabled people in work. In June DWP stated the cut would affect 50,000 people; by October this figure had reached 80,000.

This error demonstrates poor analysis of the initial decision which failed to consider the effect on disabled children in residential special educational needs settings. The cut may prevent parents collecting disabled children for weekends and school holidays. This will leave vulnerable disabled children isolated and excluded from family life.

In attempting to justify this decision the government has proposed competing explanations. These include accusing care homes of failing to meet regulatory obligations and likening care homes to hospitals. None of the explanations have yet convinced disabled people, carers, residential care providers, social service professionals or councils that resources will still be available to meet mobility needs when the cut is implemented in March 2013.

With the clock ticking, the situation looks bleak for the 80,000 disabled people and their families set to lose essential support. The coalition approach to cutting DLA expenditure has failed to adequately consider the impact on disabled people directly affected - or potential costs.

In the silos of Whitehall the cuts may appear achievable without impact. But it is extremely likely that DLA cuts will cause: higher NHS costs (including hospitalisation); greater need for council support (residential care); and disabled people and carers being unable to retain employment due to reduced financial or other support resulting in lost Treasury contributions.

http://twitter.com/maximmanchester/status/45435111646302208 Max

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
HeardinLondon

This headline is not as silverlined as it might appear: RT @leftfootfwd
Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/coyleneil/status/45435583857823745 Neil Coyle

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits http://bit.ly/g7iRnf #DLA
http://twitter.com/iannellin/status/45435606452535296 Nicola Iannelli

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/wassboy/status/45435897998606336 Phil Wass

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/beatrixkiddooo/status/45435904537538560 Beatrix Kiddo

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/romilagupta/status/45436012712824832 Romila Chaplin

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/pandorasboxheal/status/45436212428816384 Christine Ramsbottom

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/romilagupta/status/45436237452029952 Romila Chaplin

Dla reform – http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/03/welfare-reform-bill-disability-living-allowance-cut/
http://twitter.com/freyjamadsen/status/45436354305335296 Freyja Madsen

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/carboncoach/status/45438579261980672 carboncoach

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/brokenofbritain/status/45438720815542272 Broken OfBritain

RT @Romilagupta: Dla reform – http://ow.ly/1s8BsY
http://twitter.com/robbsart/status/45439160269541376 Robert Carswell

RT @BrokenOfBritain: RT @Romilagupta: Dla reform – http://ow.ly/1s8BsY
http://twitter.com/iamgreatwhite/status/45439874924421121 GreatWhite

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/hayley_dm/status/45441103058571264 Hayley Moseley

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://samedifference1.com/2011/03/09/more-disability-coverage-from-left-foot-forward/ More Disability Coverage From Left Foot Forward « Same Difference

[...] Coyle has written another post on the disability benefit cuts and the Welfare Reform Bill for Left Foot Forward. I thank them for [...]
http://twitter.com/katapola/status/45442243804409856 Δημήτρης

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/socratext/status/45442587397586944 socratext

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
Matthew Davis

This website is extraordinarily reactionary.

All you ever do (without fail) is attack the Coalition Government.

The Labour Party would also benefit from some constructive criticism.
http://twitter.com/leisurechoice/status/45443336651280384 East Surrey

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits http://bit.ly/g7iRnf
http://twitter.com/dontmindwaiting/status/45443598908534784 jennifer roberts

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/double_karma/status/45445815627554816 Double.Karma

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/double_karma/status/45447310582358016 Double.Karma

RT @suey2y: RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits http://bit.ly/g7iRnf Another EXCELLENT piece on #DLA & #ESA …
http://twitter.com/joansmith1946/status/45447398008430592 Joan Smith

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/treeofman/status/45449489414234112 TreeOfMan

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/jinimae/status/45449572780216320 Jini Mae

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/willsprepared/status/45450301125312512 WillsPrepared

Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: The Welfare Reform Bill confirms that Disability Living Allowanc… http://bit.ly/dMxxBX
http://twitter.com/isdancing/status/45451321918234624 Mabel Horrocks

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/thegreenparty/status/45455984323342336 The Green Party

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/johnitoblog/status/45456583592906752 John Ito

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/joecassels/status/45456904289402880 Joe Cassels

"2010 Conservative manifesto stated #DLA would be ‘protected’" http://s.coop/qzs
http://twitter.com/brib49/status/45457039887040512 Brian Barefield

RT @joecassels: "2010 Conservative manifesto stated #DLA would be ‘protected’" http://s.coop/qzs
http://twitter.com/jaimewilderness/status/45457160460705792 Jaime Wilder

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/busker999/status/45459187467173888 Ian

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
James

@Matthew Davis

I completely agree with you on the point that this is a reactionary site. While I consider myself very left wing, by reading something that is so openly biased I don’t consider to be constructive towards having an open mind.

However, in this case, they raise a valid point with a guest writer. I don’t think this has a lot to do with the site, as it’s an opinion piece – obviously, in aiming at fairness, they should have interviewed someone with a different opinion, but that does not invalidate this piece in particular.
http://twitter.com/johnty85/status/45461140309946368 John Cartmell

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/leni_lava/status/45462825619030016 kirst

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
Anon E Mouse

Matthew Davis – When this fine blog started under the stewardship of Will Straw it was far more considered but now it is completely unmeasured and frankly delusional with an awful lot of the “journalism” from the regular contributors.

People like Ben Fox, David Taylor and Joss Garman spring to mind but with the ridiculous positions they advocate generally I suppose that’s to be expected.

What I like is the open hypocrisy posted here so often and the fact that if the author of an article is challenged they simply stop posting replies or try to defend the un-defendable – it’s great!

One example is Shamik Das who is quite an authority on cricket and regularly watches it using his Sky Sports subscription despite his regular criticism of Rupert Murdoch and the big bad nasty global dominating News International.

You simply cannot get the right wing blogs to be that duplicitous and it’s the reason I never miss my daily fix of this site. The best is the defence of the hapless Ed Miliband and the previous defence of the equally hapless Gordon Brown. Anyone who thinks Miliband has a snowball in hells chance of governing this country should be a stand up comic!

In the words of the late great Barry White “Don’t go changing trying to please me – I love just the way you are…”
http://twitter.com/bethwatbrad/status/45475809644908544 Bethany W-Bradley

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/crpdisabilities/status/45485897453551617 Bill Shackleton

Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits – Left Foot Forward http://bit.ly/ih1oKx
Simon Landau

‘Tis a pity that no constructive comment is forthcoming (so far). Question to Mouse and his pals ? What constitutes ‘protection’ of DLA ? (And if you consider that DLA is not worth ‘protecting’ then what is your alternative ? Don’t shoot the author of an op-ed piece until you have formed a position on the subject, please.
Alf Cavill

It is a case, yet again, of Politicians in their Ivory Towers deciding on a policy for effect rather then practical application. It is obvious that these people have never come across people who really need the support they get and just lump it all under “unnecessary expense” provided by taxpayers. They really want to see what claimants have to go through and all the distress and uncertainty it already causes without making things even worse for them. Start to put the whole of the populations needs first and not those of the affluent few who cannot understand what it is to be deprived, poor and disabled in some way.
Anon E Mouse

Simon Landau – I have no pals in politics – I’m an engineer who just likes the blogging scene and finds the left wing blogs more interesting than the right wing ones. Also as a lifelong (ex) Labour voter I am entitled to point out where the party are getting it seriously wrong – like the Unions electing Ed Miliband as leader for example.

To answer your question I haven’t made any comment on the article I have just agreed with comments of the initial response regarding the reactionary nature of this blog and have no comment on the substance of the article.

And, unlike the usual smearing from Labour supporters, I would never shoot any messenger…
http://twitter.com/thepeasantpoet/status/45534394953375744 SNC

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/stevibaldi/status/45534675548110848 steve conway

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/ch33sl3y/status/45534987608522752 cheesley

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://twitter.com/pims50/status/45537991220936704 pam lorenz

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
Fabian

Anon E Mouse: Those are the words of Billy Joel- Barry White covered it
Anon E Mouse

Fabian – You’re right and I realised the second I hit the return key.

Thanks for mentioning it though ;-}
http://twitter.com/pasionvicky/status/45610726466924545 Vicky Pasion

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
Mr. Sensible

We know there seems to be a revolving door between the current DWP and the Right Wing Press, and we’re seeing the result.
http://twitter.com/pedanticprose/status/45612201708486656 Ben Hudson

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw
http://dearengland.wordpress.com/ DearEngland

The thing that really angers me is that I’ve not heard any dissent from any top Labour politicians over this bill, I always thought that Labour was the party that supported the vulnerable and less fortunate of our society but obviously I am mistaken.

I will never vote again for the Labour party because I feel they have let the disabled community down, they were the original instigators of this policy, they brought in companies like Atos Health Care and Unum formerly UnumProvident, a company which in the USA has been fined millions of dollars for being what was described as being “Disibility denial factories”.

Atos Health Care HCPs are encouraged to fail claimants who go for assessments, one HCP even forgot to put down one claimant was an amputee, these are dangerous times for the disabled and sick community, many claimants have already died fighting for what should automatically be theirs, some have evn committed suicide, I think the coalition are going to have an almightyfight on their hands If they continue to target the disabled community…
http://twitter.com/dearengland/status/45738598712082432 Dear England

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits http://bit.ly/g7iRnf
http://www.chill4us.com wendy

I put this on our facebook page, it would not do it through the direct link.
I thought you would want to know.
thanks
Wendy http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carers-Chill4us/119697721425673
http://chill4us.com/index.php
http://twitter.com/marjien/status/45822149369409537 marjorie narey

RT @leftfootfwd: Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits http://bit.ly/g7iRnf #political #blog #LOL
http://twitter.com/myinfamy/status/45869215852396544 Daniel Pitt

Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits: http://bit.ly/gqniKw #ConDemNation
JM

And there was I hoping Thatcher was claiming benefits and was going to get them cut . I would really like to see a politician fill in the application forms for benefits, preferably when they are ill, depressed and unable to think clearly then get it right first time.
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/03/cameron-doesnt-get-it-on-disability-reforms-mobility-payments/ Can someone explain the disability reform to Cameron, please? | Left Foot Forward

[...] the coalition would consider reversing the decision to axe the Disability Living Allowance Mobility Payments for 83,000 claimants living in care homes – as detailed in Part 4, clause 83 of the welfare [...]
http://dearengland.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/if-cameron-and-osborne-get-their-way-disability-benefits-will-be-a-thing-of-the-past-thank-the-bloody-disability-charities-for-that/ “If Cameron and Osborne get their way disability benefits will be a thing of the past” Thank the bloody disability charities for that ….. « Dear England

[...] Cameron cuts even Thatcher’s disabled benefits (leftfootforward.org) [...]
http://twitter.com/kathyfujqs/status/55634703293747200 Kathy Smith

Cameron cuts even Thatcher's disabled benefits | Left Foot Forward http://bit.ly/g2Y87T
http://atosvictimsgroup.wordpress.com/2011/05/15/it-happened-in-germany-with-the-jews-soon-it-will-be-the-disabled-who-get-the-old-painted-sign-on-their-homes-to-distinguish-them-from-the-rest-of-soci “It happened in Germany with the Jews, soon it will be the disabled who get the old painted sign on their homes to distinguish them from the rest of society” it’s heading that way….. « atos victims group

[...] Cameron cuts even Thatcher’s disabled benefits (leftfootforward.org) [...]