Call for “anti-disability” provisions to be removed from welfare bill

More than 100 politicians, professors and campaigners have written to Minister for Disabled People Maria Miller calling for Disability Living Allowance reform and other “anti-disability” provisions to be removed from the Welfare Reform Bill when the bill is presented for second reading in the Commons next week.

Disabled-sign The letter, published on The Broken of Britain website, reads:

“On the grounds of its unfairness to disabled people and undermining of their human and civil rights, we reject the Government’s implementation of welfare reform.

“The Welfare Reform Bill, to be presented for its Second Reading in the House of Commons next weeks, contains measures that could be described as ‘anti-disabled people’.

“The Bill disguises cuts and changes to a number of benefits, from Housing Benefit to Income Support, that will punish disabled people, and especially those with fluctuating and hidden conditions. In particular, the Bill will time-limit contribution-related Employment Support Allowance to 365 days, so that a claimant becomes ineligible after a year if their spouse or partner works.

“The Bill confirms that Disability Living Allowance will be replaced by the Personal Independence Payment which will use unfair assessment and conditions to disqualify 20% of the current DLA caseload. The inclusion of this benefit change in the Welfare Reform Bill took place before the consultation on Disability Living Allowance reform was completed.

“The reasons for this reform are unclear, as reported by the Social Security Advisory Committee, with Ministers denying that cuts are the motivation for change. Objectivity and independence of assessment are some of the reasons offered by the Minister for Disabled People and while we understand there may be a case for a more objective assessment of needs, we believe that evidence from GPs and specialists should be sufficient in many cases as it is at present.

“We are concerned that the reasons given by the Minister suggest GPs and specialists cannot be trusted to provide medical evidence. This seems to conflict with the Secretary of State for Health’s policy of increasing GP responsibility for commissioning NHS services.

“Available evidence, including DWP research, suggests that Disability Living Allowance is an efficient and well-regarded benefit, with the lowest rate of fraud in the benefits system. As such, any reforms should be undertaken with caution, and it is important that any evidence-gathering is relevant, truly independent, conducted by appropriately qualified professionals, and that proper weight is given to other external evidence, for example from the claimant’s GP.

“For these reasons, we call for the reform of DLA, and other ‘anti-disability’ provisions that will place extra pressure on social care and social services, to be removed from the Welfare Reform Bill.”

Left Foot Forward has reported extensively on concerns about the reforms to Disability Living Allowance and the Welfare Reform Bill, and will continue to do so.

http://twitter.com/oldmankelv/status/44746452685164544 Kelvin John Edge

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill: http://bit.ly/hWt0gZ reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/crimsoncrip/status/44746505919283200 Crimson Crip

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill: http://bit.ly/hWt0gZ reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/bendygirl/status/44746548864753664 BendyGirl

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill: http://bit.ly/hWt0gZ reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/manishtasunnia/status/44747032228937728 manishta sunnia

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill: http://bit.ly/hWt0gZ reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/superpaddy1601/status/44751962268381184 Edward Leathem

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill: http://bit.ly/hWt0gZ reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/suey2y/status/44753320065241088 Sue Marsh

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/falseecon/status/44753643353800704 False Economy

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2 (via @suey2y)
http://twitter.com/boredlondongurl/status/44753828968538112 Bored London Gurl

RT @suey2y: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/crimsoncrip/status/44753989249679360 Crimson Crip

RT @FalseEcon: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2 (via @suey2y)
http://twitter.com/crimsoncrip/status/44754145810464769 Crimson Crip

RT @suey2y: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/suey2y/status/44754154643656706 Sue Marsh

@BrokenOfBritain @leftfootfwd have just gone live with open letter!! Whoop http://bit.ly/iiB2G2 GREAT work.
http://twitter.com/oldmankelv/status/44754638565675008 Kelvin John Edge

RT @suey2y: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/oldmankelv/status/44754663328841728 Kelvin John Edge

RT @FalseEcon: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2 (via @suey2y)
http://twitter.com/oldmankelv/status/44754757331582976 Kelvin John Edge

RT @suey2y: @BrokenOfBritain @leftfootfwd have just gone live with open letter!! Whoop http://bit.ly/iiB2G2 GREAT work.
http://twitter.com/pandorasboxheal/status/44755919485157376 Christine Ramsbottom

RT @FalseEcon: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2 (via @suey2y)
http://twitter.com/techno_peasant/status/44756963527106560 andy

RT @FalseEcon: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2 (via @suey2y)
http://twitter.com/loumcgill/status/44757568022777856 lou mcgill

RT @FalseEcon: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2 (via @suey2y)
Fran Rhodes

I had my benefit slashed the other week all because someone had inputted my information as a single person instead of a couple. Still lost £450 a month leaving me £47 after mobility in my purse, yet they are talking about giving imigrants and people in jail benefits where did sense and sensibility go???
http://twitter.com/treaklepolley/status/44761457241489408 katherine brooks

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill: http://bit.ly/hWt0gZ reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/oneoffdave/status/44762134579654656 Dave McQuirk

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill: http://bit.ly/hWt0gZ reports @ShamikDas
sarah

This Govt MUST remove this from their supposed bills – It just shows they are using the disabled as scapefgoats. DLA is NOT in need of any changes at all – It runs well and the fraud rate is already very very low – They should go for people who don’t pay their taxes!!! Or their MP friends who fiddle everything!
http://twitter.com/unikw/status/44769263080325120 George Kata

Call for “anti-disability” provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/fXQ3d6
http://twitter.com/staceyuk/status/44777027185811456 StaceyUK

RT @FalseEcon: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2 (via @suey2y)
http://twitter.com/morbid_sparks/status/44778695906435072 morbid_sparks

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/janenharris/status/44778878144749568 Jane Harris

RT @FalseEcon: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2 (via @suey2y)
http://twitter.com/crpdisabilities/status/44780233148207104 crpdisabilities

RT @unikw: Call for “anti-disability” provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/fXQ3d6
http://twitter.com/double_karma/status/44781474892877824 Double.Karma

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill: http://bit.ly/hWt0gZ reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/double_karma/status/44783674067132417 Double.Karma

RT @suey2y: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/crpdisabilities/status/44786712060231680 crpdisabilities

Call for “anti-disability” provisions to be removed from welfare bill – Left Foot Forward http://bit.ly/gavUrw
http://twitter.com/latentexistence/status/44787383178231808 Steve Sumpter

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/03/welfare-reform-bill-letter/
http://twitter.com/romilagupta/status/44788130489962496 Romila Chaplin

RT @latentexistence: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/03/welfare …
http://twitter.com/double_karma/status/44794928055857152 Double.Karma

RT @latentexistence: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/03/welfare …
http://twitter.com/press_not_sorry/status/44795351546347521 Press Not Sorry

RT @latentexistence: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/03/welfare …
http://twitter.com/oldmankelv/status/44796568150343680 Kelvin John Edge

RT @Nickbloke: RT: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2 – Pick on those with the c …
http://twitter.com/0id/status/44796626589597696 0iD

RT @Nickbloke: RT: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2 – Pick on those with the c …
http://twitter.com/oldmankelv/status/44797633713291264 Kelvin John Edge

RT @latentexistence: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/03/welfare …
http://twitter.com/0id/status/44797878316699649 0iD

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/oldmankelv/status/44801048380063744 Kelvin John Edge

RT @0iD: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/mhtweaks/status/44801408691744769 mhtweaks

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/brib49/status/44802329333084160 Brian Barefield

RT @0iD: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/oldmankelv/status/44803011670847488 Kelvin John Edge

RT @MHtweaks: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/brib49/status/44805870781087744 Brian Barefield

RT @MHtweaks: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/abilitv/status/44807633131143168 abilitv

RT @MHtweaks: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://www.samedifference1.com Sarah I

Thanks for your support on this, LFF.
http://twitter.com/letitia7862/status/44841581693501441 Letitia Macbean

Call for “anti-disability” provisions to be removed from welfare bill – Left Foot Forward http://goo.gl/lpXEL
http://twitter.com/ajbloor/status/44856159936577536 Andy Bloor

RT @latentexistence: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/03/welfare …
http://twitter.com/ineedaholiday/status/44876465887657984 Jacqui Alban

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
mick

i fill this goverment as got to big headed and power crazy !!! what we want is a goverment change as they have no idea about peoples illness only makeing it worse for them.
http://twitter.com/motm8/status/44928931425562624 Motm8

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/crpdisabilities/status/44949616181002240 crpdisabilities

Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill | Left Foot Forward http://bit.ly/hwTwKg
Mr. Sensible

The Coalition’s welfare reform agenda is just based around headlines in the right wing press.
http://twitter.com/itsmomentum/status/45090094293581824 Mike O’Hagan

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/fionashh/status/45169100950999040 Fiona Shh

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill: http://bit.ly/hWt0gZ reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/bendygirl/status/45192456928641024 BendyGirl

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/oldmankelv/status/45192650088910848 Kelvin John Edge

RT @BendyGirl: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/chickpeajones/status/45192832469827584 chickpea jones

RT @BendyGirl: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/drezkimo/status/45193201325309952 dan

RT @BendyGirl: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/robbsart/status/45193440262238210 Robert Carswell

RT @BendyGirl: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/margojmilne/status/45194370252685313 Margo Milne

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/double_karma/status/45194570945933312 Double.Karma

RT @BendyGirl: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/brib49/status/45202357289627648 Brian Barefield

RT @BendyGirl: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
Richard

And it is the government that is feeding those headlines with denigrating press releases packed with selective and incomplete statistics.
http://twitter.com/suey2y/status/45218623094140928 Sue Marsh

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/brib49/status/45219442392702976 Brian Barefield

RT @suey2y: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/abilitv/status/45220079931101184 AbiliTV

RT @suey2y: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/double_karma/status/45220550813036544 Double.Karma

RT @suey2y: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/sinnaluvva/status/45221504731987968 Malcolm Evison

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://twitter.com/raymondonia/status/45223746855903232 ray turner

RT @sinnaluvva: RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
Merrow

Have you heard the joke about the Conservative minister, the employed person and the wheelchair user? They were sitting in a cafe and the waitress brought them a plate with dozen cakes on it. The Conservative minister took eleven of the cakes but left one small, burned cake on the plate, then he turned to the employed man and said,

“You really should watch that disabled chap – he’s after part of your cake.”
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/03/welfare-reform-bill-disability-living-allowance-cut/ Cameron cuts even Thatcher’s disabled benefits | Left Foot Forward

[...] 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 [...]
http://twitter.com/drezkimo/status/45456575606964224 dan

RT @leftfootfwd: Call for "anti-disability" provisions to be removed from welfare bill http://bit.ly/iiB2G2
http://dearengland.wordpress.com/2011/03/09/second-reading-of-welfare-reform-bill-where-were-all-the-mps/ Second reading of “Welfare reform bill”, where were all the MPs? « Dear England

[...] Call for “anti-disability” provisions to be removed from welfare bill (leftfootforward.org) [...]
http://dearengland.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/iain-duncan-smith-and-his-eugenics-welfare-bill-gets-the-nod/ Iain Duncan Smith and his Eugenics Welfare Bill gets the Nod… « Dear England

[...] Call for “anti-disability” provisions to be removed from welfare bill (leftfootforward.org) [...]
pauline

please spread the word espcially via facebook. thats wer i picked this up
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

[...] Call for “anti-disability” provisions to be removed from welfare bill (leftfootforward.org) [...]
http://www.donharrison.org.uk Don Harrison

The lack of compassion from the Conservative Party is not a surprise