Image caption: Bryony Moss, who suffered from PTSD after being bullied at school, says she suffers from depression and non-epileptic seizures. Article information Author: Ewan Murray Role: Political reporter
9 hours ago
A leading disability charity has called on the Government to suspend the Conservative government’s plans for “alarming” and “dangerous” changes to disability pay.
The previous government launched a consultation on a major overhaul of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which could include replacing monthly cash payments with a voucher system or a lump sum payment for certain expenses.
The new work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, has not said whether she will support or oppose the ideas put forward by her predecessor, but consultations are continuing.
A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesman told the BBC: [welfare] “A system that works for everyone and fosters growth”
PIP payments are worth between £290 and £737 a month to around 2.6 million recipients and are intended to help with the extra costs associated with a disability.
The benefit is available to people with long-term physical or mental health disabilities that make it difficult for them to carry out everyday tasks, even if they are working.
The Conservatives are concerned that benefit spending is expected to rise by 52% to £32.8bn between 2023-24 and 2027-28, partly due to a rise in the number of recipients with mental illness.
When the then Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride launched a public consultation on the proposed reforms in April, she raised concerns about the “sustainability” of PIPs and argued it was unclear whether they were effective and worth the cost.
His consultations suggested reforms could include ending cash transfers to people with mental illness and improving access to mental health treatment as an alternative.
But charities say replacing regular cash transfers could create further barriers to support and push even more disabled people into poverty.
Bryony Moss, who has cerebral palsy and suffers from serious mental health issues, said she was “scared” and “very nervous” that she could lose hundreds of pounds a month as a result.
One 26-year-old woman from Buckinghamshire, who needs help with most daily tasks, told the BBC: “I use a big chunk of that money to pay the support worker who helps me.”
“But I also use it when I go horse riding – I’m a member of the Riding for the Disabled Association and I ride horses, which is a form of physiotherapy for me and keeps me active, but also a safe space where I can be myself.”
Briony said losing her support worker would have a major impact on her independent living as she would have to rely on her parents whenever she wanted to get somewhere.
Briony’s mother Sasha, 64, said ministers should also consider why more people are applying for PIP for mental health problems, suggesting poor access to early intervention, such as a lack of counsellors in schools, was part of the problem.
She recalled how her daughter was bullied at school because of her disability and suffered mental distress but received “little support” from overburdened NHS services, contributing to Briony suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe depression into adulthood.
Image caption: Briony’s mum Sasha has called on ministers to consider why more people are struggling with mental health issues.
Five leading disability organisations – Disability Rights, Scope, Mencap, Sense and the National Autistic Society – told the BBC the proposed reforms are harmful and should be suspended.
Mikey Earhart, a campaigner at Disability Rights UK, said he was “shocked and frustrated that the government has missed the opportunity to stop this consultation.”
David Southgate, policy manager at Scope, said the government should withdraw the “dangerous” proposals and set out “more positive” ways to make PIP “work better” for disabled people.
A DWP spokesman said: “People with disabilities or health conditions have the same right to live a fulfilling life as everyone else.”
“Welfare is a key part of helping people who want to work to be able to do so, which is why we intend to rebuild the system to work for everyone and promote growth.”
The talks will close on July 23rd.