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Press Release

Government cuts will force disabled people further into poverty

31 August 2011

A new survey from the Papworth Trust shows that, if Disability Living Allowance payments were reduced or stopped under Government proposals to replace it with a Personal Independence Payment, 85% of disabled people will have to cut back on essentials such as food or being able to get out and about.

Commenting on the findings, Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of disability charity Scope, said:

“These findings should come as no surprise. DLA is a lifeline that covers the extra costs disabled people face on a daily basis – such as getting out and about when public transport is inaccessible.

“DLA needs reforming – but the Government's plans are in danger of backfiring.

“It is proposing to decide who gets the payment using a 'guestimate' that won't tell you anything about how much more it costs a disabled person to live their lives.

“The reforms will create a poorly targeted payment, which will see many disabled people lose out on vital financial support.

“The Government made exactly the same mistake with the Work Capability Assessment – an over-simplistic test to work out who is fit for work.

“We urge the Government to reconsider the draft test and seriously look into alternatives that would provide more targeted support, and which would reduce costs without risking disabled people's independence.”



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