Post by Banjo on Dec 3, 2013 19:05:06 GMT 7
Welfare to work mentality leaving people with disability in poverty
The Australian Greens said today that labour force statistics released by the ABS indicate that policies designed to supposedly help people with disability into work are failing, leaving more people with disability stuck in poverty.
"The ABS data shows that there has been no improvement in the labour force participation rate by people with disability since the survey was last conducted in 2009. Meanwhile, the number of people with disability who are unemployed has increased," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Disability Issues said today.
"The rate of unemployment for people with a disability has increased (9.4% in 2012 compared with 7.8% in 2009), but the rate has remained steady for those without a disability (4.9% in 2012 and 5.1% in 2009).
"The new, harsh approach forcing people to live on Newstart before applying for Disability Support Pension hasn't resulted in more people with disability finding work. It means that more people are condemned to the poverty that comes with Newstart.
"Rather than entering the workforce, people are remaining unemployed and are being forced to live on Newstart, which is more than $125 per week less than DSP.
"The logic of denying people the DSP and pushing them on to the much lower Newstart payment in order to force individuals into the workforce is deeply flawed.
"The Government needs to re-examine its obsession with the Howard-era 'Welfare to Work' mentality and commit to policies which actually help people with disabilities, single parents and job seekers the secure employment they are looking for," Senator Siewert concluded.
greens.org.au/news/welfare-work-mentality-leaving-people-disability-poverty
The Australian Greens said today that labour force statistics released by the ABS indicate that policies designed to supposedly help people with disability into work are failing, leaving more people with disability stuck in poverty.
"The ABS data shows that there has been no improvement in the labour force participation rate by people with disability since the survey was last conducted in 2009. Meanwhile, the number of people with disability who are unemployed has increased," Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Disability Issues said today.
"The rate of unemployment for people with a disability has increased (9.4% in 2012 compared with 7.8% in 2009), but the rate has remained steady for those without a disability (4.9% in 2012 and 5.1% in 2009).
"The new, harsh approach forcing people to live on Newstart before applying for Disability Support Pension hasn't resulted in more people with disability finding work. It means that more people are condemned to the poverty that comes with Newstart.
"Rather than entering the workforce, people are remaining unemployed and are being forced to live on Newstart, which is more than $125 per week less than DSP.
"The logic of denying people the DSP and pushing them on to the much lower Newstart payment in order to force individuals into the workforce is deeply flawed.
"The Government needs to re-examine its obsession with the Howard-era 'Welfare to Work' mentality and commit to policies which actually help people with disabilities, single parents and job seekers the secure employment they are looking for," Senator Siewert concluded.
greens.org.au/news/welfare-work-mentality-leaving-people-disability-poverty
But seriously, if they offered me my old job back, with appropriate workload and accommodations so I could actually do it, I would take it in a second and very happily stop getting DSP. Chances of that happening? <0%, I'd estimate.)