Post by Banjo on Feb 23, 2012 16:12:29 GMT 7
Disability cuts 'are devastating'
Changes to the welfare system are having a devastating impact on disabled people, according to case studies pulled together by Citizens Advice Scotland.
The advice organisation published a report, From Pillar To Post, describing the experience of people on incapacity benefit being assessed for the new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Citizens Advice said the number of people seeking help increased by one-third last year.
Head of policy Susan McPhee said: "In this report we give an update on ESA, and sadly the picture remains as bleak as ever.
"This is a policy which is unfit for purpose and is devastating the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
"The intention of ESA was a good one. It was meant to help those on sickness benefits: to identify those who were capable of work and help them into employment, while continuing to support the rest and saving taxpayers money in the process. That was the plan.
"In reality, ESA is failing to live up to its billing."
The service said more than 170,000 long-term sickness benefit claimants will be reassessed for ESA by 2014 and that an estimated 115,000 will lose their money.
About 36,000 people in Scotland will move to Jobseeker's Allowance, with a drop in income of £27 a week, while 65,000 will leave the benefits system altogether.
Ms McPhee said the UK Government has redefined what it means to be ill.
www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iJZY7LulJDRj7HVosGRdfeW4V7dg?docId=N0696271329935564914A
Changes to the welfare system are having a devastating impact on disabled people, according to case studies pulled together by Citizens Advice Scotland.
The advice organisation published a report, From Pillar To Post, describing the experience of people on incapacity benefit being assessed for the new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
Citizens Advice said the number of people seeking help increased by one-third last year.
Head of policy Susan McPhee said: "In this report we give an update on ESA, and sadly the picture remains as bleak as ever.
"This is a policy which is unfit for purpose and is devastating the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
"The intention of ESA was a good one. It was meant to help those on sickness benefits: to identify those who were capable of work and help them into employment, while continuing to support the rest and saving taxpayers money in the process. That was the plan.
"In reality, ESA is failing to live up to its billing."
The service said more than 170,000 long-term sickness benefit claimants will be reassessed for ESA by 2014 and that an estimated 115,000 will lose their money.
About 36,000 people in Scotland will move to Jobseeker's Allowance, with a drop in income of £27 a week, while 65,000 will leave the benefits system altogether.
Ms McPhee said the UK Government has redefined what it means to be ill.
www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iJZY7LulJDRj7HVosGRdfeW4V7dg?docId=N0696271329935564914A