"Callous" Benefit Cuts Could Affect Most Severely Disabled

SNP brand Department of Work and Pensions proposals ‘callous’ as research shows support could be cut for 43% of disabled claimants.

The SNP has highlighted new figures, compiled by the Scottish Parliament’s Information Centre, which show that Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) proposals to cut the number of people receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) by 1 million would cut the number of claimants by 43% and could require cuts to support for the most severely disabled.
 
As of February 2015, 2,322,980 people were claiming ESA in Great Britain. UK Ministers have said this week that they believe up to 1 million people on ESA could be moved into work and Iain Duncan Smith has said that there will be a focus on people with mental health conditions. However, less than quarter of a million people with mental and behavioural disorders are currently in the Work Related Activity Group and are deemed by the DWP as ready for work – 10.5% of all claimants.
 
The majority of claimants with mental and behavioural disorders (54%) are deemed by the DWP to be the most severely disabled and unable to undertake work-related activity.
 
Commenting, Clare Adamson MSP said:
 
"These new figures show the shocking extent to which the Tories are prepared to cut support for the disabled. While Iain Duncan Smith chose to set out his vague plans behind closed doors without setting out any details, it has been reported that he plans to cut support for up to 1 million disabled people – a staggering 43% of those who receive ESA. 
 
And despite Mr Duncan Smith’s crass and stigmatising comments about people with ‘common’ mental health conditions getting back to work – these figures show that people with mental health conditions that are deemed able to work only make up around 10% of claimants.
 
It is clear that to make these huge cuts, support to those the DWP deem the most severely disabled will be cut.
 
The DWP should scrap their callous plans, undertake a full independent review of the current assessment process and put in place a fairer system that supports people into work rather than penalises them.
 
We need a social security system that treats people with dignity and respect – if the UK Government won’t change then they should devolve further welfare powers to the Scottish Parliament so we can get on with the job."