Disability Rights UK (DRUK) has written to the Minister for Disabled People, Penny Mordaunt, to raise concern about three significant “hidden” welfare benefit cuts to disabled people.
The welfare benefit cuts are:
- A 55% per week reduction in the rate of Employment and Support Allowance/Universal Credit for under 25 year olds
- Full-time disabled students not being eligible for Universal Credit until they have received a work capability assessment
- The freezing of the lower disabled child element of Universal Credit.
They are “hidden” as they have been subject to no specific Government announcement, no statement of policy intent, no specific impact assessment and subject to no prior consultation.
Disability Rights UK asks “Does the Government believe that a 55% cut to the ESA rate for young disabled people will be a greater incentive to them finding work? Is there any evidence that this cut will further its aim to halve the disability employment gap?”
You can read the full DRUK article here, including an extract of their letter to the Minister of Disabled People; and feel free to let us know your views on the cuts in the comments below.
