I don't have much interenet, so can only post this link, but if you read nothing else today, read this report from Sheffield Hallam university slamming ESA and vindicating everything campaigners have been saying.
These guys used to be welfare hawks, they supported ESA when Labour set it up
This is a BIG deal http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8874589/1-million-to-lose-incapacity-benefits-under-Coalition-reforms.html
And in the Telegraph too!
Showing posts with label ESA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ESA. Show all posts
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Thursday, 27 October 2011
The Hardest Hit Protest, Leeds
Last Saturday thousands of ill and disabled people, their carers and supporters took to the streets in cities across the UK to protest against the cuts that are unfairly targeting them. This unprecedented event was The Hardest Hit October Action.
It takes a lot to make the disabled community take to the streets, mainly because its so difficult for us. If you had eavesdropped my twitter feed last week you would have seen my conversations and musings dominated by The Hardest Hit as we all shared protest survival strategies. We knew there would be a price to pay in our health for attending but as one of my friends put it, "protesting will hurt me but not protesting will hurt me more".
For every one of us attending an event there were hundreds who were unable to go because they were too ill or disabled, too poor, too busy caring for someone or just couldn't use our inaccessible public transport. They sent messages of support, they were with us in spirit.
I'm not an activist or a disability campaigner, I'm just an ordinary person struggling with some pretty serious mental health problems. I am, like most other ill and disabled people, one of the hardest hit by the cuts.
I travelled to Leeds to join the Hardest Hit protest because this Government wants to stop my benefits, remove my services, call me a scrounger and force me from my home. For many of us this protest is personal, we're not just fighting for fairness - we're fighting for survival.
Over two hundred of us gathered in the sun in Leeds. We marched along The Headrow bringing the city centre to a standstill. Shoppers stood and watched as we marched with our wheelchairs, our Assistance Dogs, our mobility scooters, our carers, our children, our friends and our banners. Speeches were made by disability activists, charity sector workers, trade union members, NUS members, a local MP and ordinary people facing huge challenges. The message from all of them and the people listening was clear - these cuts are unfair, we are afraid and we are angry.
There is a 'perfect storm' facing ill and disabled people. We are already struggling to survive from day to day. Our NHS services are being cut and the voluntary sector agencies who would offer us support are losing their funding. The benefits of those of us who cannot work are being cut or removed and those of us who do work are losing the practical and financial support necessary to make working possible. The additional cuts proposed in the Welfare Reform Bill will leave us and our carers more impoverished, isolated and vulnerable. On top of this, ill and disabled people are being labelled as scroungers and benefit cheats, vilefied by the media and treated with suspicion by the public. Disability hate crime is increasing, people are facing abuse and harassment on a daily basis and many are afraid to leave their homes.
This Government has promised to support disabled people who are in genuine need - but only if THEY can define 'support', 'disabled', 'genuine' and 'need'. This is a cynical disability denying ploy to remove support from the people who need it. This Government is merely transferring funds from ill and disabled people and carers to private companies making millions from 'welfare reform'.
One of the most disturbing things is how badly informed most people still are about this. The public still think that disability benefits are a 'lifestyle choice' and believe we are all driving around in BMWs. Sadly many disabled people and their carers are still unaware of quite how badly the cuts will affect them. The media is not listening to the disabled community, some of the Hardest Hit events attracted over a thousand protesters but there was barely any BBC television or radio coverage. The future for society's most vulnerable is bleak. We are 'all in it together' its just that some of us are deeper in it than others.
Attending the protest left me with mixed feelings. I was proud to stand in solidarity with the hundreds on the streets of Leeds, the thousands in cities across the UK and the tens of thousands who were there in spirit.
But I was also sad and angry that this country should need an event like The Hardest Hit at all
Guest Post by Vanessa Teal.
It takes a lot to make the disabled community take to the streets, mainly because its so difficult for us. If you had eavesdropped my twitter feed last week you would have seen my conversations and musings dominated by The Hardest Hit as we all shared protest survival strategies. We knew there would be a price to pay in our health for attending but as one of my friends put it, "protesting will hurt me but not protesting will hurt me more".
For every one of us attending an event there were hundreds who were unable to go because they were too ill or disabled, too poor, too busy caring for someone or just couldn't use our inaccessible public transport. They sent messages of support, they were with us in spirit.
I'm not an activist or a disability campaigner, I'm just an ordinary person struggling with some pretty serious mental health problems. I am, like most other ill and disabled people, one of the hardest hit by the cuts.
I travelled to Leeds to join the Hardest Hit protest because this Government wants to stop my benefits, remove my services, call me a scrounger and force me from my home. For many of us this protest is personal, we're not just fighting for fairness - we're fighting for survival.
Over two hundred of us gathered in the sun in Leeds. We marched along The Headrow bringing the city centre to a standstill. Shoppers stood and watched as we marched with our wheelchairs, our Assistance Dogs, our mobility scooters, our carers, our children, our friends and our banners. Speeches were made by disability activists, charity sector workers, trade union members, NUS members, a local MP and ordinary people facing huge challenges. The message from all of them and the people listening was clear - these cuts are unfair, we are afraid and we are angry.
There is a 'perfect storm' facing ill and disabled people. We are already struggling to survive from day to day. Our NHS services are being cut and the voluntary sector agencies who would offer us support are losing their funding. The benefits of those of us who cannot work are being cut or removed and those of us who do work are losing the practical and financial support necessary to make working possible. The additional cuts proposed in the Welfare Reform Bill will leave us and our carers more impoverished, isolated and vulnerable. On top of this, ill and disabled people are being labelled as scroungers and benefit cheats, vilefied by the media and treated with suspicion by the public. Disability hate crime is increasing, people are facing abuse and harassment on a daily basis and many are afraid to leave their homes.
This Government has promised to support disabled people who are in genuine need - but only if THEY can define 'support', 'disabled', 'genuine' and 'need'. This is a cynical disability denying ploy to remove support from the people who need it. This Government is merely transferring funds from ill and disabled people and carers to private companies making millions from 'welfare reform'.
One of the most disturbing things is how badly informed most people still are about this. The public still think that disability benefits are a 'lifestyle choice' and believe we are all driving around in BMWs. Sadly many disabled people and their carers are still unaware of quite how badly the cuts will affect them. The media is not listening to the disabled community, some of the Hardest Hit events attracted over a thousand protesters but there was barely any BBC television or radio coverage. The future for society's most vulnerable is bleak. We are 'all in it together' its just that some of us are deeper in it than others.
Attending the protest left me with mixed feelings. I was proud to stand in solidarity with the hundreds on the streets of Leeds, the thousands in cities across the UK and the tens of thousands who were there in spirit.
But I was also sad and angry that this country should need an event like The Hardest Hit at all
Guest Post by Vanessa Teal.
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Contemporary Issue for Labour Conference passed on ESA
Worthing West CLP tonight voted unanimously to put forward the following Contemporary Issue to Labour Conference (25th -29th September)
Issue : Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is unfit for purpose
Explanation : The Work Capability Assessments used to determine capability for work under ESA have been criticised by a recent Work and Pensions Select Committee, the Professor who helped to design ESA, the CAB and many charities.
Carried out by the French private healthcare company, ATOS, using a tick box computer system, tests are impersonal, innaccurate and are causing great fear and anxiety amongst sick and disabled people.
The descriptors used to define sickness or disability are far too limited.
40% of decisions are overturned at tribunal.
The coalition proposal to Time Limit ESA to one year threatens to leave 700,000 people with serious conditions without any independent state assistance if they have a partner who earns just £7,500 or more. This removes the covenant of a contributory principle that supports you if you fall. Whether a person is better or not, those in the Work Related Activity Group will lose all ESA, becoming entirely dependent on family or friends. DWP ministers have been very clear that this is purely a cost cutting measure, not related to the state of a person’s health once the year is up.
People found fit for work are dying before their appeals can be heard. ESA is a shocking failure to protect the most vulnerable members of our society and we ask conference to call on the government to halt the migration of 1.9 million Incapacity Benefit claimants onto ESA until these problems have been addressed."
Issue : Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is unfit for purpose
Explanation : The Work Capability Assessments used to determine capability for work under ESA have been criticised by a recent Work and Pensions Select Committee, the Professor who helped to design ESA, the CAB and many charities.
Carried out by the French private healthcare company, ATOS, using a tick box computer system, tests are impersonal, innaccurate and are causing great fear and anxiety amongst sick and disabled people.
The descriptors used to define sickness or disability are far too limited.
40% of decisions are overturned at tribunal.
The coalition proposal to Time Limit ESA to one year threatens to leave 700,000 people with serious conditions without any independent state assistance if they have a partner who earns just £7,500 or more. This removes the covenant of a contributory principle that supports you if you fall. Whether a person is better or not, those in the Work Related Activity Group will lose all ESA, becoming entirely dependent on family or friends. DWP ministers have been very clear that this is purely a cost cutting measure, not related to the state of a person’s health once the year is up.
People found fit for work are dying before their appeals can be heard. ESA is a shocking failure to protect the most vulnerable members of our society and we ask conference to call on the government to halt the migration of 1.9 million Incapacity Benefit claimants onto ESA until these problems have been addressed."
Monday, 5 September 2011
STOP PRESS!! Lib Dem ESA Motion strengthened!
A million thanks to The magic George Potter for letting me reproduce his latest blog post here. The ESA motion and amendments that he's been working on for Lib Dem conference have just got a major boost!!
Today I got two bits of very welcome news- one of them was expected but the other was a delightful surprise.
The first bit of good news was that the amendment Sophie Bridger and I have written to the ESA motion was submitted to the Federal Conference Committee today by Guildford Liberal Democrats who are kindly sponsoring it. This now means that the FCC will formally consider whether to allow the amendment to be placed on the agenda for the debate on the original motion itself. Under the circumstances, I can't see any grounds for blocking a debate on an amendment so that stage should be something of a formality.
For those interested, here's what the motion would look like if the amendment were passed by conference.
The other bit of good news is that another amendment to the motion has been submitted. I knew nothing about this one until today but it seems to have almost identical intentions to the amendment Sophie and I have written. Now, this does mean that the two amendments could potentially clash with each other, so I'm speaking to the people behind the other amendment to try and resolve the situation, but the great thing is that other people cared enough about the motion to try and strengthen it with an amendment. And the truly awesome part is that one of the people behind the other amendment is Dr Evan Harris, a former Lib Dem MP and all round good guy who has been incredibly effective at fighting the bad things the tories have been trying to do in the coalition such as the NHS reforms. And, given that he's behind the amendment, then he must also support the motion as well! As such, this means that we finally have a "big beast" on our side - exactly the kind of thing that greatly strengthens the chance of a motion being passed!
The first bit of good news was that the amendment Sophie Bridger and I have written to the ESA motion was submitted to the Federal Conference Committee today by Guildford Liberal Democrats who are kindly sponsoring it. This now means that the FCC will formally consider whether to allow the amendment to be placed on the agenda for the debate on the original motion itself. Under the circumstances, I can't see any grounds for blocking a debate on an amendment so that stage should be something of a formality.
For those interested, here's what the motion would look like if the amendment were passed by conference.
The other bit of good news is that another amendment to the motion has been submitted. I knew nothing about this one until today but it seems to have almost identical intentions to the amendment Sophie and I have written. Now, this does mean that the two amendments could potentially clash with each other, so I'm speaking to the people behind the other amendment to try and resolve the situation, but the great thing is that other people cared enough about the motion to try and strengthen it with an amendment. And the truly awesome part is that one of the people behind the other amendment is Dr Evan Harris, a former Lib Dem MP and all round good guy who has been incredibly effective at fighting the bad things the tories have been trying to do in the coalition such as the NHS reforms. And, given that he's behind the amendment, then he must also support the motion as well! As such, this means that we finally have a "big beast" on our side - exactly the kind of thing that greatly strengthens the chance of a motion being passed!
Template Letter to Lords Re: Welfare Reform Bill
So, with the welfare reform bill about to have its second reading in the Lords, I've written this template letter to send and DarkestAngel32 blog http://darkestangel32.wordpress.com/ have produced this brilliant list of email addresses to send it to.
Obviously feel free to send your own letter about the things that matter most to you, but if you'd like to send mine, you're very welcome. Email addresses are at the end and whether you send the letter to one peer or everyone on the list, it all makes a difference.
Please do join in. The more letters and emails they receive, the more chance we have of making a difference. The bill is already facing difficulties because of the brilliant work we did while it was in the commons. Now we need to build on that and make sure that as many peers as possible know about the issues.
Finally, please share this article, tweet, link and send to friends. Thanks.
Dear ..........[insert name of peer]
On the 13th September, the welfare reform bill will have its second reading in the House of Lords.
Rather unusually, many aspects of the bill are yet to be finalised or fully detailed. This in itself will, I'm sure, make your job rather difficult as you consider the many, many details and changes proposed.
However, I'm writing to you with some very specific concerns that sick and disabled people have and I've linked to some articles and research which I hope you will find helpful.
1) Removing Disability Living Allowance mobility payments from adults in residential care.
An adult who needs to live in residential care will have extensive needs and are often amongst the most severely disabled. The mobility component of DLA afforded them their only freedom, allowing them to choose to fund a power wheelchair otherwise unavailable on the NHS, or to pay for taxis or transport to get out now and then. Taking this away would leave the most vulnerable disabled people effectively housebound. There is no support for this change anywhere - charities, independent benefit reports and even the government's own advisers have called for this to be removed from the bill.
2) Scrapping DLA entirely and replacing it with Personal Independent Payments (PIPs).
DLA is a very effective benefit with fraud rates of less than 1% (DWP own figures) It is already incredibly hard to claim and the qualification criteria are very narrow. The government have announced that DLA claimants will also soon face assessment and that the overall number of claimants will be reduced by at least 20%. The government's own advisory committee concluded that they could find no justification for this reform and have asked for clarification from the government.
If a benefit is already very efficient, yet a government announce a 20% cull before a single assessment has even taken place, we conclude it can only be a cost cutting measure that will ignore genuine need.
3) Time limiting Employment Support Allowance (ESA, previously Incapacity Benefit) to 1 Year
Many people who need to claim ESA have "long term variable" or chronic illnesses such as MS, Parkinson's, Bowel Disease, Leukaemia or severe Mental Illness. These conditions often do not go away after a year and sadly, often get worse over time. A high percentage of those with these conditions are being found "fit for work" under ESA but after 1 year, even those who have been found unfit for work will receive no state assistance whatsoever if they have a working partner. All of their benefit will be stopped, a loss of just over £5000 a year.
4) ATOS assessments are "unfit for purpose" and a better way of assessing need must be implemented.
ATOS are the private company charged with assessing over 1.5 million sick and disabled people during this parliament.
-Up to 40% of rejected claims are going to appeal with up to 70% of those decisions being overturned with representation.
-Assessments are humiliating and degrading causing great anxiety to those genuinely in need.
-Just 7% of previous claimants are being found unfit to work on a long term basis.
-Testimony from Consultants and GPs is often ignored entirely.
-People are dying before lengthy appeals can be heard.
-Even the professor who designed the structure of ESA calls them a "complete mess"
There are other problems with the bill - capping housing benefit; re-classifying "mobility" so that those who use their wheelchairs too efficiently can be classed as "fully mobile"; removing an age related payment from ESA; scrapping the Independent Living Fund; cutting community care provision; cutting the Access to Work programme and many more - all of which will hurt sick and disabled people disproportionately, but the four points above MUST be addressed before the Welfare Reform Bill is passed.
They are causing or will cause real hardship.
They will not achieve savings as pressures will only be shifted to the NHS or social care provision.
They will increase homelessness, mental illness and poverty amongst this most vulnerable group of all
They will leave many in genuine need without support
They reduce the independence, standard of life and dignity of those we have a basic duty to protect.
I urge you to give these issues your time and consideration. Please, help us to make sure that amendments to the bill are passed ensuring that these 4 issues are addressed.
Yours sincerely,
...............[add your name]
List of contact details :
Obviously feel free to send your own letter about the things that matter most to you, but if you'd like to send mine, you're very welcome. Email addresses are at the end and whether you send the letter to one peer or everyone on the list, it all makes a difference.
Please do join in. The more letters and emails they receive, the more chance we have of making a difference. The bill is already facing difficulties because of the brilliant work we did while it was in the commons. Now we need to build on that and make sure that as many peers as possible know about the issues.
Finally, please share this article, tweet, link and send to friends. Thanks.
Dear ..........[insert name of peer]
On the 13th September, the welfare reform bill will have its second reading in the House of Lords.
Rather unusually, many aspects of the bill are yet to be finalised or fully detailed. This in itself will, I'm sure, make your job rather difficult as you consider the many, many details and changes proposed.
However, I'm writing to you with some very specific concerns that sick and disabled people have and I've linked to some articles and research which I hope you will find helpful.
1) Removing Disability Living Allowance mobility payments from adults in residential care.
An adult who needs to live in residential care will have extensive needs and are often amongst the most severely disabled. The mobility component of DLA afforded them their only freedom, allowing them to choose to fund a power wheelchair otherwise unavailable on the NHS, or to pay for taxis or transport to get out now and then. Taking this away would leave the most vulnerable disabled people effectively housebound. There is no support for this change anywhere - charities, independent benefit reports and even the government's own advisers have called for this to be removed from the bill.
2) Scrapping DLA entirely and replacing it with Personal Independent Payments (PIPs).
DLA is a very effective benefit with fraud rates of less than 1% (DWP own figures) It is already incredibly hard to claim and the qualification criteria are very narrow. The government have announced that DLA claimants will also soon face assessment and that the overall number of claimants will be reduced by at least 20%. The government's own advisory committee concluded that they could find no justification for this reform and have asked for clarification from the government.
If a benefit is already very efficient, yet a government announce a 20% cull before a single assessment has even taken place, we conclude it can only be a cost cutting measure that will ignore genuine need.
3) Time limiting Employment Support Allowance (ESA, previously Incapacity Benefit) to 1 Year
Many people who need to claim ESA have "long term variable" or chronic illnesses such as MS, Parkinson's, Bowel Disease, Leukaemia or severe Mental Illness. These conditions often do not go away after a year and sadly, often get worse over time. A high percentage of those with these conditions are being found "fit for work" under ESA but after 1 year, even those who have been found unfit for work will receive no state assistance whatsoever if they have a working partner. All of their benefit will be stopped, a loss of just over £5000 a year.
4) ATOS assessments are "unfit for purpose" and a better way of assessing need must be implemented.
ATOS are the private company charged with assessing over 1.5 million sick and disabled people during this parliament.
-Up to 40% of rejected claims are going to appeal with up to 70% of those decisions being overturned with representation.
-Assessments are humiliating and degrading causing great anxiety to those genuinely in need.
-Just 7% of previous claimants are being found unfit to work on a long term basis.
-Testimony from Consultants and GPs is often ignored entirely.
-People are dying before lengthy appeals can be heard.
-Even the professor who designed the structure of ESA calls them a "complete mess"
There are other problems with the bill - capping housing benefit; re-classifying "mobility" so that those who use their wheelchairs too efficiently can be classed as "fully mobile"; removing an age related payment from ESA; scrapping the Independent Living Fund; cutting community care provision; cutting the Access to Work programme and many more - all of which will hurt sick and disabled people disproportionately, but the four points above MUST be addressed before the Welfare Reform Bill is passed.
They are causing or will cause real hardship.
They will not achieve savings as pressures will only be shifted to the NHS or social care provision.
They will increase homelessness, mental illness and poverty amongst this most vulnerable group of all
They will leave many in genuine need without support
They reduce the independence, standard of life and dignity of those we have a basic duty to protect.
I urge you to give these issues your time and consideration. Please, help us to make sure that amendments to the bill are passed ensuring that these 4 issues are addressed.
Yours sincerely,
...............[add your name]
List of contact details :
Baroness Thomas of Winchester
thomascm@parliament.uk
thomascm@parliament.uk
Baroness Morgan of Drefelin
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_morgan_of_drefelin
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_morgan_of_drefelin
Baroness Sherlock
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_sherlock
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_sherlock
Baroness Stowell of Beeston
stowellt@parliament.uk
stowellt@parliament.uk
Lord Bishop of Hereford
bishop@hereford.anglican.org
bishop@hereford.anglican.org
Countess of Mar
marm@parliament.uk
marm@parliament.uk
Lord Feldman of Elstree
chairman@conservatives.com
chairman@conservatives.com
Lord Freud
freudd@parliament.uk
freudd@parliament.uk
Lord German
germanm@parliament.uk
germanm@parliament.uk
Lord Stoneham of Droxford
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/lord_stoneham_of_droxford
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/lord_stoneham_of_droxford
Lord Addington
addingtond@parliament.uk
addingtond@parliament.uk
Lord Adebowale
adebowalev@parliament.uk
adebowalev@parliament.uk
Lord Beecham
beechamj@parliament.uk
beechamj@parliament.uk
Lord Boswell of Aynho
boswellte@parliament.uk
boswellte@parliament.uk
Baroness Campbell of Surbiton
campbelljs@parliament.uk
campbelljs@parliament.uk
Baroness Donaghy
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_donaghy
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_donaghy
Baroness Drake
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_drake
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_drake
Baroness Flather
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_flather
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_flather
Baroness Greengross
greengrosss@parliament.uk
greengrosss@parliament.uk
Baroness Grey-Thompson
greythompsont@parliament.uk
greythompsont@parliament.uk
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
hayterd@parliament.uk
hayterd@parliament.uk
Baroness Healy of Primrose Hill
healyab@parliament.uk
healyab@parliament.uk
Baroness Hollins
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_hollins
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_hollins
Baroness Hollis of Heigham
hollisp@parliament.uk
hollisp@parliament.uk
Baroness Howe of Idlicote
howee@parliament.uk
howee@parliament.uk
Lord Kennedy of Southwark
kennedyro@parliament.uk
kennedyro@parliament.uk
Baroness King of Bow
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_king_of_bow
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_king_of_bow
Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/lord_kirkwood_of_kirkhope
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/lord_kirkwood_of_kirkhope
Lord Knight of Weymouth
knightja@parliament.uk
knightja@parliament.uk
Bishop Leicester
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/bishop_of_leicester
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/bishop_of_leicester
Baroness Lister of Burtersett
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_lister_of_burtersett
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_lister_of_burtersett
Lord Low of Dalston
lowc@parliament.uk
lowc@parliament.uk
Lord Mackay of Clashfern
mackayjp@parliament.uk
mackayjp@parliament.uk
Lord Mckenzie of Luton
mckenziew@parliament.uk
mckenziew@parliament.uk
Baroness Meacher
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_meacher
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_meacher
Lord Morris of Handsworth
morrisw@parliament.uk
morrisw@parliament.uk
Lord Newton of Braintree
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/lord_newton_of_braintree
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/lord_newton_of_braintree
Lord Ramsbotham
ramsbothamd@parliament.uk
ramsbothamd@parliament.uk
Lord Touhig
touhigjd@parliament.uk
touhigjd@parliament.uk
Baroness Turner of Camden
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_turner_of_camden
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_turner_of_camden
Lord Whitty
whittyl@parliament.uk
whittyl@parliament.uk
Lord Wigley
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/lord_wigley
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/lord_wigley
Baroness Wilkins
wilkinsrc@parliament.uk
wilkinsrc@parliament.uk
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