The statistical basis of this story has provoked discussion (see below) but the real issue is the heartlessness of government policy.
Statement from DPAC (Disabled People Against Cuts)
But these figures do not tell the whole story. They ignore the suffering of
disabled people who survived, being found fit for work but unable to claim JSA
because they cannot meet the conditionality of the benefit. The suffering of
3000 disabled people sanctioned every month, and who cannot compensate for
their loss of income, because they were found unfit to work, and they are.
The suffering and the humiliation of disabled people who have to prove their impairment/long term health issues over and over again to DWP staff who don’t believe them. The suffering of disabled people being portrayed as scroungers by the media. This suffering cannot be captured by statistics.
Under the last Labour government, the aim was to force 1 million disabled people out of benefits and into work. Almost 10 years later, the aim is the same, while in a meantime a Coalition minister recognised that people on disability benefits were ‘sicker’ than they thought.
And those in the middle group, who would expect before too long to be mandated to the Work Programme, have proved to be sicker and further from the workplace than we expected. So it will take far more time than we predicted for them to be ready to make a return to work
This has not changed. Some people will never get better and need long term support. To pretend that they can do ‘some work’ is disingenuous, as no employer is prepared to offer ‘some work’ to disabled people.
People died because of the welfare reforms, but others suffered and still suffer. Let’s not forget any of them
Statement from DPAC (Disabled People Against Cuts)
DWP
has at last published the mortality statistics for the ESA group. It will take
time to analyse them, but what they show is that the WCA is not fit for
purpose. 2500 people have died after being found fit for work. Another
7,200 people died after being placed in the WRAG, the group for disabled people
who can do ‘some work’, another 7540 died waiting to be assessed
The suffering and the humiliation of disabled people who have to prove their impairment/long term health issues over and over again to DWP staff who don’t believe them. The suffering of disabled people being portrayed as scroungers by the media. This suffering cannot be captured by statistics.
Under the last Labour government, the aim was to force 1 million disabled people out of benefits and into work. Almost 10 years later, the aim is the same, while in a meantime a Coalition minister recognised that people on disability benefits were ‘sicker’ than they thought.
And those in the middle group, who would expect before too long to be mandated to the Work Programme, have proved to be sicker and further from the workplace than we expected. So it will take far more time than we predicted for them to be ready to make a return to work
This has not changed. Some people will never get better and need long term support. To pretend that they can do ‘some work’ is disingenuous, as no employer is prepared to offer ‘some work’ to disabled people.
People died because of the welfare reforms, but others suffered and still suffer. Let’s not forget any of them
