Government welfare and spending cuts are having a devastating impact on disabled people, says TUC

date: 21 May 2013

embargo: 00:01 hours Wednesday 22 May

Speaking later today (Wednesday) at the TUC's Disabled Workers' conference in London, TUC Assistant General Secretary Kay Carberry will warn that government welfare reforms and spending cuts are having a devastating impact on disabled people.

Addressing the conference, Kay will say:

'These are profoundly tough times for disabled workers. The government's austerity drive is destroying jobs and cutting back the public services many rely upon The NHS, social care and mental health support are all suffering real-terms cuts.

'As millionaires get a huge tax cut, disabled people are seeing their benefits callously withdrawn and whittled away. The transition from the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) will take a billion pounds out of disabled people's pockets.

'The move towards Universal Credit, as highlighted by Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, will leave nearly half a million disabled recipients worse off.

'The government is destroying disabled people's right to a decent standard of living, with so many lifelines under sustained attack.'

Highlighting the impact of the government's policies on disabled people's ability to work and be independent, Kay will say:

'What really brings this home to me is the devastating impact policies are having on the lives of ordinary disabled people.

'People like 56 year-old David, who is registered blind, suffers significant hearing loss and is a diabetic. If the new criteria for the Disability Living Allowance is approved he will lose a significant proportion of his monthly income.

'David won't be able to get out as much, he won't be able to use his computer, and he will be more dependent on his family.

'And think about 28 year-old Siobhan, blind for the past 13 years, and who wants to pursue a career in the media. Her DLA helps her pay for the taxis she depends on to do her volunteer work experience, writing a column for her local paper.

'Siobhan desperately wants to get off benefits and into a full-time paid job, but if her DLA is cut then she simply won't be able to do this.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The TUC's Disabled Workers' conference will run from Wednesday 22 to Thursday 23 May at Congress House, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3LS. Other speakers will include Chris Holmes from the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the comedian Francesca Martinez.

- The TUC campaign plan can be downloaded from www.tuc.org.uk/campaignplan

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Follow the TUC on Twitter: @tucnews

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Alex Rossiter T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07887 572130 E: arossiter@tuc.org.uk