CPAG responds to Welfare Reform Bill

More support, rather than threats of benefit sanctions, is the best way to help disabled people back to work, campaigners said today as the Government published its Welfare Reform Bill.

The Child Poverty Action Group’s (CPAG) Chief Executive Kate Green said:

“Many disabled people want to work but much more must be done to remove the barriers in their way if the Government’s plans are to succeed.

“The carrot rather than stick approach works best. Disabled people need greater job opportunities as well as more support with training, childcare and transport costs, not threats of benefit sanctions.

“Forcing disabled people to find work which may be unsuitable or unsustainable is not necessary and could be counterproductive. Two in five children with a disabled parent already live below the poverty line and cutting benefits could leave these families at an even greater risk of poverty.

“To their credit Ministers have responded to some concerns and we hope they will continue to do so as the Bill progresses through Parliament. We are pleased that they have decided against giving young disabled people aged 16 to 25 a lower main rate of benefit than older adults, but the holding rate of benefit remains too low.

“Even for those who can work employment is not always a route out of poverty with many disabled people finding themselves in poor quality, low paid and unsustainable jobs, so much more needs to be done to overcome discrimination in society at large and among employers in particular.”

For further information from CPAG please contact:
Alex Belardinelli
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
abelardinelli@cpag.org.uk