IDS’s reforms are targeting the truly deserving to weed out a few cheats, totally humiliating even the most severely disabled
By Tony Parsons
Last year, the country gave disabled athletes medals of bronze, silver and gold.
This year, the country is giving the disabled a begging bowl.
Last year, we were thrilled by the Paralympics and marvelled at the way the human spirit can overcome huge obstacles.
This year, we are telling the disabled that they are quite probably scroungers, skivers and cheats, who do not deserve a helping hand.
Last year, it seemed that our attitude to disability was at long last becoming more enlightened.
This year, we are kicking every disabled man, woman and child in the teeth.
In April, the benefit that made our Paralympic glory possible – the Disability Living Allowance – was killed off and replaced by the infinitely more restrictive Personal Independence Payments, a change that both Government and disabled charities believe will mean 600,000 people losing benefits.
This week, the Minister for Disabled People Esther McVey insisted: “The Personal Independence Payment has been designed to better reflect today’s understanding of disability.”
But the genuinely needy are afraid. And they should not be afraid.
The disabled should be confident that this is a country that takes care of the people who need help most.
The Government began abolishing DLA in April and piloting PIP.
This week, PIP was extended across the entire country. By 2015 all existing claimants will have been reassessed.
And what concerns me most about PIP is that it seems designed to humiliate rather than help.
Face-to-face assessments. Regular reviews. Checks on an individual’s ability to wash, dress, cook, read, communicate and get around.
The idea of some little pen-pusher assessing somebody in a wheelchair on a regular basis makes my flesh crawl.
Over the last 10 years, the number of people claiming disability benefits has gone from 2.4million to 3.3million.
The bill is £12 billion per annum. Yes, it is a lot.
We all want fairness. We all want money to go to those who need it most. We all want the genuinely needy to get a helping hand and the cheats to get nothing.
But do we honestly believe that the current system is so rotten that there are more than half a million people claiming disability benefits who don’t deserve it?
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith’s reforms are targeting the truly deserving to weed out a few cheats.
PIP seems designed to totally humiliate even the most severely disabled.
For example, claimants will have to prove they are unable to walk more than 20 metres to qualify for the Motability allowance, the scheme that allows disabled people to lease an adapted car, scooter or powered wheelchair.
Many of the disabled are terrified – and terrified is not too strong a word – that they will lose the small sum of money that makes such a big difference to their lives.
PIP doesn’t make disability benefits fairer. It stigmatises the disabled.
The Government has already announced how many people are expected to lose benefits – 607,000 – before assessments have even begun!
But how the hell can they possibly know?
Richard Hawkes, chief executive of Scope, says, “In 2013, disabled people are struggling to make ends meet. Disabled people are getting into debt to pay for essentials.
“In 2013, at the very least disabled people should be able to pay the bills and live independently.”
This Government has squandered the glorious legacy of the Paralympics.
The disabled are not looking for a meal ticket for life. Simply a helping hand.
And no matter how hard times get, we should be able to provide that helping hand
.
Tara Flood, a Paralympic gold medallist swimmer, speaks for the entire disabled population when she says: “I want to live an ordinary life in a society that treats me as a human being.”
Is that really too much to ask?
Last year our country treated the disabled like heroes. This year our Government are treating them as less than human.
Mirror
