Post by Admin on Jun 25, 2018 10:18:52 GMT
Scrap proposals to move disabled people onto Universal Credit, says Mind
MIND branded the proposals as “ill-advised” and “short-sighted”.
Posted by
Natalie Leal -
23rd June 2018
welfareweekly.com/scrap-proposals-to-move-disabled-people-onto-universal-credit-says-mind/
"Leading mental health charity Mind, has called on the Government to scrap plans to overhaul the disability benefits system, branding the proposals “ill-advised” and “short-sighted”.
Draft proposals published last week set out plans to move more than two million disabled people from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to Universal Credit (UC).
This will affect around one million people with mental health problems and will begin in 2019.
People currently receiving ESA will be sent a letter informing them that their benefits will be stopped. They will be asked to make a brand new claim for Universal Credit.
Sophie Corlett, Director of External Relations at Mind, said: “We are hugely concerned about the ramifications of these proposals, which leave open the real possibility that many people with mental health problems could see their benefits stopped entirely while they struggle with the process of applying for Universal Credit.”
Universal Credit was introduced in 2013 and has been mired in problems and criticisms ever since.
The plans suggest people will be given between one and three months to make their new claim which could be extended in some circumstances.
Ms Corlett said: “The safeguards the Government has proposed simply do not address the concern people will slip through the net and be left without a source of income.
“If the Government really is determined to move people over to this much-criticised new benefit, they should take responsibility for moving people onto it smoothly and safely while protecting their income and health.”
The Department for Work and Pensions has been contacted for a comment."
MIND branded the proposals as “ill-advised” and “short-sighted”.
Posted by
Natalie Leal -
23rd June 2018
welfareweekly.com/scrap-proposals-to-move-disabled-people-onto-universal-credit-says-mind/
"Leading mental health charity Mind, has called on the Government to scrap plans to overhaul the disability benefits system, branding the proposals “ill-advised” and “short-sighted”.
Draft proposals published last week set out plans to move more than two million disabled people from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to Universal Credit (UC).
This will affect around one million people with mental health problems and will begin in 2019.
People currently receiving ESA will be sent a letter informing them that their benefits will be stopped. They will be asked to make a brand new claim for Universal Credit.
Sophie Corlett, Director of External Relations at Mind, said: “We are hugely concerned about the ramifications of these proposals, which leave open the real possibility that many people with mental health problems could see their benefits stopped entirely while they struggle with the process of applying for Universal Credit.”
Universal Credit was introduced in 2013 and has been mired in problems and criticisms ever since.
The plans suggest people will be given between one and three months to make their new claim which could be extended in some circumstances.
Ms Corlett said: “The safeguards the Government has proposed simply do not address the concern people will slip through the net and be left without a source of income.
“If the Government really is determined to move people over to this much-criticised new benefit, they should take responsibility for moving people onto it smoothly and safely while protecting their income and health.”
The Department for Work and Pensions has been contacted for a comment."