Derry’s MP Colum Eastwood has described proposals to cut disability benefits as ‘immoral’ following reports that the British Government plans to freeze PIP payments and introduce tougher criteria in an effort to save money.
Mr Eastwood said that the government’s aim of getting people into work will not be achieved by slashing payments that help people live independently and warned that vulnerable families stand to lose out on hundreds off pounds every year.
Colum Eastwood MP said: “Cutting support payments for people with disabilities while the cost of living continues to climb is immoral and unethical.
“The reported plans to freeze personal independence payments and introduce harsher new criteria to force people off the support altogether in a misguided effort to get people into work will leave vulnerable families significantly worse off every year.
“Worse still – they have very little chance of achieving their goal.
“These support payments aren’t for people on long term sick who could return to work – they are designed to help people live independently regardless of their work status. Slashing this element of social security will only make it harder for people with disabilities to live their lives.
“The hard truth that the British government needs to face is that economic conditions are tough and the job market is likely to get tougher as a result of some of the measures Ministers have implemented – including increases in national insurance contributions which now threaten jobs in businesses, charities and the public sector.
“Cuts of the scale currently under consideration would always be unethical but at this moment they would be cruel and would cost many families hundreds of pounds every year that they simply cannot afford.
“If, as some expect, these changes require new legislation to remove inflationary uplift protections for support for people with disabilities, then the government should expect strong resistance.
“I will oppose any such measure and will work with others to resist cuts on vulnerable families.”
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