Sheffield/Nation Wide Protest against the Incapacity Benefit reforms

SWAN | 25.01.2006 14:21 | Sheffield

protest sheffield/nationwide against the IB cuts.....

Sheffield Welfare Action Network

Sheffield/Nation Wide Protest against the Incapacity Benefit reforms.

Saturday 4 February, 1.00pm

Town Hall, Sheffield

Bring homemade placards, etc

there wll be speakers and some music, etc...

And

Call for simultaneous peaceful protests across the UK,

The Gov’t has finally announced what its plans are for incapacity benefit and claimants and in SWAN’s view, it is very very draconian and unpleasant. The changes are the biggest in welfare for over sixty years(see below), we are calling on all decent and caring people, claimants, campaigners, activists, faith groups, churches, individuals to support our call and peacefully protest in your locality

It’s going to get even tougher

There is to be an even tougher and brutal regime for most on incapacity benefit (IB) (it is extremely difficult to claim IB now.) Benefits will be cut by over 25.00 and will only rise when a claimant looks for work, there will be even more stringent medical assessments and tougher requirements to seek work or lose benefit. Employment advisers will be placed in G.P’s surgeries to ‘spy’ on the sick. Swan is already hearing from a number of disabled people who are terrified of these changes, they are saying that the ‘disability benefits‘regime is almost unbearable now’, and how can it be worse!

From the Guardian

‘'New claimants will face a tougher entry route and more demanding tests on the benefit, renamed the employment and support allowance.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,,1694168,00.html

Responses to the reforms

Already reactions are coming in: Macmillan Cancer Relief feared "workfare-style compulsion" for sick and disabled people, saying ‘it had already had to intervene to stop chemotherapy patients and those with a terminal diagnosis being called to work interviews’. Of course, people should have help when and if they are ready to go back to work, but what about the Employer, are they ready for this. SWAN will also ask why are the reforms ‘target led’ with the aim of getting one million back into work? If the reforms are so good , why does there have to be sanctions and co-ercion. This approach will mean many many thousands of the most vulnerable in our society who simply cannot work will face such co-ercion and harrassment. Further, where are all these jobs going to come from? unemployment is now rising and employers themselves admit they discriminate against people with disabilities. The figures the Govt gives are disengenous as well, fraud in IB is neglible (around 2% according to the DWP) and a large number of people who could claim (for example those with terminal illness) do not
even know they are eligible! Having work advisers in G.P surgeries will put added pressure on sick people and one can argue it will compromise the GP/patients relationship and is an infringement of civil liberties.

SWAN will campaign vigorously against these reforms and calls on all allies, friends, etc to do the same. Finally, those who would call diasabled people: scroungers, ‘leadswingers, etc, realise that 'these people' are not others, different, from outer space,they are us and one day, certainly as you age, it could be you.

Resources:

excellent balanced summary of the changes here.

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/benefits/unspun/36_employment_support_allowance.htm

Disability Alliance, challenging the myths,

http://www.disabilityalliance.org/ibfact.doc

Sheffield Welfare Action Network

http://www.swansheffield.org.uk
email