NATIONAL 'PEOPLES MARCH AND RALLY'

CHALLENGE THE
INCAPACITY BENEFIT CUTS!/NO SANCTIONS/
FOR A DECENT DISABILITY
WELFARE SYSTEM..

Sheffield 17th June, 2006
Assemble Devonshire Green 12:00pm
for 12.30pm march(map
Major Speakers, music and info…

Protest called for and organised by
Sheffield Welfare Action Network(SWAN)

The Government is pressing on with its plans to target 1 million disabled people with the threat of upto 30 pounds per week. .Under the proposed reforms outlined in their Green Paper: a new benefit will be introduced: the Employment Support Allowance (ESA) which will be around £56 per week and will only rise if the claimant complies with very stringent requirements.

CALL FOR NO SANCTIONS
These reforms are the most significant in sixty years: along with the vicious cuts, there will be even more stringent medical assessments and even tougher requirements to seek work or lose benefit. Employment advisers are being placed in G.P’s surgeries to harass the sick. From October new claimants will have to attend six intensive work focussed interviews whatever their conditions or disability, while existing claimants will have to face three.

Many disabled people are terrified of these changes. They are saying the disability benefits regime is almost unbearable now, and cannot believe it is being made even worse! Even the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee in their report on the IB/welfare reforms have expressed major concerns about key elements of the reforms.

While, of course, many disabled people want to work and should have help when and if they are ready to go back to work SWAN says there should be no cuts in benefit, no compulsion or sanctions and no Work Focussed Interviews for those too sick to attend. SWAN is aware that this issue has not been a prominent one amongst progressive forces, but suggests that now it should become one: over 2.5 million are on disability welfare in the uk. Further, right across the western world welfare systems are under attack /being eroded both to save money but also to promote the concept of the ‘active citizen’ No longer will people be allowed just to ‘languish on benefits’ now ‘the public good’ means all must pursue work/activity, no matter what the consequences for mind and body.

Sheffield Welfare Action Network
Calls on all caring and compassionate people to support the national peoples march and rally in Sheffield, to develop campaigns on these issues and initiate pressure for a fairer welfare system.

Join the Event! Bring (home made) placards, union banners, music, your voice, your self!

contact us for publicity material, offer help, etc.

Eml  sheffieldwelfare_an@yahoo.co.uk Web www.swansheffield.org.uk
Tel 07903 453006 Addr SWAN c/o Inclusive Living Sheffield,
116 The Wicker, Sheffield, S3 8JD.