Hello everyone,

Debate the Welfare Reform Bill at the Town Hall!

Wednesday October 4th 1.30 onwards for 2.PM

Sheffield Welfare Action Network(SWAN), fresh from their inspiring protest/lobby of the Labour Party Conference as part of the new coalition CAWRB * (along with Sheffield Green Party) has iniatated a debate by Sheffield City Council on 0ctober 4th on the implications of the Welfare Reform Bill, a bill that the council is likely to financially benefit from. The Bill will see disabled people threatened with the loss of benefits and forced into unsuitable work or medical treatments, on top of abolishing housing benefit. The bill fails to address major issues such as incorrect medical assessments and discrimination by employers. The motion we are presenting is below

Alex Kemp of the NUS has said: "The NUS Disabled Students' Campaign is very concerned about the Welfare Reforms proposed by New Labour. We know that implementation of these reforms would lead to further abject poverty for disabled people. We know that disabled people will be forced into work that they cannot do and do not want to do. Its about time the government sat up and realised that, as disabled people, we know what is best for us - we are the experts on our own lives''.

The council meeting is at 2pm, we urge all our members, supporters, friends and allies to try to make the event, Ideally, we need as many people as possible to attend the public gallery as this would almost ensure a debate. Please note you do not have to speak unless you desire to

The SWAN meeting for Wednesday evening has been cancelled as people were doubtful they could make both events and the motion is the most important thing. Please please come down to the Town Hall if you can, the more the better. If you need more details, get in touch.

Regards

Jason

For SWAN

contact details

07956 384142
www.swansheffield.org.uk
 sheffieldwelfare_an@yahoo.co.uk


Coalition against the welfare reform bill report
* http://www.24dash.com/content/news/viewNews.php?navID=57&newsID=10842


That this Council:

(a) recognises that as Sheffield is one of the pilot Employment Consortia the Welfare Reform Bill will have a large impact upon the people of Sheffield and this Council;

(b) notes that the Department of Health's recommendation on Fair Access to Care (2003) states: "Councils should recognise that individuals are the experts on their own situation and encourage a partnership approach to assessment. They should help them prepare for the assessment process and find the best way for each individual to state their views";

(c) notes that instead of engaging Incapacity Benefit claimants as partners, the Welfare Reform Bill will be prescriptive, with Claimants of the proposed Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) losing control over their return to work;

(d) notes that the level of fraudulent benefit claims is at 1% (+- 0.5%, DWP);

(e) is concerned that:

i. there is no new money for the Employment and Skills Strategy to ensure employment, medical treatment and other support provided will be adequate and suitable;

ii. over half of Personal Capability Assessments for Incapacity Benefit are currently found to be incorrect on appeal, yet there will be no proper provision for an improved medical assessment process under the new system;

iii. Personal Advisors will be under pressure to meet targets of putting 6,500 incapacity benefit claimants back into work in the Sheffield region by 2010;

iv. Personal Advisors threatening benefit cuts will force claimants into inappropriate treatment, unsuitable levels of work, or employment that is wholly unsuited to their capacities;

v. the threat of benefit cuts will cause claimants fear and stress, reducing the likelihood of long-term (re)engagement with employment or voluntary work;

(f) believes there is more to be gained for Sheffield, both financially and socially, by welfare reform that promotes a trusting system that supports the individual needs of claimants;

(g) notes that rather than being "work-shy", many claimants currently find it difficult to gain employment as 60% of employers themselves acknowledge they discriminate against potential employees with some form of disability, especially varying health conditions and mental illness;

(h) will refuse to implement any policy that involves conditionality, where claimants will be threatened with benefit sanctions;

(i) will commit, as part of its equality and diversity policy, to tackle discrimination experienced in employment by people with disabilities or ill health;