National Coalition against the Welfare Reform Bill launches..

Sorry, should have added this:


CHALLENGE THE INCAPACITY BENEFIT CUTS!

The new Welfare Reform Bill which was introduced on July 24th will seriously affect disabled peoples lives as many of us will be forced to take paid or unpaid work in organizations where prejudice and widespread disabilism still exist in spite of anti discrimination legislation.
Under the Welfare Reform Bill, a new Employment and Support Allowance will replace incapacity benefit but, for the first time ever disabled people will have benefit conditions forced upon them to seek work which they may feel unable to do, may not want to do or is in totally inaccessible work places. These conditions could lead to disabled peoples benefits being cut which would lead to more poverty.

CALL FOR NO SANCTIONS

The effect will make disabled people feel more fearful of an increasingly inflexible benefit system. We do not think attaching ‘work’ conditions to benefits is the answer. The answer is to give more disabled people an opportunity to take up paid work when they are ready to do so.

FOR A DECENT DISABILITY WELFARE SYSTEM

We demand Government quickly rethink this damaging policy and that welfare reform is tackled from a social model of disability approach by:

• recognising the real barriers to work are employers attitudes, disability benefit conditions, work rules and inaccessible work places;

• tightening up disability discrimination laws in the work place to penalize companies that are actively hostile towards the employment of disabled people;

• providing more support (Access to Work) for disabled people who are able and want to do paid or unpaid work;

• Introducing disability related income which promotes a degree of choice between paid and unpaid work.

CAWRB is supported by British Council of Disabled People, UK Coalition of People living with HIV and AIDs, National Union of Journalists (Disabled Council Members), Spinal Injury Association, Disabled Peoples Action Network, Developmental Adult Neuro-Diversity Association, People First, Trade Union Disabled Peoples Alliance, Alliance for Inclusive Education, Regard, National Centre for Independent Living, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, Sheffield Welfare Action Network and many many more