1

More than meets the eye

Why the welfare cuts will hit blind and partially sighted people particularly hard

2

Economic context

• The Comprehensive Spending Review means £18bn savings have to come from welfare

• Other government plans predicated on making welfare savings

• Contraction of the state - this is a long-term project

3

Political context

• Promise of fairness - “we are all in this together”

• Welfare Reform Bill

• A narrative about simplification and helping people into work

• Comparison with the Health Bill

4

Public perceptions

• No more “something for nothing” attitude on the increase

• Squeezed Middle• YouGov and other

polls show attitudes are hardening

5

Fairness

• Progressive or Regressive?

• Poverty alleviation or social mobility

• Simplified benefits system not necessarily fairer for people with complex needs

6

Welfare Reform Bill

• January 2010 - December 2010 (tbc)

• Many proposals - but focus today on disability benefits

• Government majority dictates amendments will need to be made in the Lords

• Labour emphasis on responsibility

7

Key proposals

Opportunities

• Might be some people who gain from the Universal Credit

• Simpler forms

• A more responsive and flexible system?

8

Key proposals

Many more threats

• DLA reform and introduction of Personal Independence Payment in 2013

• Review of DLA mobility in residential care

• Employment and Support Allowance time limit

9

DLA reform

• More than £1bn budget cut by 2015

• DLA “past its sell-by date”

• No more automatic entitlements

• New assessment

10

DLA reform

• Re-assessment for existing claimants

• Periodic reviews

• New components for Personal Independence Payment

• Qualifying period

• Adaptation to impairment

11

Out-of-work benefits

• Incapacity Benefit re-assessment began in April 2011

• Work Capability Assessment problem

• Employment and Support Allowance time limit

12

Other issues to consider

• Benefits cap

• Universal Credit

• Disability premium and passporting

• Welfare-to-work and sanctions

13

Analysis

• Targeting vs universalism

• Who wins?• Legal aid and

advice?• Clearing the poor

away?

14

What can you do?

• Hardest Hit campaign

• Short window to influence the Bill

• October crunch date

• Liberal Democrats key

• Show what impact a loss of DLA would have

15

Thank you

Andrew Kaye

020 7391 2136

andrew.kaye@rnib.org.uk