We campaigned to prevent a 12-month time limit restricting the length of time someone can claim contributory Employment and Support Allowance (cESA), with the issue forced to a vote at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference in 2011.
We managed to secure a number of sympathetic MPs and Peers to support our campaign in Parliamentary debates on the Welfare Reform Bill. Regrettably the Government put the measure into law and enacted the time limit in April 2012.
An arbitary time limit
We believe a 12-month time limit is unfair and arbitrary. People who contributed to the national insurance system in good times simply expect help with getting back to work in bad times. We have no evidence to suggest the measure will work. After all nine in ten disabled people on this benefit are taking more than a year to get back into work.
What can we do now?
Although we can't stop people being affected by the time limit we will continue to highlight the perverse outcomes this limit is leading to.
If you're blind or partially sighted and have lost vital income and support because of this unfair limitting of cESA, we would like to invite you get in touch with your story by emailing campaign@rnib.org.uk