Safety net
On 31 January a safety net for disabled people trying to return to work will be removed. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is deeply concerned that the DWP is pushing ahead with this significant change but has done little to inform blind, partially sighted or other disabled people.
At the end of this month those who left Incapacity Benefit (IB) to re-enter the workforce will lose the current protection that allows them to return to IB within two years should their health decline, the job prove unsuitable for them to continue or the contract end. The change applies to anyone who left IB to begin working after 1 February 2009, but may particularly hit those employed on six-month contracts through the Future Jobs Fund scheme.
Lack of consistency
The change also creates a lack of consistency in how disabled people are supported, as people claiming Employment Support Allowance (ESA, the benefit which has replaced IB for new claimants) before starting work, still have the protection promised.
Steve Winyard, RNIB Head of Campaigns says: "This effectively breaks the contract that many blind and partially sighted people believe they have with the Government, whereby they return to work, but are offered protection should their health decline. Despite repeatedly promising fairness it seems that the changes this Government are introducing are driven by the need to reduce spending, not on achieving real reform to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable in society."
"I'd be financially worse off and my family would suffer too"
Clive Jones (36) from South Wales lost his sight ten years ago and has other physical disabilities. He spent 12 years in the army, but has been looking for work for seven years now. He says: "With the old scheme I was able to take a job, but if my health meant I couldn't maintain the work, I had a safety net. From the end of this month, I would lose my incapacity benefit if I were unable to continue in work. I'd be financially worse off and my family would suffer too. After seven years looking for a job, it's very difficult for me to know how full time work would impact my health.
"I really want to work - it would make life more worthwhile and let me earn my own money, but this makes no sense. The Government say they want to help people get back to work, yet with these changes disabled people are being penalised."
ESA claims
From 1 February, those impacted by the new rules will have to make a claim for ESA if they become unable to continue working. For the first 13 weeks of their claim, new ESA claimants are only eligible for the assessment rate of the benefit. This will provide a significantly lower income - at least £26 a week less - than former IB claimants were promised, at the time they started work.
RNIB, and other organisations supporting disabled people to find work, were alerted to these changes by a letter from Job Centre Plus earlier this month. RNIB is now seeking assurances from the Government that they will either reinstate this safety net for disabled job seekers or inform affected claimants of the new rules.
Cuts impact upon most vulnerable
It is important to consider this change in light of other cuts. Despite repeatedly promising it would protect the most vulnerable, the impact of changes to welfare provision will fall heavily on blind and partially sighted people.
RNIB's Steve Winyard continues: "RNIB will continue to examine the details of welfare reform, and will defend the rights of blind and partially sighted people to receive the support they need to find employment, access care services and live independently. The Government has repeatedly promised fairness, and on that we intend to hold them to account."
-ends-
For further information or to arrange a media interview with an RNIB spokesperson please contact Yashoda Sutton, RNIB Media Relations Team on 020 7391 2223 or email pressoffice@rnib.org.uk. Out of hours call 07968 482812.
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About RNIB
Every day another 100 people in the UK will start to lose their sight. There are around two million people in the UK with sight problems. RNIB is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information for anyone with sight difficulties. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk.
RNIB is a partner in the UK Vision Strategy, a ground-breaking UK-wide initiative which seeks a major transformation in the UK's eye health, eye care and sight loss services. The strategy was launched in April 2008 in response to a World Health Assembly global resolution to reduce avoidable blindness by the year 2020 and to improve support and services for blind and partially sighted people. To find out more visit: www.vision2020uk.org.uk/ukvisionstrategy.