The Government often states that it wants to support disabled people to remain independent, yet today's real terms cut to key benefits for disabled job seekers means that many blind people will miss out on vital income, which in turn, could limit their independence.
People with sight loss are regularly excluded from the workplace. In fact DWP's own research found that nine in 10 employers (1) said that it would be difficult or impossible to employ a blind or partially sighted person. And many blind people are wrongly assessed as part of the Work Capability Assessment and placed in the ESA Work Related Activity Group (WRAG).
"Extremely concerned"
Steve Winyard, Head of Policy and Campaigns at RNIB, said:
"We are extremely concerned about the potential financial and social impact that Mr Osborne's real terms cut to ESA rates will have on blind and partially sighted people.
"With ESA (WRAG) rates only rising by one per cent instead of the 2.2 per cent that people would have received (2), a typical registered blind or partially sighted person (3) could miss out on £180 over three years.
"This could make the difference between someone being able to pay for a taxi to a job interview or to vital work experience or volunteering opportunity."
RNIB has strong concerns the additional impact of the changeover to the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in the spring. Those rates will also be included in the detail of the Treasury's plans this week.
"New PIP rates"
"We are also extremely concerned that the new PIP rates will mean that blind and partially sighted people will miss out on hundreds of pounds compared to the current DLA rates", continued Steve. "We will report on the financial impact of the PIP rates as soon as possible."
Ends
Notes to editors
1 "Nine out of 10 employers rate blind and partially sighted people as either 'difficult' or 'impossible' to employ." (DWP, 2004)
2 The one per cent increase is in line with average earnings, rather than the 2.2 per cent that would have been in line with inflation.
3 Network 1000 - Finance and entitlement: Visually impaired people's take up of Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance", Douglas G, Pavey S and Corcoran C, 2008