The Disability Benefits Consortium has reported that more than 50,000 disabled people could stand to lose their jobs if changes to their vital disability support go ahead, leading charities have warned.{jcomments on}
The DBC, a national coalition of over 50 charities including Leonard Cheshire Disability and RNIB, have analysed the potential impact of planned changes to mobility support for disabled people.
According to the Government’s projections nearly half a million disabled people are set to lose either part or all of their payments under planned welfare reforms.
A Freedom of Information request revealed one in five people receiving this support (Disability Living Allowance – DLA) are currently in work. In a survey of over 1000 disabled people, over half of those using DLA in work said it could be impossible to stay in work without it. This could mean that over 50,000 disabled people currently receiving support (DLA) would be put at risk of losing their jobs.
If these job losses happen as a result of cuts to mobility support, lost National Insurance and income tax contributions would cost around £278m. Disabled people leaving work would also require out of work benefits. Payments for disabled people leaving work could cost over £186m.
The Government’s total cut in mobility support for disabled people in work could save £145m on paper. However, based on the DBC’s estimates this could cost £464m before other costs are taken into account.
For a full copy of the report please click here.
Thanks to Jim Allison for spotting this article for us
