The disabled, cancer patients and chronically ill are to lose almost £30 a week in support under plans drawn up by Iain Duncan Smith
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Iain Duncan Smith is to press ahead with welfare cuts that will see tens of thousands of disabled and chronically ill people lose almost £30 a week in support.
The Work and Pensions Secretary’s Welfare Reform and Work Bill will slash the amount the sick and disabled can get from £102.15 to £73.10 a week - even if they have been judged too ill to work.
The legislation will hit an estimated 500,000 people, including cancer patients and those with conditions such as Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis.
Labour’s shadow minister for the disabled Debbie Abrahams is calling on the Government to scrap the measure.
“It is deeply worrying that suffers of progressive conditions such as Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis or Motor Neurone Disease will be hit by these measures.
"Cutting support from people with such conditions will not help them tackle their health issues, in fact it risks making peoples’ conditions worse, because they may no longer have the means to live healthier lives,” she said.
“Disabled people are already twice as likely to live in persistent poverty.
"While last year, more than 300,000 additional disabled people were pushed in to poverty.
"That is why Labour is calling for the Government to carry out a proper impact assessments that considers the combined impact of cuts to disabled people,” she said.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “We are absolutely committed to supporting disabled people and continue to spend around £50bn a year on disabled people and their services.
“Those who are already claiming Employment and Support Allowance will see no change in the level of their benefit they receive.
"Payments for those placed in the support group, who have the most severe work-limiting health conditions and disabilities, will be maintained at the current level.”
www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/iain-duncan-smith-press-ahead-6628337