Tooly has outline the very minimum of these cuts.
To summarise;
IB changed to ESA, with as many as 85% being found fit for some type of work. Some 60% of all claiments will find they are put straight onto JSA, totally unsupported.
ESA is time limited. If you appeal they then just reassess you. This harassment continues for ever.
After 12 months on ESA it will be stopped, regardless of your NI contributions. You will then only get ESA as income related, i.e. as income support.
After 3 months of ESA you will be placed on a Work Program. Attendance is compulsory. Any non-complaince will mean sanctions, i.e. they will cut your ESA by 10 %.
Bearing in mind that you could actually be on the Work Program before you even get the ESA medical. You will definately be expected to participate if you are appealing, regardless that the appeal may actually result in you being placed in the support group.
Meanwhile you could have had your benefits removed from you altogether for non-compliance.
ESA redefines disability to make you not disabled. They ignore the WHO and any other group or organisation or individual who presents information that states otherwise.
Moving on to DLA.
Fraud is 0.5%.
They aim to cut DLA by 20%.
No-one knows if this is 20% of payments, 20% of claiments, or 20% of costs.
This means that 19.5% is a cut.
They again are redefining disability. The use of a wheelchair negates the fact that you cant walk under the new PIP.
DLA is an allowance, not a benefit. It is to pay for additional costs of being disabled.
You can get it if you work, if you are a parent, if you are rich, or poor.
The consultation for reform of DLA talks constantly about working. They phrase everything with regard to work.
This is not an issue for DLA.
DLA is for additional expenses.
ESA is about working, not DLA.
They talk about continual assessments, regardless that many disabilities are life-long.
The consultation does not hide the true reasons behind the changes - it cant. It is too obvious why they want to change it.
I will put this from a disabled parents point.
You will be continually assessed.
Your DLA will be reduced.
Your DLA will be used as a yardstick for ESA, and vice versa - this already happens (regardless that ESA is about things you can do, and DLA is about what you cant do.)
Your ESA will be the WRA (work related activity) if you are lucky. However you are just as likely to be placed on JSA.
On JSA and WRA-ESA you will be expected to comply with the Work Program.
After a year your Housing Benefit will be cut by 10%. This is to "incentivise" you into finding work.
The Work Program consultation states that after a year you should be working, not living on life-long state dependancy, and that you have to re-align your expectations.
They are their words, not mine.
Also your ESA stops if you have a partner with significant income.
You may believe that you can appeal. At present you can.
But they are cutting legal aid for ALL benefits and allowances. This year.
If you are the parent of a disabled child the scenario is similar.
Do not be surprised if the criteria for your child seems impossible to get. They will be applying more stringent tests and higher criteria.
One yardstick that Social services use is DLA. If yours is reduced, are you confident that your care package will still be there?
And given the cuts to social services and the refusal to ring-fence, will the money be there anyway?
Imagine that your child's DLA is removed or reduced. You cannot get carers allowance any more. You are no longer recognised as a carer, as your child is no longer recognised as disabled.
Remember - they are redefining disability.
So now you have to sign on to JSA, and experience the Work Program, compulsory work periods and sanctions.
You will simply be another burden on society's budget, not a valued and essential carer who is saving the country millions. You will not be given recognition once they have redefined your child's disability.
And this kicks in when your youngest child is five, not seven, or ten, or thirteen. Five.
At that point you are simply a menace.
From saint to scrounger simply be redefining disability.
Quite frankly it all stinks to high heaven.
I am going to close now, but I will carry on fighting this government, for me, for you, for your children, for your children when they become adults.
I am fighting for a future where disabled people are accepted, acknowledged and cared for, not threatened and demonised and denied.
I hope as many of you who can will join this battle - as a community we are facing one of the biggest battles we are ever likely to face.
Thank you for reading. :)