Breaking the Link between Disability and Poverty: Report to the Labour Party by the Disability and Poverty Taskforce
The Labour Party appointed an independent Taskforce:
“To look at ways to break the link between disability and poverty, to review ways of helping disabled people meet the extra costs that disability imposes and to recommend changes to the social security system to maximise disabled people’s control over their own lives. The taskforce will focus on better use of existing resources.”
Breaking the Link between Disability and Poverty, published April 2014, contains the Taskforce’s recommendations in key areas affecting disabled people.
1. Improving the employment experience of disabled people Including;
- calls for a major skills-drive.
- employment programmes modelled upon the successful Future Jobs Fund.
- full implementation of the Sayce review concerning Access to Work.
- replacement of the Work Programme and Work Choice with a system of personalised in-work employment support.
- better integration of employment support with health, social care and education services.
- that employment programmes should locally commissioned and partnered.
2. Improving the social security system for disabled people. Including:
- replacement of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA).
- addressing the consequences of explicit or implicit predetermined percentage targets (‘norms’) for numbers passing or failing to qualify for Employment and Support Allowance.
- the transition from sickness in work to claiming out of work benefits should be better managed.
- exploration of how new flexibilities to address fluctuating conditions might be introduced into the benefits and tax credits system.
- proposals that the current permitted work rules are further relaxed.
- decisions about eligibility should be made in a timely fashion.
- extending the period in which health professionals can obtain further evidence.
- training for GPs in understanding the requirements of the evidence-gathering exercise. financial rewards should be introduced into the system for the correct and timely completion of the form.
3. Addressing the cost of living crisis for disabled people. Including:
- there should be a detailed investigation of the depth and breadth of poverty taking no account of additional disability-related costs.
- Integration of public services, including health and social care.
- welcoming Labour’s commitment to abolish the Bedroom Tax.
- Government’s need to invest in accessible and affordable housing and transport.
- Reviewing Local Housing Allowance.
- limits upon the ability of local councils to take account of the PIP in assessing the incomes of disabled people in relation to care charges.
- Government should consider the feasibility of enhancing DLA/PIP by introducing an additional third element designed to contribute towards disability costs not covered by the two current components of either benefit.
- national and local government should use their purchasing power to drive down prices of disability-related equipment and services.
- Government should revert to the 50-metre distance test in respect of eligibility for the higher rate mobility component of PIP (or any replacement benefit).
4. A renewed commitment to equality for disabled people. Including:
- the publicly-funded infrastructure supporting disabled people’s rights inside and outside of government should be the subject of comprehensive review and reform.
- removal of the £1200 fee for using an employment tribunal.
- a rigorous and transparent analysis by government departments and public authorities of the likely impact of and opportunities arising from proposed policy and legislation with respect to disability equality.
- investment in creating a sea-change in employer behaviour on recruitment, development and retention of disabled people.
- a thorough cost-benefit appraisal of major public expenditure decisions.
- the need for local inclusive growth strategies which bring together economic regeneration, support for business, job creation, and skills and employment support for disabled people.
- policies and services should be co-produced with disabled people’s organisations.
You can view and comment on the report at http://www.yourbritain.org.uk/agenda-2015/policy-commissions/work-and-business-policy-commission/breaking-the-link-between-poverty-and-disability