Today the Mayor of London issued a statement urging the government to rethink their proposed benefits cuts. He warned that changes could “destroy the financial safety net for thousands Disabled Londoners”, who are estimated to lose £820 million as a result. He also highlighted the specific impact on young Disabled people, women, people with specific impairments, carers and Disabled Londoners, who face higher housing costs.
He urged the government to work with Disabled people and pledged to invest in welfare advice and expand the reach of the Good Work Standard and Inclusive Talent programmes to better meet the needs of disabled Londoners.
racey Lazard, CEO of Inclusion London said:
“We welcome the Mayor’s strong statement calling on the government to rethink these devastating disability benefit cuts and we share his concerns that these cuts will destroy the financial safety net that disabled Londoners rely on to cover additional living costs of disability.
“The GLA’s analysis into the impact of these cuts confirm just how bad these benefits cuts will be for disabled Londoners – with at least 380,000 of the poorest Disabled people in our city losing £870 million in essential benefits support.
“It is economically and morally wrong to balance the books at the expense of Disabled people. These reforms are not about supporting us into work, they will do the opposite . They will push hundreds of thousands of Disabled Londoners into deeper poverty, putting many at risk of homelessness, isolation and poorer health.
“To enable us to work, we need inclusive workplaces and education, accessible housing, transport, well-functioning social care support and speedy access to the NHS.
“The government should listen to the Mayor and its own MPs and rethink these proposals. Any changes to improve our welfare system need to be co-produced with Disabled people and focus on removing the disabling barriers we face, not on making us poorer.”
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'your silence will not protect you'