MPs Want UC Put On Hold To Protect Disabled Claimants
A cross-party group of MPs has called for the next phase of universal credit to be put on hold until ministers can show that disabled claimants will be properly protected from the potentially disastrous consequences of moving to the new system.
The Commons work and pensions committee says there are insufficient safeguards for claimants who will be worse off financially when approximately a million disabled people on employment and support allowance (ESA) move on to universal credit over three years from 2020.
This would potentially leave some of the social security system’s most vulnerable claimants isolated, destitute and in some cases relying on their dependent children for care, the committee says in a report.
It says the government should not seek parliamentary approval for regulations covering the “managed migration” of about 3 million claimants on ESA and working tax credits to the new system, but should wait until lessons can be learned from a pilot scheme starting next year covering 10,000 claimants.
The report highlights the removal from universal credit of disability premiums that are worth up to £64 a week for a single person. The premiums are designed to meet the extra costs of living alone without a carer. Approximately 500,000 people in the UK receive the severe disability premium, enhanced disability premium or both.
Earlier this year the government announced it would provide transitional protection for recipients of the premiums after a court case brought on behalf of two disabled men revealed they were unable to afford basic needs after they moved on to universal credit and found themselves £178 a month worse off.
The committee says the government made a “serious error” in removing disability premiums from universal credit in the first place. While it had since introduced protections, these could still be lost if claimant circumstances change, and will not apply to new claimants.
“Removing vital additional support offered by the disability premiums from universal credit risks disabled people living more isolated lives, relying on unpaid care (including from their own dependent children) or simply being unable to complete certain basic daily tasks,” the report says.
It calls on the government to consider introducing a new “self care” payment into universal credit for all claimants who would have received the disability premiums.
Although the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has pledged that “severely disabled” claimants will be better off under the new system, the committee says this will come at the expense of those claimants judged to be “less severely disabled”.
The committee also says that currently 100,000 families with disabled children will be worse off. It says officials have no clear idea what the impact will be on families facing a financial shortfall, or the knock on effects on local care services.
Frank Field MP, the chair of the committee, said: “The government’s plans will see ‘very’ disabled people getting the extra help they need at the cost of other disabled people. We have already seen the terrible cost of the department’s failure to find out what is happening to the most vulnerable claimants in the transition to universal credit.
“People receiving the disability premiums are already, by definition, managing in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable in our society, and this includes disabled children, and children forced to care for a disabled parent. It would be a terrible betrayal of these people to allow another failure of planning in this mega reform to worsen their situations, even one bit.”
The report echoes fears of campaigners who have warned that the managed migration to universal credit could see disabled and ill people falling though the net. That warning was repeated by the government’s own advisers, the social security advisory committee, in October, which led to ministers last month promising to make changes.
A DWP spokesperson said: “More than a million disabled people will be better off by £100 a month under universal credit and £3bn of funding will help protect families as they move over from the old system.
“Universal credit does work for the vast majority, and the managed migration regulations are set to be debated in parliament in due course.”
Same Difference 
“This would potentially leave some of the social security system’s most vulnerable claimants isolated, destitute and in some cases relying on their dependent children for care, the committee says in a report.”
No change there then.
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“until lessons can be learned”
Public Sector speak for ‘COVER-UP’
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“Earlier this year the government announced it would provide transitional protection for recipients of the premiums after a court case brought on behalf of two disabled men revealed they were ***unable to afford basic needs*** after they moved on to universal credit and found themselves £178 a month worse off.”
Care Act 2014 –
Safeguarding adults at risk of abuse or neglect –
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/section/42/enacted
Fraud Act 2006 –
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/35/contents
Misconduct in Public Office –
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/misconduct_in_public_office/
Criminal Justice Act 1988 – Torture
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/33/part/XI/crossheading/torture
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Criminal Attempts Act 1981 –
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/47/contents
ABH/GBH
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/offences_against_the_person/
Homicide: Murder and Manslaughter –
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/h_to_k/homicide_murder_and_manslaughter/
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Disability Hate Crime – Criminal Justice Act 2003 (section 146) –
Increase in sentences for aggravation related to disability –
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/44/section/146
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities – Articles
https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-disabilities-2.html
UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CAT.aspx
SO WHERE ARE THE POLICE?
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“The committee says the government made a “serious error” in removing disability premiums from universal credit in the first place. While it had since introduced protections, these could still be lost if claimant circumstances change, and will not apply to new claimants.”
Membership – Work and Pensions Committee
Frank Field was elected as Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee on Wednesday 12 July 2017.
The remaining members of the Committee were formally appointed on Monday 11 September 2017.
Member Party
Frank Field (Chair) Independent
Heidi Allen Conservative
Jack Brereton Conservative
Alex Burghart Conservative
Neil Coyle Labour
Rosie Duffield Labour
Ruth George Labour
Steve McCabe Labour
Nigel Mills Conservative
Chris Stephens Scottish National Party
Derek Thomas Conservative
Here are The ‘Public Duties’ of *all* Members of Parliament (including Jeremy Corbyns Rats) –
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmcode/1885/188502.htm
“5. Members have a duty to ***uphold the law***, including the general law against discrimination.”
“10. Members shall base their conduct on a consideration of the public interest, avoid conflict between personal interest and the public interest and resolve any conflict between the two, at once, and in favour of the public interest.”
Misconduct in Public Office –
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/misconduct_in_public_office/
(“wilful neglect of a public duty” = Up to life in prison for not doing their jobs)
SO WHERE ARE THE POLICE?
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Are these Vulnerable Adult Abusing ‘Do-Nothing’ Blind-Eye turning Hate Criminal Nonces in Prison yet?
Frank Field
.
Heidi Allen
http://www.swavesey.org.uk/message-from-the-office-of-heidi-allen-mp/
.
Jack Brereton
.
Alex Burghart
.
Neil Coyle
.
Rosie Duffield
.
Ruth George
.
Steve McCabe
.
Nigel Mills
Tory MP apologises for playing Candy Crush during committee –
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30375609
.
Chris Stephens
.
Derek Thomas
.
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More total hypocrisy from political criminal filth…
Jeremy Corbyns Gang runs Lancashire police –
Clive Grunshaw is the Labour Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner –
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clive_Grunshaw
Jeremy Corbyns Labour Lancashire Police have been beating up disabled protestors –
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Lancashire+police+disabled+protestor&FORM=HDRSC2
… and filming their hate crime and sending the abuse porn videos to their DWP mates –
Police force admits passing disabled anti-fracking protesters’ details to DWP –
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/police-disabled-protesters-fracking-blackpool-lancashire-dwp-fraud-a8696381.html
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Meanwhile political Nonce BSer, Labour’s shadow chancellor, John McDonnell is trying to make out (on Fake News Sites) that it’s nothing to do with HIS criminal gang. –
https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/labour-and-greens-call-for-inquiry-into-claims-of-police-abuse-of-disabled-protesters/
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Clive Grunshaw Labour Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner –
DWP WCA criminal Quacks are ALSO Unison members –
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BSing criminal Nonce –
https://www.lancashire-pcc.gov.uk/first-hate-crime-support-to-report-services-in-lancashire/
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And more total hypocrisy from political criminal filth…
One of Jeremy Corbyns fake news sites reported this pile of hot air blowing BS –
https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/backlash-over-disgraceful-police-force-that-passed-video-footage-to-dwp/
“Wayne Blackburn, co-chair of Disability Labour but also a borough councillor in Lancashire, has written to police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw to express his alarm and shock at the tactics of Lancashire police.
Cllr Blackburn is among scores of disabled campaigners who have raised similar concerns”
Cllr Wayne Blackburn –
http://disabilityequalityactlabour.org/wayne-blackburn/
“Disability and Mental Health Champion for Pendle Borough Council.”
Here is what that BSing hot air blowing criminal is ***Supposed*** to have done –
https://www.pendle.gov.uk/downloads/download/2944/safeguarding_policies
Click to access promoting_welfare_and_safeguarding_adults_policy.pdf
Click to access safeguarding_adults_flowchart.pdf
So where are Jeremy Corbyns *Honest* cops???
Where are that BSers Social Services???
AH!… just another WCA Quack Fraudster loving ***Unison*** criminal –
.
Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 –
Corrupt or other improper exercise of police powers and privileges –
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/2/section/26/enacted
Misconduct in Public Office –
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/l_to_o/misconduct_in_public_office/
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Abuse of Vulnerable Adults –
Click to access No_secrets__guidance_on_developing_and_implementing_multi-agency_policies_and_procedures_to_protect_vulnerable_adults_from_abuse.pdf
Care Act 2014 -Safeguarding adults at risk of abuse or neglect –
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/23/section/42/enacted
Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 –
Ill-treatment or wilful neglect: care worker offence –
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/2/section/20/enacted
Ill-treatment or wilful neglect: care provider offence –
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/2/section/21/enacted
Disability Hate Crime – Criminal Justice Act 2003 (section 146) –
Increase in sentences for aggravation related to disability –
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/44/section/146
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