Disabled campaigners fears over benefits crackdown

Disability campaigners including Jenny Carter, in the background, have told of their fears over the benefits crackdown

Disability campaigners have said they fear people could be pushed into poverty and homelessness by the government's benefits crackdown.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has unveiled sweeping changes to the benefits system, aimed at saving £5bn a year by 2030.

The changes will make it harder for people with less severe conditions to claim disability payments.

Campaigners in Birkenhead, which has some of the highest levels of people claiming benefits in the country, said they were "anxious" for the future.

According to the 2021 Census, nearly 21% of people in central Birkenhead were long-term unemployed or have never worked, while 51.7% of people were considered economically inactive, meaning they were not employed or seeking work.

Only 11.2% of those over 16 and unemployed had worked in the last 12 months.

Across the whole of the town, disability benefit claims were higher than the national average including higher numbers of Personal Independence Payments (Pips).

Just over 25% in the council ward were in receipt of Pips, nearly three times the national average while unemployment benefit claimants were also twice the national average.

Jenny Carter, of disability advocacy organisation Together All Are Able, said: "It makes me feel upset, anxious and stressed that they are going to take my benefits, and take my friends, and other disabled people's benefits away when it's a lifeline for us."

She added that the cuts could cost more in the long-term if more people needed social care.

"There's going to be more people in poverty and we are going to have a situation where more disabled people will end up homeless or put into institutions."

Green Party councillor Pat Cleary said: "Targeting the most vulnerable in our society to cover the cracks in Labour's flawed economic policy will increase poverty and make it even harder for those affected to achieve their full potential.

"Putting those struggling with poor mental health under more financial stress is cruel and heartless."

Employment Minister and MP for Birkenhead Alison McGovern said that when the prime minister visited the town earlier in the month his priorities included investment in towns like Birkenhead.

"Labour is properly upgrading job centres, employment rights and employment support for the first time in a generation - so everybody can access the opportunities we're creating."

She added that the party had "improved our social security system with an extra £1bn employment support package, raised the Universal Credit standard allowance and introduced a 'right to try'".

"To make life more affordable, Labour is investing in our NHS, cutting energy bills, expanding statutory sick pay and raising the minimum wage to £12.21 an hour."