Norwood and Jewish Care express concern about impact of government’s welfare reforms

Norwood chief executive Naomi Dickson has expressed concern about the impact of the government’s welfare reforms on people with neurodevelopmental disabilities who face cuts to their benefits.

In a statement released in response to radical changes to the welfare system announced by Work and Pensions minister Liz Kendall, Jewish charity chief Dickson said:” We are really concerned that the government’s plans to cut disability benefits will place substantial financial constraints on people with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

“People with significant disabilities already face increased costs in their daily lives to perform everyday tasks and to lead fulfilled lives. We regret that this latest round of welfare cuts will do nothing to achieve the government’s stated aim of supporting more people with disabilities into work and instead risks further marginalising them and hampering their prospects.”

Kendall announced £5 billion of savings on Tuesday which will come largely from changes to eligibility for the personal independence payment (PIP), but also from a reduction to the health element of universal credit.

More than two million people are likely to see reductions in their income as a result of changes to incapacity and disability benefits and a million people are set to be affected by toughened tests to qualify for PIP, the main disability benefit.

The government faced criticism over the reforms outlined in the Green Paper, both from opposition Tory MPs, and from the left of Starmer’s party.

The Prime Minister defended the moves pointing to the 2.8 million working age people out of work due to long-term sickness.

He said: “By 2030 we are projected to spend £70 billion-a-year on working-age incapacity and disability benefits alone.

“But more importantly it has wreaked a terrible human cost. Young people shut out of the labour market at a formative age. People with complex long-term conditions, written off by a single assessment.

“People who want to return to work, yet can’t access the support they need. All this is happening at scale and it is indefensible.”

Norwood’s Dickson added: “We welcome the government’s commitment to supporting people with a range of disabilities into the workplace. We hope that this will translate into support to empower those that are able into appropriate employment that allows them to make a meaningful contribution and enriches our society as result. We add our voices to calls from our partners in the sector for the government to work with us to affect real change.”

Rachel Wenmouth, Jewish Care’s Head of Social Work, Safeguarding & Mental Health also said:”Receiving benefits, including PIP, enables people to take part in their community and engage in daily living and travel that they would otherwise not be able to access.

“People coming forward for help with these essential living needs should not feel stigmatised for needing support with tasks that many people take for granted. Receiving financial support through benefits can help to maintain dignity and respect by maintaining independence.

“Taking part in community life decreases social isolation, which can improve the quality of life for people with physical and mental health conditions and support their recovery.”

Ahead of Tuesday’s Commons announcement, Paperweight, the leading Jewish charity providing free, practical support across a spectrum of legal, financial, welfare, post-bereavement and administrative matters, hosted Lady Elaine Sacks and David Pinto-Duschinsky, MP for Hendon and on Parliament’s Work & Pensions Committee, where welfare reforms were discussed.

Paperweight CEO Bayla Perrin said: “At a time when there’s uncertainty around benefits and the bar reportedly likely to be set a much higher level in the future for acceptance, expert, empathetic guidance has never been more essential to ensure an individual’s voice is heard, needs recognised and rights upheld.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “It is right that we take action to fix our broken welfare system, so it is fairer on the taxpayer and is sustainable enough to support those with the highest needs for years to come.

“Our reforms will unlock work for sick and disabled people who want to be in employment – backed by a £1 billion support offer to guarantee tailored help into work –  and will rebalance Universal Credit payment levels so the benefit’s main rate rises above inflation for the first time, a boost for working families.”