National Voices’ response to the news on disability benefit cuts

Disabled people and those with long-term conditions are vital to the fabric of society – a person’s value should never be based on their ability to work. We know if you are unable to work due to poor health you are more likely to live in poverty and we vehemently reject any suggestion that this is a ‘lifestyle choice’.

Any removal of financial support risks increasing demand on the NHS, such as increased A&E attendances, from people who no longer have the support they need to manage their health conditions. The Government must also do more to understand how delayed access to care and treatment is affecting people’s employment and not punish people further for their inability to work as a result.

It may be beneficial to some disabled people or those with long-term conditions to be in work and we welcome the Government saying it will work with employers to help them make their workplaces more supportive of disabled people and those with long-term conditions. But this must be employment that supports their health and does not worsen it. The Government must also lay out what a “new time-limited unemployment insurance” means for people who remain too unwell to work as this could leave people both unable to work or to receive financial support.

Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices

Notes to editors

• Almost a quarter (24%) of working-age adults in a family receiving health-related UC have had to use a foodbank in the last year, compared to 3% of all working-age adults and 17% of working-age adults receiving non-health-related UC.
• Almost half (48%) of adults in a household where someone claims health-related UC are also in a household without reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious, healthy food, compared to 11% of all working-age adults.