Government advisor Matthew Oakley suggests scrapping ESA support group | Same Difference
Matthew Oakley: Doesn’t he look smug?
Just in case you thought This Blog approves of Matthew Oakley – think again:
Government advisor, Matthew Oakley, recently published a report titled Closing the gap: creating a framework for tackling the disability employment gap in the UK,
This report suggests a major reform of ESA and the WCA. His suggestions include scrapping the Support Group. (bolding below mine.)
“Four principles that should form the basis for reform of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and the WCA are outlined below. It is important to highlight that this would not be a cost-cutting exercise. The reforms proposed would combine existing money and aim to distribute it better on the basis of need.
“Accounting for the extra costs of disability
“In effect, this would remove the Support Group element of ESA and align benefit rates for disabled and non-disabled claimants in Universal Credit. However, it is clear that those with a disability often face extra costs of living.To meet these extra costs, existing spending on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) / Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and the support Group element of ESA should be brought together to finance a new extra costs benefit. Eligibility for this benefit should be determined on the basis of need, with an assessment replacing the WCA and PIP assessment and designed with extensive consultation.Where individuals are unable to work, there should also be a principle that the level of benefit provided is sufficient to allow them to live comfortably and engage fully in society. In the longer-term, the Government should explore whether these benefits could be set to ensure that disabled claimants are lifted out of poverty with the income they receive.”Readers, I would like to believe that this could be a good thing. However, I tried that with PIP which was sold to disabled people as ‘focusing on what we can do not what we can’t.”
So far, the stories I have heard about PIP have been bitterly disappointing and have left me with a deep fear of being transferred from my indefinite DLA Award, so now I have strong doubts about these new ideas.
Source: Government Advisor Matthew Oakley Suggests Scrapping The Support Group | Same Difference
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How long, I wonder, before these evil Tories say publicly what is really on their minds and what most of them really want, but at the present time are afraid to say, that is a return to 19th century Workhouses and the Poor Law for the poor and disabled? How long, I wonder?
What a disgusting bunch of politicians we ended up with ”we pay these lot to help people live better lives not destroy what little support they have!!
exactly my thougts Notions of deserving and undeserving poor abide in the tory mindset. Tory voters think in much the same way as stupid MPs
It wasnt good enough in the 19th Century to have such notions and it isnt good enough now. when the rubicon is reached there will be hell to pay. Those with money will be seen as the cause of the misery and get their justice at the end of a rope. history is going full circle so undermine the tories if you are rich and dont want your justice for supporting them.
another one kick his crutch away he can walk now aktion t4 rolling along without much of a ado jeff3
They are now the living embodiment of Alan B’stard MP who was played so well by Rik Mayall, it was a comedy, now sadly copied by heartless gits in suits, IDS has a heart blacker than the earl of hell`s waistcoat
Yet more streamlining, that will allow for even more abuses to be piled upon the abuses caused by the current system. If anybody thinks that Matthew Oakley is opposing the current system, you are surely mistaken. This is just more of the same.