The Tory disablist double-bind: risk your life at work – or risk it by being denied benefits
Isn’t this the Conservative government turning the screw on people with disabilities – and on parents – yet again?
People could be forced to take on work that places their health at risk or face losing their benefits as the government’s suspension to job-seeking requirements for benefit claimants is set to come to an end within days.
The government announced in March that the requirement for people receiving universal credit to prove that they are looking for work – which would currently apply to more than 2 million people on the benefit – would be paused for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This suspension is set to end next Tuesday, meaning millions of people will need to prove they are actively seeking work or face being sanctioned and losing their financial support.
Charities are concerned that people who are shielding or suffer from underlying health conditions would face an “uphill struggle” to find suitable work – and may potentially accept jobs that place their health at risk in order to avoid benefit sanctions.
There are also mounting concerns that ongoing disruption to schools and childcare options mean people may need to care for their children during the time they could otherwise spend working or applying for jobs, which could result in them being sanctioned.
It’s a classic double-bind.
Either people with disabilities put their health – possibly their lives – at risk in work that could even lead to their deaths…
Or they forfeit their chance to get state benefits, putting their health – possibly their lives – at risk.
Disablism in action.
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