Universal Credit isn’t working for disabled people.
Wednesday’s report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies is a further wake-up call that as Universal Credit becomes a reality for millions of disabled people many risk losing vital support they used to receive and falling off a financial cliff-edge.
We’ve all heard countless concerns about how the move onto Universal Credit is hitting people. In some cases, disabled people could lose up to £183 a month, forcing people to make difficult choices no one should have to make on buying essentials like food, clothing and heating. Coupled with this stress and uncertainty, it could have a dire impact on their lives.
It’s been described by one disabled person as an ‘absolute nightmare’.
The government has recognised things need to change and they’ll soon be conducting a trial to test how the move to Universal Credit works for people. There are still further problems to resolve with the new system, such as disabled people facing long waits while transferring and when their circumstances change.
This means this is a critical time for government – there is an important opportunity to make change and make Universal Credit work for disabled people. But to achieve this, listening to disabled people will be key.
Life costs more if you’re disabled and, to make matters worse, disabled people face barriers to finding and staying in work.
The IFS report states that disabled people “on average, lose from Universal Credit” and “are especially likely to be persistently, rather than temporarily, poor.”
This sobering statement cannot be ignored; this is a future which cannot come to be. Change is needed.
At Scope, we hear from disabled people that Universal Credit can be a confusing and overwhelming process.
The confusing process of moving onto Universal Credit puts people’s support at risk. Even if they are moved successfully, many disabled people and families with disabled children will be financially worse off, as the new system doesn’t fully replace top-ups they used to receive, known as disability premiums. These premiums are not a luxury – many disabled people rely on financial support for day to day needs that many people take for granted.
The government must recognise the barriers disabled people face and act, so that people’s critical financial support does not disappear. Alongside this, the government needs to work with disabled people and listen to their stories to make sure nobody is left without income while being moved over to the new benefit.
The trial period to test moving people onto Universal Credit is a prime opportunity to turn this situation around and improve the lives of millions of disabled people, but there is much work to be done. It must be a thorough, timely and transparent process and reflect disabled people’s needs.
It is essential that they take this opportunity to get it right. Only then can we start to see a welfare system which works for disabled people.
Jess Leigh is policy manager at Scope, the disability equality charity