Disabled near tipping point

A survey, commissioned by a coalition of over 90 disabled people’s organisations and charities, found that eight out of 10 respondents claim that losing their Disability Living Allowance (DLA) would drive them into isolation and would leave them struggling to manage their condition.

The group of charities, collectively known as the Hardest Hit, has published the Tipping point report. It found that nine out of 10 respondents fear that losing DLA would be detrimental to their health.

The results are based on a survey of over 4,500 disabled people, a poll of more than 350 independent welfare advisors, and more than 50 in-depth interviews with disabled people with varying conditions and impairments.

More than three quarters (78%) of disabled people said their health got worse as a result of the stress caused by their Work Capability Assessment for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Two-thirds (65%) of disabled people felt that ESA assessors did not understand their condition. Nearly nine out of 10 welfare advisors said the constant re-assessments for benefits are damaging people’s health.

The report cites research undertaken by the left of centre think tank Demos showing that disabled people have experienced a massive drop in income of £500 million since the coalition government’s Emergency Budget of 2010: cuts range from £200 to £2,065 for typical disabled households just in the past year.

Tipping point report is available at: http://thehardesthit.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/the_tipping_point_oct_2012.pdf