Scope responds to Autumn Statement 2016
Following the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, Scope expresses disappointment at a lack of investment in social care and reacts to Universal Credit change, says Scope.
Mark Atkinson, Chief Executive at disability charity Scope said:
"We are bitterly disappointed that the Chancellor has not committed any further investment in our crumbling social care system.
“We need a system that works for everyone who needs care.
“Social care is the support disabled people rely on to get up, get dressed, get out, and lead independent lives.
“Without that support disabled people can become isolated, can’t contribute to society and risk slipping into crisis.”
Universal Credit
Today the Chancellor announced that the Government will decrease the taper rate for Universal Credit.
Mark Atkinson, chief executive at disability charity Scope, said:
“This will be slightly beneficial for some people, but with cuts to Employment Support Allowance coming in April we need to see greater action from government if they are to achieve their target of halving the disability employment gap.
“Disabled people are pushing hard to get jobs but the labour market is stacked against them.
“The employment gap between disabled and non-disabled people has remained stubbornly static at nearly 30 percentage points for the past decade. Unless reversed, the cut to ESA will come as a further blow.
“Half a million disabled people rely on ESA, and we know they are already struggling to make ends meet.
“The Government has committed to halving the disability employment gap, reducing disabled people’s financial support by £30 per week is simply not the way to achieve this.”
