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Universal Credit migration could be ‘disastrous’ for disabled people, warn MPs
Universal Credit could have “disastrous” consequences for disabled people if the managed migration goes ahead as currently planned, a cross-party group of MPs has warned.
In a report published today, the Work and Pensions Committee claimed 100,000 families with children deemed “less disabled” will receive less money under Universal Credit than through tax credits.
It said ministers’ promises to ensure “severely disabled” people will get more benefits under Universal Credit than the old welfare system will come at a cost to those not deemed severely disabled.
The committee also raised concerns that the removal of disability premiums “risks disabled people living more isolated lives, relying on unpaid care – including from their own, dependent children – or simply being unable to complete certain basic daily tasks”.
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Top-up payments for disabled people without paid-for carers are worth up to £64 a week under the legacy benefit system, but are not available to Universal Credit claimants.
Frank Field, MP for Birkenhead and chair of the committee, said: “The government’s plans will see ‘very’ disabled people getting the extra help they need at the cost of other disabled people.
“We have already seen the terrible cost of the department’s failure to find out what is happening to the most vulnerable claimants in the transition to Universal Credit.
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“People receiving the disability premiums are already, by definition, managing in some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable in our society, and this includes disabled children, and children forced to care for a disabled parent.
“It would be a terrible betrayal of these people to allow another failure of planning in this mega reform to worsen their situations, even one bit.”
The committee called on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to publish an impact assessment into the removal of disability premiums for new Universal Credit claimants before managed migration begins in July 2019.
A spokesperson for the DWP said: “More than a million disabled people will be better off by £100 a month under Universal Credit and £3bn of funding will help protect families as they move over from the old system.
“Universal Credit does work for the vast majority, and the managed migration regulations are set to be debated in parliament in due course.”
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