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The Con-dem government is planning to slash billions from the benefits system in a series of moves which will cause increased poverty and destitution for millions of people.
Disabled people, parents, pensioners, the unemployed and the low waged could all be drastically affected with many even losing their homes.
The measures include:
Caps to Housing Benefit payments which could see tens of thousands in inner cities facing homelessness. This will include pensioners, parents, disabled people, low paid workers and both the long and short-term unemployed.
Scrapping of Disability Living Allowance which could see disabled people forced into demeaning and unnecessary medical testing, with many possibly having their benefit reduced or withdrawn.
The end of Educational Maintenance Allowance which encourages young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to remain in education.
The continued testing of claimants on Employment Support Allowance using tests which have already been branded unfit for purpose and led to people with terminal illnesses being found fit for work and having benefits reduced.
Unnecessary and intrusive pressure on single parents to look for work, regardless of their personal circumstances and how it may impact on their children.
Changes to the way Housing Benefit rates are calculated, meaning many of the poorest families and individuals could lose up to 20% of their already small disposable income. In addition those who have been unemployed will be expected to fund an additional 10% of rent, not easy when you only have a few pounds a day to live on.
Housing Benefit to only be available to people under 35 for a room in a shared house, leading to over-crowding and increased homelessness.
Workfare – unemployed people forced into unpaid work.
In addition local councils around the country are cutting disability support services, training centres for the unemployed,mobility schemes and other vital services.
All benefit claimants need to stand united and fight like never before against this unprecedented erosion of the Welfare State. If we tolerate this now then who knows what else could be around the corner.
The National Day of Action Against Benefit Cuts on the 15th December has been called by groups of autonomous benefit claimants around the country to begin the fight back against these cuts. Groups and individuals are joining in protests and actions around the country. Please keep an eye on the main page for details or visit and join the facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=181074851903167
This is just the beginning. We will not pay for their crisis.
If you are organising an event, or would like your site/group to be added to the supporters list on this page please write on the facebook page or contact us at: notowelfarecuts@yahoo.co.uk
Well done for trying to document the extent of the cuts – I almost forgot about the “shared room” rate being pushed up to under 35′s from 25.
One thing I have to suggest is about bringing MPs into this debate. Yes, they planned the cuts under an alleged “no choice” policy. Yes, we can blame the banks and those companies not paying tax.
Can we remember the MP expenses scandal? Little did we know that they create “reform” as a fast-track piece of legislation… and the MPs are now better off now then they were before.
While VAT increases from January 2011… which will affect individuals; businesses will be getting decreased corporation tax. Capitalism has won once again. I wont even say the specifics of the bank bonuses at the end of this year!
This is an attack on the poor… all different walks of life of the poor… not just those on the dole, but the disabled, those in education and those in work!! The middle-classes are getting it easy, and MPs are the wealthy middle classes who are sticking their two fingers up at us all.
I hope we get solidarity from the students too… it will directly affect them too!
I would like to subscribe to this site
Looking forward to Day 3!
http://www.facebook.com/blacktriangle1
I couldnt agree more, we have been fighting for 2 years now via our own website and sister forum of the same name. The issues surrounding the demonisation of sick,disabled and unemployed residents of the UK are many, particularly the stance the press have taken in clearly siding with Government opinion, that we are all welfare benefit scroungers. I wonder what would happen if the Government attacked other Minority Groups in the same way? We should stand together, attend protests and if that is not possible troll a tory or two daily untill they hear our voice.
Hello and congratulations on what you are doing.
Firstly let me say I think the attack on all benefit claimants is an ideological attack from the “Bullingdon Set” which Cameron and Osborne belong to, the conservatives hate the welfare system, they believe in the old adage ” The strong will survive ” , I for one dont wish to live in that sort of society.
I know what it’s like to care for someone and all the problems that entails, I know and understand that the little pittance carer’s get in benefit is disgusting but I think the attack on Incapacity benefit and DLA claimants is rather like the treatment the nazi’s handed out to the disabled and sick in the 1930s and the early years of the war, their eugenics policy was to eliminate the poor, the disabled and those who were not of good stock, it may seem a rather exagerated statement but I sincerely believe that is what this reform is all about.
Has anyone thought about doing a mass letter campaign to one of the major newspaper’s to highlight the problem? Has anyone thought of contacting Prof Paul Gregg who was one of the original architects of the ESA/WCA , I have his contact details etc.
I think bombarding one of the nationals may cause a huge stir but we would need to get thousands of letter’s sent, what does anyone think?
If anyone wishes to contact me through my blog then I will reply.
http://dearengland.wordpress.com/
I shall do an article onmy blog about the day of action also…
we rea!lly need a claimants union, lets organise
VIDEO: Pensioners and Disabled People block Oxford Circus to protest against benefit cuts 26/5/2011
Check out http://www.workprogramme.org.uk to find template letters of how to refuse the work programme and mandatory work activity schemes!!!
Hi ITV News are looking for a case study to film with today (on the day of the chancellor’s Autumn statement). Preferably a fmaily on benefits who would like to sepak out about how difficult it may become if the predictions are correct that those on unemployment or disability benefits will pay lose out via uprating to the system which instead of using September’s CPI rate (5.2%) using a 6 month average which would work out at 4.5% – some predict that could lose families £100 a year.
If anyone knows of a London-based caswe study please give me a call on 0207 430 4434 ASAP.
Many thanks,
Hattie
this might help
http://consent.me.uk
Dear Sir or Madam
In case you were unaware there is a petition to the Queen to with hold her royal assent to the ‘Welfare Reform Bill.’ The address is:-
http://withholdtheroyalassent.org/
Yours faithfully
Derek R Crawford