Scope's response to the Autumn budget 2024.

Albus_Scope

Here's the official response, taken from the app previously known as Twitter.

"This government promised to put disabled people at the heart of its work. 

But instead, it has committed to billions of pounds worth of welfare cuts.  

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In welcome news, the government will provide new funding for local employment support. There are one million disabled people who want to and could work with the right support. This local, tailored approach is something we have long called for. 

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But today’s Budget provided little reassurance on benefits. Disabled people have also experienced months of anxiety about the future of our benefits system. Here’s what we know:  

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The government has previously committed to changing the The Work Capability Assessment (WCA).The WCA is stressful and degrading for disabled people. It needs to change. But making these changes based on savings, rather than supporting disabled people, is the wrong approach. 

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Likewise, there has been months of limbo regarding wider benefits changes, including PIP. But disabled people will be forced to wait even longer for clarity, with the government now due to set out its plans in 2025. 

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Disabled people have yet again been left in the dark about the future of our benefits system. If the government really wants to put disabled people at the heart of its work, it will provide clarity urgently. And crucially, it will focus on how changes will improve the lives of disabled people. "

Rosie_Scope

And here's the response from James Taylor, executive director of strategy at Scope:

“Ripping billions of pounds away from disabled people flies in the face of the government’s commitment to put disabled people at the heart of everything they do. Starting with the amount they want to save, rather than on how to improve the system, spells disaster.

Investment in localised employment support for disabled people is welcome. We know that at least a million disabled people want to work and could with the right support. But bringing in changes based on savings, not on supporting disabled people, will be disastrous. Ramping up restrictions won’t help support more disabled people into work, it will only make their lives harder.

The Work Capability Assessment is degrading and stressful and change is desperately needed. But we desperately need government to put forward a positive case for change and set out its plans. After years of limbo, disabled people are yet again in the dark about the future of the benefits system, creating a huge amount of anxiety.”