Disability Organisations raise concerns regarding the Government’s timetable for moving existing disabled claimants onto Universal Credit.
Rt Hon Esther McVey MP
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Caxton House
Tothill Street
London, SW1H 9NA
27 July 2018
Dear Secretary of State,
We are writing to raise our concerns regarding the Government’s current proposals for moving disabled people and people with long-term health conditions from legacy benefits onto Universal Credit. This includes disabled people currently receiving Employment and Support Allowance.
The Department has proposed issuing a notice that a person’s existing benefit claim will come to an end, directing them to make a claim to Universal Credit before this point. This approach leaves open the possibility that disabled people may see their benefits stopped before they have made a successful claim to Universal Credit, leaving them with no income. It also places the responsibility for navigating the process of claiming Universal Credit on the person who is being migrated. This will include people who are very unwell, many of whom will have had a stable situation with their benefits for several years.
See fully story here disability rights uk https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2018/july/our-concerns-over-timetable-moving-existing-disabled-claimants-uc