Last week I met with charities and disabled people’s organisations from across Scotland to hear their concerns about the UK Government’s plans for welfare reform.
Like them, I am deeply concerned about the likely impact of these damaging measures, but also about the some of the language used to describe disabled people that have been expressed by UK Ministers alongside them.
The reforms to social security set out in the UK Governments “Pathways to Work” Green Paper make it clear that the UK Government is prioritising spending cuts over the welfare of sick and disabled people across the UK.
And some of the accompanying rhetoric has reinforced prejudiced attitudes to those who are eligible for benefits due to being disabled or having health conditions, particularly in relation to mental health conditions, and the cost of providing the support they need.
We know that stigma and shame associated with disability benefits can stop some people from coming forward and applying for the support they are entitled to.
Some of the comments made over recent weeks risk heightening that stigma.
Last week, I heard about the negative impacts this has had on disabled people, and that the manner in which these reforms were announced created real uncertainty and widespread worry.
I have written to the UK Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall to ask that she and her government scrap their misguided proposals.
It is hugely disappointing that the UK Government did not consult with either the Scottish Government or with disabled people themselves before announcing reforms which look to reduce the spend on disability benefits.
We could have told her about Scotland’s very different approach through the establishment of Social Security Scotland, which treats those who apply for support with dignity and respect.
We also know that disabled people are already disproportionately affected by poverty and the cost of living crisis. According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, more than half of families in poverty contain someone who is disabled.
Disabled people face additional costs – which benefits such as Personal Independence Payment and Scotland’s Adult Disability Payment are there to help address.
With some of these costs removed, disabled people can flourish and live the same ordinary, or extraordinary, lives as their non-disabled peers.
Scotland should be a place where disabled people and those with long term conditions have the opportunity to live the lives they choose – with the support they need.
It should be a place where everybody is enabled to participate in society, access their rights, take advantage of opportunities, and thrive in their communities.
I want to be clear that the Scottish Government will continue to call on the UK Government to scrap these plans, and any changes which will reduce spend on disability benefits.
It is not too late for them to listen to the concerns of disabled people in Scotland and across the UK and rethink these callous proposals which are causing fear and uncertainty for disabled people.
Shirley-Anne Somerville is the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice in the Scottish Government.
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