Join Disability Rights UK and speak out about Universal Credit

Disability Rights UK, in conjunction with the Citizens Advice Bureau and The Children’s Society, have launched a campaign which has crucial significance for our financial safety in this society. Individuals with disabilities are confronted with daily, financial and emotional costs in an effort to combat the many barriers they encounter to operate as equals.

Universal Credit is the name of the new benefit system which is being planned to replace the current one. Under the new scheme many people with disabilities and long-term health conditions will qualify for far less money than what they are currently entitled to receive. It’s likely that this will further hinder disabled people from obtaining the services, goods and support that they additionally require.

Particular people that will be affected include:

• Lone parents who care for a disabled child, and receive DLA for that child. They could receive any rate of DLA, but not the higher rate care.

• Disabled, employed or past-employed persons who may be found fit for work.

• People who do not have carers, live alone, and are in receipt of middle or high rate DLA care component. They may live with dependent children.

• Couples who don’t have a carer, who both receive the high or middle rate care component of DLA.

• Couples where one partner is over pension age and the other below, but has a long-term health condition or is disabled, and being cared for by their partner.

On the 11th of July an "evidence session" is being conducted in the House of Lords from 3.15pm to 5.15pm. Parliamentarians and policy makers are holding this consultation to explore the impact the new regulations will have on people.

You can help tell the government exactly what your views are of Universal Credit by attending the consultation and fully supporting Disability Rights UK. All travel expenses will be paid if you decide to attend. If you are unable to make it, your evidence can be recorded on film.

Individuals with disabilities will be required to precisely express all the particular consequences, and the ways in which their lives would change, should the proposed legislation be approved. If the essential economic means to overcoming unnecessary barriers are taken away, the consequential loss for people with disabilities and long-term health conditions could be immense.

Your proven witness of the needed additional requirements, such as: aides, adaptations, home help, can act as irrefutable evidence and help defend your current monetary entitlements. It is important that the convening panel understand the absolutely genuine financial impact living with a disability incurs.

The government is set to make a final decision before the end of the year. Disability Rights UK hopes that by speaking out about Universal Credit at the "evidence session", they can positively influence the existing course of events for benefits.