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Government’s Welfare Reforms Will Kill Disabled People – And We’re Fighting Back

A protest scene with a pink and blue overlay. On the left, a banner with the words 'CUTS KILL' in bold, black letters is splattered with paint and handprints. On the right, a person using a wheelchair speaks into a microphone, holding a walking stick. The background appears to be an outdoor public space with stone architecture. Photo credit: Mark Simmons

Article Summary

Why does the government want to punish disabled people? This post tries to understand this.

The Cuts In Context -Disability Benefit Cuts Will Kill!

When Difference North East emailed every North East MP last week about the proposed welfare reforms, most didn’t respond, despite the insistence that these disability benefit cuts will kill. Those who did claimed disabled people were “at the heart” of their decisions. But as Claire Andrews, our Teesside development manager, explains:

“These reforms aren’t about helping us work – they’re about balancing budgets on our backs. Disabled households already need £1,000 more per month just to survive. Now they want us to beg for even less.”

The numbers don’t lie:

  • 50% of food bank users are disabled people
  • Only 23 disability-confident remote jobs exist nationwide
  • 1.2 million unpaid carers live in poverty – many disabled themselves

This isn’t reform. It’s Austerity 2.0.

What The Government Ignores

In our letter to Labour MPs, we demanded answers on three fatal flaws in their plan:

  • The Carer Crisis

    • Unpaid carers save the UK £184 billion yearly (more than the NHS budget)
    • Yet Carer’s Allowance is £81.90/week – below minimum wage

  • The Assessment Trap
    Scrapping the Work Capability Assessment sounds positive, but without:

    • Clear replacements for PIP claimants
    • Protections for those with fluctuating conditions
    • “It’s just a new way to push people off benefits,” says Claire.

  • The Consultation Charade: The government claims they’ll consult disabled people, but:

    • Their timelines are rushed
    • No accessible outreach planned
    • They’re already drafting legislation

How To Fight Back

Join us at these urgent rallies:
🗓️ March 26, 12pm @ Newcastle Monument
Newcastle Rally

🗓️ March 26 @ Darlington, Town Hall
Darlington Rally

Can’t attend? Take 5 minutes to:

Email your MP using our letter template

“We stopped them in 2015. We’ll stop them again – but only together.”

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