Andrew Marr, former BBC Political Editor, interviews key newsmakers and shines a
light on what’s happening in the world. Includes a review of the Sunday
newspapers, weather forecast and news bulletin
watch here at 9 am Sunday Nov 4th 2012
If you want to send tweets
@MarrShow
hashtag #marrshow
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copy of letter sent to the Guardian
With regards the article by Amelia Gentleman about Labour’s call for review of sickness benefits assessment. At CarerWatch, this is something we have fought for since 2008 under the last government, and we still fight to this day.
Initially we concentrated on issues surrounding mental health, as that is where our members were informing us the problems arose. However, during the last 4 years we have witnessed a huge increase in problems, that cuts across most disabilities/serious ill health.
The fact remains that no amount of tweaking the descriptors of the Work Capability Assessment will ever make it fit for purpose whilst the 2 groups, Work Related Activity group ( WRAG) and Support group remain as they are.
The WRAG is a harsh group involving threats, sanctions and time limits. It is not a safe place to help disabled people deal with the enormous barriers they face in finding and keeping work. It is the coercive nature of the WRAG that is causing the fear and causing the problems. Paul Farmer knew this when he stood down.
February 2009 we used an article from your newspaper to make an appeal to Ed Balls to speak up when James Purnell was overseeing Welfare Reform.
The truth about the harsh realities of reforms were plain to see even then.
Purnell was wrong re ESA in 2008/9, so is Iain Duncan Smith today. His vision of a new welfare system is dangerous. It is an experiment played out on people with real lives, not statistics on a piece of paper. The speed with which he is pushing changes to welfare through is alarming. As is his attempt to bring forth the new Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment, when so many issues still need addressing regarding ESA.
We are in the middle of a crisis as all benefits are being changed around us. Being done under the guise of ‘reform’, it is really cuts, falling disproportionately on disabled people, their carers and families.
We welcome Labours call for a review. However, they must not stop there but go back to the drawing board and start with the 2 groups of ESA, which are flawed.
There is no time for further mistakes to be made. Welfare reform will also have a massive impact on social care, and possibly limit what the new Care and Support Bill can achieve.
Are you affected by welfare reform, cuts to services, closure of Independent Living Fund, changes to Council Tax benefit, changes within NHS - and many more…..
You have a blank canvas, can address it to any Minister of your choosing.
You can ask a question or make a statement.
What would be on YOUR canvas? Add comments below
Please note some of the comments will be used by CarerWatch
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Please sign Pat’s Petition here
Then share the link asking as many others to do the same.
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20968
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For several years now CarerWatch, along with other campaigners, have fought for Carers’ benefits to be improved. However, past and present governments, have continuously failed to address both the low level of the allowance, £55.55 per week, or tackle the restrictions which bar many carers from claiming.
We have repeatedly taken our concerns to Ministers, DWP, MPs, all of which have been ignored. We were outraged with the present Welfare Reform Bill/Act, as once again carers’ benefits were overlooked.
This was frustrating as the current Secretary of State for Works and Pensions, Mr Iain Duncan Smith, had previously recommended an increase in the allowance when with the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), an independent think tank he set up.
In the report, Breakthrough Britain, it was stated –
“”Family carers are undervalued in our society and receive a disproportionately low level of financial support given the many hours of work that they do“”
Considering we are witnessing the biggest reform of welfare benefits in over 60 years,
WHY have family carers been failed again?
Why, on March 14th 2012, did Mr Paul Burstows answer a question from Mr Jim Cunningham and state:
The Cross Government’s Carers Strategy “Recognised, valued and supported: Next steps for the Carers’ Strategy”, recognises that carers should not face financial hardship and the Departments are working together to take forward various initiatives to support carers in their caring role, through welfare reform and in developing the White Paper on care and support. We are looking at putting the rights of carers on a firmer footing in social care so that they have similar rights to the people they care for.
The WRB received Royal Assent March 8th 2012 and there was NOTHING included that would alleviate the financial hardship being faced by many carers.
With a White paper due for care and support, can we be at all hopeful that the Dept of Health will succeed where other departments have failed. Time will tell.
A recent report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights urges the Government to conduct an impact assessment on the cumulative impact of the current reforms on disabled people. It considers that this is required by law.
This mirrors exactly what is asked for with Pat’s Petition – a pause to consider the impact of the ‘perfect storm’ of changes. Too many of these changes will impact on family carers and we urge everyone to sign Pats Petition, share with others.
The following was submitted to BBC Questiontime for tonights programme.
Question for Iain Duncan Smith.
The Secretary of State is leading the biggest shake up of welfare reform in over 60 yrs. Yet there is a group of people he has overlooked and that is family carers. Their Carers Allowance remains at £55.55 per week and one of the conditions is they provide care for a MINIMUM of 35 hours.
Can Iain Duncan Smith give details tonight of, not if he will increase the carers allowance, but WHEN.
In the report Breakthrough Britain,of which IDS played a major part it states -
“”Family carers are undervalued in our society and receive a disproportionately low level of financial support given the many hours of work that they do“”
We cannot and must not allow this opportunity to fully reform Carers Allowance to pass us by.
Carers are used to words of praise but it is NOT enough. No matter how much understanding the Coalition say it has, no matter how many times they say Thank you, it is NOT enough.
Carers need action and they need it now
The Conservatives debated welfare reform at their party conference this morning.
Chris Grayling started by talking of the “dreadful legacy inherited by the Labour government”. No mention of tax credits that lifted millions out of poverty and supported millions in work. Or pension credits that lifted pensioners out of poverty and improved their income by 50 per cent.
As expected, the first attack is on the “incapacity benefit culture” claiming to support those who wish to work, yet no mention of the abject failure of work programmes that are only as likely to ‘help’ people as they are to find work on their own.
Tories whitewash the many set to lose from welfare reform | Left Foot Forward
Today, Oct 3rd 2011 sees day 2 of the Conservative conference.
Full schedule can be read here
You can watch live here also here
Please note 10am this morning is -
10.00 – Welfare Reform and Jobs
Iain Duncan Smith, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Update – Carers Allowance will not be transferred to Universal Credit
Early reports this morning are indicating that those people in receipt of Carers Allowance will NOT be transferred to the new Universal Credit. Confirmation will come later this morning from David Cameron and Iain Duncan Smith.
It is also understood ministers have decided not to put carer’s allowance, worth £55 a week, into the new universal credit system, after carers’ organisations said it would increase means-testing and complexity.
Carer Watch have been asked to help raise awareness of this letter writing campaign from West Norfolk Women & Carers’ Pensions Network .
Here is our letter. We are asking as many individuals as possible over Christmas and New Year to sign it and e-mail it to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith at ministers@dwp.gsi.gov.uk or to print off a copy of the letter and post it to him.
It’s important to save Child Benefit as a universal benefit for all mothers. Once it is means tested, we will be on a long slippery slope.
Best wishes,
Alexandra Kemp
West Norfolk Women and Carers’ Pensions NetworkSave Universal Child benefit. PDF
Save Universal Child benefit. Word doc
Letter as below
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