Shropshire Star

Cuts have had catastrophic effect on some of the most vulnerable

Disability News Service statistics for the NHS reveal the proportion of disability benefit claimants attempting suicide doubled between 2007 and 2014.

Published

Twenty-one per cent of incapacity benefit (IB) claimants told researchers in 2007 that they’d attempted suicide at some point. IB was replaced by employment and support allowance (ESA) in 2008 with eligibility tested by work capability assessment (WCA).

By 2014, following four years of reforms and cuts to disability benefits and services, 43 per cent of claimants had attempted suicide.

Leading psychologist Dr Jay Watts “cannot think of a greater jump in rates in any population”. She describes the system as “a national scandal, making the workless feel worthless, a mental health emergency!”

Over the same period, a Psychiatric Morbidity Survey found suicide attempts for those not claiming IB (2007) or ESA (2014) remained statistically stable (approximately six per cent).

Government cuts and reforms have had a catastrophic effect on the mental health of a generation of disabled people. Successive governments have hounded our most vulnerable to death.

Figures for the Independent found over half of WCA decisions were ruled wrong when taken to tribunal.

Sarah Thompson, 31, who suffers from Fibromyalgia and depression, said: “They make us feel like criminals. I’ve lost count the amount of times I’ve tried to end my life.”

Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Greens labelled WCA “psychological torture,” while Marsha de Cordova, shadow minister for disabled people, calls the figures a “truly damning indictment of Tory policy,” and added “Labour will scrap WCA, end punitive sanctions and change the system, from one that demonises to one that is supportive and enabling.”

Thank goodness we now have a Labour opposition refusing to pursue a popularist vote in blaming the ‘workshy’ or ‘immigrant’ for our woes.

If the fifth biggest economy can reduce taxes for the strong and wealthy, it can surely look after its weak and poor!

Phillip Prince, Ludlow

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