Stand up for those who need it most!

Stand up for those who need it most!

I have received numerous messages from my followers about the fear of Disability Benefit cuts .
Please see below :
Stand Up for Those Who Need Us Most

 

AnnaKennedyOnline is deeply concerned about the proposed cuts to disability benefits that could have a devastating impact on individuals and families across the UK. These cuts are part of a broader set of austerity measures that threaten to strip away vital support for people living with disabilities, making life harder than it already is for those who rely on benefits for their daily needs.

 

We believe that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, deserves the support they need to live with dignity and independence. These proposed cuts will only serve to widen the gap between those who need assistance and those who have access to it. The government’s decision to target disability benefits is not just a financial issue; it’s a human rights issue that requires our attention.

 

We urge all of you to take action. If you share our concerns, please write to your local MP and express your opposition to these cuts. MPs need to hear directly from their constituents about how these proposed changes will harm disabled people and their families.

 

How You Can Help:

Write to your MP to express your opposition to cuts to disability benefits.
Share your concerns on social media and encourage others to get involved.
Stay informed about the proposed cuts and their potential impact by following updates on AnnaKennedyOnline.

Template Letter to Send to Your MP

Below is a template letter that you can adapt to send to your MP. By making your voice heard, you can help protect disability benefits and ensure that the government listens to the needs of disabled people.

 

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, Postcode]
[Email Address]

[Date]

 

[MP’s Name]
[MP’s Address]
[City, Postcode]

 

Dear [MP’s Name],

 

I am writing to you as a concerned constituent regarding the proposed cuts to disability benefits. As you may be aware, there are plans to reduce funding for vital disability-related benefits, which will directly affect thousands of disabled people across the country.

 

I strongly oppose these cuts, as they will only serve to increase hardship and vulnerability among disabled individuals and their families. Disability benefits are crucial for ensuring that those who are already facing significant challenges can live with dignity and independence. These cuts will exacerbate existing inequalities, and could lead to even more people being pushed into poverty.

 

As my elected representative, I urge you to oppose these cuts and to raise your concerns within Parliament. Disabled people should not bear the brunt of austerity measures that disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of our society.

 

I look forward to hearing from you regarding your stance on this issue and hope you will stand with your constituents in opposing these cuts.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Name]

#disability

 

 

Update 

 

Response from my local MP :

Welfare Reform (Case Ref: DB3257)
Dear Anna,

Thank you for contacting me to share your concerns about possible reforms to the welfare system and disability benefits specifically. I appreciate any changes to benefits systems always spark debate and concerns from those currently in the system – especially when there are unfounded headlines about all benefits for everyone being cut, which isn’t a proposal being put forward.

Further details about the Government’s actual proposals will be laid out ahead of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement on 26 March.

But let me assure you that I support a different approach to that taken by the previous government – one that delivers for and recognises the potential of everybody. I do not support a voucher system like the previous government.

As stated in the manifesto I stood on, I am committed to championing the rights of disabled people and to the principle of working with them, so that their views will be at the heart of policy. I believe we should support those who can and want to take part in education, employment or training to do so – and not divide everyone with and without disabilities into a binary group of ‘able’ and ‘unable’ to work.

In its White Paper, Get Britain Working, the new Government outlines its ambition to reform the broken Work Capability Assessment. The goal is to create a system that is trusted by its users, more humane, simpler to navigate and empowering for disabled people. The White Paper is clear that disabled voices will form the basis of these reforms and that any changes will work to reduce poverty for disabled people. Currently these assessments simple are not working for anyone involved and we are seeing huge amount of appeals (usefully successful) showing that the assessments are not correctly assessing individuals.

More widely, I want to see a social security system that gets decisions right the first time and which focuses on what people can/ could do, not just what they cannot. Seeing the strengths individuals have – and supporting them to plan to build on these – with appropriate support. I welcomed the commitment, in the October 2024 Budget, to fund more than £800 million in disability employment support and I also favour reforms that can give practical help and support to people when it comes to getting a job and staying in work.

People often report a cliff edge of benefits – they often want to try to move into work or studying but fear if they do benefits will stop and should they be unable to stay in employment or education – then face poverty and large periods of starting from scratch with the benefits system.

I’ve met many people whilst in local government who said the system just doesn’t work for them. That moving into work may be possible – but the risks of losing all support are too great, that there isn’t enough help to stay in work, and that employment also needs to change and be more flexible. These are the sort of changes the benefits and employment support system needs to address.

This approach will see a greater focus on personalising employment support. For example, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) intends to devolve more power to local areas so they can shape a joined-up work, health, and skills offer that suits the needs of the people they serve. These plans are central to the Government’s missions of kickstarting economic growth and breaking down barriers to opportunity.

Please be assured that I will remain committed to prioritising disabled voices, to focus on support change that makes the system more humane, protects the most vulnerable and ensures that we enable more people to get the support they need to move into employment, training or education, as the Government shares more details on its plans for reforming the social security system in the coming months.

Thank you again for writing to me about this important issue.

Yours sincerely,

Danny Beales MP