Latest news with #disabledPeople
The Sun
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Government whip resigns as she slams Labour's welfare reforms and their impact on disabled people
A GOVERNMENT whip has resigned as she slammed Labour's welfare reforms. MP Vicky Foxcroft has stepped back from her role over the party's controversial proposals. 3 3 3 She wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer she could not vote "for reforms which include cuts to disabled people's finances". The former whip said: "I do not believe that cuts to personal independence payment (PIP) and the health element of Universal Credit should be part of the solution. "I have wrestled with whether I should resign or remain in the Government and fight for change from within. "Sadly it is now seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see. "I therefore tender my resignation as I know I will not be able to do the job that is required of me and whip - or indeed vote - for reforms which include cuts to disabled people's finances. "I am incredibly proud to have served as part of the first Labour government in 14 years and hope that ministers will revisit these reforms so that I can continue to support the Government in delivering for the people of this country." This comes as a record 3.74 million people are now claiming disability benefits - with teenagers and young adults fuelling the rise, shock new figures reveal. The number of people on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has shot up by 200,000 in a year, according to official data. It's up from 3.54 million in April last year and nearly double the 2.05 million on the books in 2019. Young claimants are also climbing fast, with 16 to 19-year-olds now making up 16.5 per cent of all PIP cases - up from 14.6 per cent in 2019. There has been a similar rise for the 30-44 age group, which accounted for 21.0 per cent in April this year, up from 18.9 per cent in April 2019. By contrast, 45-59 year-olds made up 29.9 per cent of claimants in April, down from 37.2 per cent in 2019. The figure for 60-74 year-olds has risen slightly over this period, from 29.3% to 30.8 per cent. The damning figures come as Sir Keir Starmer is standing firm in the face of a growing rebellion over his plans to tighten the eligibility for PIP. Dozens of Labour MPs have already warned the plans are 'impossible to support' – claiming the changes risk hitting hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people. The reforms will see tougher rules brought in for new and existing claimants, with ministers hoping to slash £5 billion a year from the ballooning disability benefits bill. It's understood that up to 800,000 people could lose access to PIP under the proposed changes, which are aimed at cutting back on awards linked to mental health conditions and other 'less visible' illnesses. It was reported in recent days that Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has agreed to include 'non-negotiable' protections in the Bill – including a 13-week grace period for people who no longer qualify, instead of payments stopping after just four weeks. The move is seen as an attempt to head off a Labour rebellion, but one MP dismissed it as 'not very much really'. Speaking at the weekend, the PM made clear his intention to push ahead with the reforms. Asked whether there would be further concessions, Sir Keir said: 'Well we have got to get the reforms through and I have been clear about that from start to finish. 'The system is not working, it's not working for those that need support, it's not working for taxpayers. 'Everybody agrees it needs reform, we have got to reform it and that is what we intend to do.' is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Citizens Advice says it helps someone with a disability aid complaint every hour
Disabled people are being let down by a disability aids market plagued by faulty products and poor service, Citizens Advice has warned. The charity said it helped someone with a complaint about a disability aid 'every hour', with 48% of all complaints relating specifically to mobility vehicles. Faulty goods made up more than two-thirds (69%) of disability aid issues reported to the charity's consumer service, including products that were unsafe, of poor quality, broken shortly after purchase, or never worked to begin with. The advisory service said it had dealt with cases where people were stranded over their bath, stuck on the top floor of their house waiting for delayed repairs to a stairlift, or left in pain from using products which did not meet their needs. In total, 70% of all complaints were specifically about aids designed to help people with mobility, including – as well as mobility scooters – stairlifts (12%) and mobility and bath aids (10%). A UK-wide survey by the charity found that around one in seven people (7.4 million) bought an aid for themselves or someone else in the last year. It warned that people buying disability aids experienced problems at every point of the process, from confusing and technical product information and poor customer service to poor quality items and a lack of warranty support. Citizens Advice chief executive Dame Clare Moriarty said: 'Too often, disabled people are being failed by a disability aids market that isn't meeting their needs – and instead of offering support, it's creating new barriers. 'Problems like faulty products and poor service don't just leave people out of pocket, they can leave them literally stranded or unable to carry out even the most basic tasks. Having to battle to resolve problems only makes this worse. 'In this growing market, it's vital consumers are armed with the correct information before making a purchase. We urge people to do their research, know their rights and stay safe when buying – and remember we're here to help.' John Herriman, chief executive at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), said: 'These findings are deeply concerning and highlight just how vital effective consumer education is for disabled people to help ensure accessibility and inclusion. 'Alongside enforcement, we need to ensure disabled consumers are empowered with the right information to make informed choices, recognise poor practice, and know where to turn for help. 'CTSI is committed to working with partners and the Approved Code Scheme provider – the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) – to raise awareness, and support education efforts to protect all consumers, and ensure businesses are held to the standards they should be meeting.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
