Vulnerable should get help they need

sometimes successfully.

It is sad, though, to see what some folk have to put up with and the fight they have to get what they are due.

It’s reckoned that on average disabled people must spend half of their income on disability-related costs.

The SCOPE report revealed that, on average, disabled people face extra costs of around £600 per month relating to their condition.

For one in five disabled people, those extra costs can amount to over £1000 per month.

Some shocking statistics, affecting our most poor and vulnerable in society who need the social security safety net to work for them, rather than against them.

For some time now it has been becoming very clear that the current PIP infrastructure is simply not for purpose and the UK Government’s “tick-box exercises” are failing people with disabilities across the UK.

It seems like a long time ago that I sat on our Parliament’s welfare reform committee when the proposed reforms were first mooted.

We heard loads of concerns about the UK Government’s changes and noted the Tory ministers’ hollow assurances that no one would be disadvantaged.

Hollow assurances right enough – there was justifiable outrage when the UK Government cut £29 a week from disabled ESA claimants.

It was in October last year that the Scottish Government found that the reassessments for the shift from Disability Living Allowance to PIPs right across Scotland would mean that around 30,000 disabled people could lose their entitlement to non-meanstested disability benefits.

In contrast, the Scottish Government is planning fairness and dignity at the heart of the system when the Scottish Parliament takes on responsibility for the provision of PIP assessments.

Our reform of the disability benefit assessment will mean clear timescales are set for the process from start to finish.

We will introduce lifetime awards for some conditions.

The commitment to annually uprate disability benefits, as well as carers’ assistance, will be enshrined in legislation.

We know that the UK Government’s decision to use private providers for assessments has been a major mistake.

So, the Scottish Government has committed to ending the private sector’s role in the provision of disability assessments.

The Scottish Government is generally mitigating the effects of Westminster’s damaging welfare reforms such as the bedroom tax, and by use of the Scottish Welfare Fund.

Specifically, we have established a Scottish Independent Living Fund which provides support for over 2800 disabled people across the country and protects the Disabled Students Allowance from Tory cuts.

As ever, the Scottish Government is doing what it can, with the limited resources it has and in the face of further Westminster cuts.

Life is not always that easy for anyone.

But for someone who is disabled, or for a family looking after a disabled child or adult, life is even harder.

Surely the onus is on all of us to help out where we can? Even more so, a government that is charged to protect its population.

Should we not start with the most vulnerable?

Linda Fabiani MSP will be hosting a surgery on Monday, March 26 at 6pm in the Village Centre. No appointment necessary.