Theresa May admits Government’s social security experts were not consulted about disability benefits cuts
I find this lack of professional research prior to introducing a change to people’s benefits, which could force many vulnerable individuals of modest means to lose their ability to live in rural England very disappointing. I fear it is an increasing trend where facts are inconvenient and simple narrative is preferred to detail. I think the same approach underpinned the extension of the right to buy to housing association property. I’m not taking political sides I just think we ought to encourage and celebrate the use of facts when we change things whether in Local or Central Government. This story tells us:
Theresa May has admitted the Government’s social security experts were not consulted before a controversial decision to deny disability benefits to 160,000 vulnerable people.
The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) was only informed of the changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) “on the day they were being introduced”, MPs were told.
The admission was described as “outrageous”, as the row dominated Prime Minister’s Questions and led Jeremy Corbyn to brand the Conservatives “the nasty party” again.
Meanwhile, The Independent can reveal that the SSAC will now consider the new PIP regulations at a meeting next Wednesday.
It raises the prospect of the committee criticising the decision before MPs vote on it, with a threatened Tory revolt – which must happen before 16 March.
The Government is introducing emergency legislation to tighten the criteria for PIP, after a tribunal ruled they should also cover conditions including epilepsy, diabetes and dementia.
The ruling would cost at least £3.7bn over the next five years, money which should go to “really disabled people who need it”, one minister said – before later apologising.