Lords fail to take a stand on Welfare Reform

The House of Lords missed an opportunity to take the UK Government to task on the controversial changes to disability benefits contained in the Welfare Reform Bill last night (Tuesday 17th January).

It was hoped that Peers would vote to introduce a pilot scheme for the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA).  However, they rejected the trial which would have tested the workability and effectiveness of the new system and identified who was going to be most affected.

The vote came less than a week after Peers voted against other changes in the Bill including reducing the length of time that disabled people were allowed to claim financial support while looking for a job. The Government has now pledged to undo these amendments when the Bill returns to the House of Commons in the coming months.

However, the Government has made one concession which will see a reduction in the length of time disabled people will have to wait until they are eligible for PIP from the proposed six months to three months.

Capability Scotland, Director of External Affairs, and Richard Hamer said: "Capability Scotland is disappointed that the House of Lords did not force the Government to delay the introduction of PIP by insisting on a trial period. In particular we take issue with Lord Freud's statement that a trial is not needed because the new regime is being co-produced by disabled people.

Our experience is that the opposite is in fact true and that the Government is pressing on with its plans without any regard to what disabled people are telling them and have been telling them for months. Capability will continue to take every opportunity to oppose these changes as the Bill continues through Parliament."