Report predicts more hardship for disabled Scots

115,000 disabled Scots will lose out on welfare benefits as a result of UK Government reforms, a report published by Sheffield Hallam University has warned. By 2014, Incapacity Benefit claimant numbers across the UK will be cut by nearly 1 million, of which more than 800,000 will be existing claimants who will lose their entitlement.

The UK Government is currently reassessing all disabled people who receive Incapacity Benefit to establish their entitlement to the Benefit's replacement, Employment Support Allowance (ESA). They will be expected to undergo a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) to determine what level of benefit and support they are entitled to. 

Under the new rules, claimants face a tougher medical test, whilst existing claimants are being re-tested and there are new requirements to engage in work-related activity. In addition proposals included in the Welfare Reform Bill will time-limit some ESA payments to just one year.

The report shows that the biggest impact will be on the older industrial areas of Scotland, the north of England and Wales, where local economies have been struggling to cope with job losses and where the prospects of former claimants finding work are weakest.

In Scotland, Glasgow will be hit hardest. The report estimates that more than 22,000 people are likely to lose their incapacity benefits and more than 12,000 will be denied benefits entirely.

Other hard-hit areas have been identified as Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire and Clackmannanshire, with more prosperous areas such as Edinburgh and Aberdeen escaping more lightly.

Speaking on STV's news and Scotland Tonight programmes Capability Scotland Director of External Affairs, Richard Hamer, commented:

"There seems to be a perception that we need to tighten up on Employment Support Allowance  rules when, in fact, Government figures show that in the last two-and-a-half years only 1 in 4 applicants actually received ESA and 7 out of 10 of these were forced to look for work while they received it.  The changes contained in the Welfare Reform Bill will see the number of claimants slashed by a further 40% at a time when Scotland's disabled population is growing as people live longer.

"Unfortunately the report highlights how disabled Scots are baring the brunt of the reforms and being pushed further into poverty while the South of England escapes relatively unscathed. Capability is asking MSPs to stand up for Scotland and challenge Westminster on its plans to cut ESA and other disability benefits when the Welfare Reform Bill is debated in the coming weeks."