Hello,
I am writing to you from Mencap, to alert you to a call for evidence for a Parliamentary Review led by the Independent Peer Lord Low of Dalston.
The review is focussed on the Government’s proposal to reduce payments for disabled claimants in the Employment and Support Allowance Work Related Activity Group (ESA-WRAG) from £102.15 a week to £73.10.
This is proposed in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill currently being debated in Parliament and would take effect from 2017. The Government has said its objective is to get more disabled people into work. Whilst we welcome the Government’s aspiration to support more disabled people into work, we are concerned about the impact the reduction in ESA payment can have.
This review is being supported by the by disability charities including Leonard Cheshire, Mind, MS Society, National Autistic Society, RNIB, Royal Mencap Society and Scope. A report will be published in December containing the findings and presented to the Government.
We would really appreciate your help. We need to hear from disabled people, their families, charities and other organisations on this subject. Attached, is a bit more information with 4 questions we would like you to answer in the end. We have made these into 3 formats:
1- for organisations
2- for individuals/families affected by ESA
3- an easy-read version for individuals/families affected by ESA
We have a deadline to collect all responses back by midnight, 15th November. Please try and get these attachments out to whoever you can in the next few days, we welcome all responses back before the deadline. As stated on the documents, please submit evidence to me: natalie.armitage@mencap.org.uk
Thank you in advance, for helping us.
Natalie Armitage
Public Affairs Assistant &
Secretary to the Parliamentary Review into ESA
Tel: 020 7696 6952
Royal Mencap Society
123 Golden Lane,
London, EC1Y 0RT
Email: natalie.armitage@mencap.org.uk
Consultation ESA WRAG organisations final.doc (46.5 KB)
Consultation ESA WRAG individuals final.doc (39.5 KB)
ESA WRAG ER FINAL .doc (740 KB)