#NoMoreBenefitDeaths coalition building proposal
Time: 2 – 4pm
Date: Monday 21st October
Place: Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Co-chairs: John McDonnell MP, Paula Peters (Disabled People Against Cuts)
Meeting aim:
To establish a broad coalition to oppose continuing attacks on Deaf and Disabled people’s social security with administrative support provided by the UK DDPO Coalition*.
[*UK Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations’ Convention on the Rights of Disabled People Monitoring Coalition (UK DDPO CRDP Monitoring Coalition)]
Agenda
- Welcome, housekeeping and introductions [Paula Peters]
- Aim of the meeting [Paula Peters]
Hand-out – Disability social security changes
- Political context and importance of the meeting [John McDonnell]
- Why we need a broad coalition to fight this [Martin Cavanagh, National President, PCS]
- Thoughts and ideas from attendees – is this a good idea, what should it be called and what can respective organisations/groups contribute?
- Draft statement, invitees and draft action plan [Megan Thomas, UK Coalition to introduce]
- Thoughts and ideas from attendees
- Meeting summary and next steps [John McDonnell]
- Meeting close [Paula Peters]
5pm – Old Palace Yard – vigil for Laura Winham
Draft Statement
This Coalition – comprised of organisations, groups and trade unions committed to social justice and to the ending of oppression in all forms – is opposed to cuts to disability social security – both those cuts already being rolled out and further cuts that are planned and yet to happen.
Deaf and Disabled benefit claimants are being scapegoated for labour shortages for which we are not responsible.
Political and media rhetoric demonising out of work disability benefit claimants is contributing to a narrative that is miles away from the reality of the lives of Deaf and Disabled people and which encourages disability related hostility and hate crime.
Measures to introduce mass surveillance to the social security system will discriminate against Deaf and Disabled claimants while moving us further from the labour market. Levels of benefit fraud do not justify such disproportionate measures.
Pressures to engage with work coaches will increase distress and in turn add to pressures on the NHS, social care support and mental health services.
Current plans to cut already inadequate social security payments will create additional barriers to the labour market for Deaf and Disabled claimants, further increase already rising disability poverty levels and unquestionably lead to more benefit deaths.
Many Deaf and Disabled people fear that the new bill to legalise assisted suicide is another way to reduce the disability benefit caseload.
We call for:
- A pause on all current disability social security proposals
- Evidence-based, trauma-informed social security policy making
- Future social security policy making to be co-produced with benefit claimants and PCS union
- Implementation of all recommendations from the United Nations special inquiry into the UK under the Convention for the Rights of Disabled People
Suggested groups/organisations/unions to invite to join
Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations (DDPOs) and disabled people led campaigns:
Alliance for Inclusive Education
Black Triangle
British Deaf Association
Deaf DPAC
Deaf Plus
Disability Rights UK
Disability Wales
Disabled People Against Cuts
DPAC NI
DPO Forum England
Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People
Inclusion London
Liberation
People First (Self Advocacy)
People First Wales
Winvisible
Charities/Third sector
Carers UK
Consortium.LGBT
CPAG
Disability Benefits Consortium
Gingerbread
Healing Justice London
Race Equality Foundation
The Traveller Movement
The Trussell Trust
Z2K
Commission on Social Security
London Unemployed Strategies
Welfare Advice
National Association of Welfare Rights Advisors (NAWRA)
Trade unions
BFAWU
CWU
Equity
National Union of British Sign Language Interpreters
NUJ
PCS
Sex Workers’ Union
TUC Disabled Workers’ Committee
TUCG
TUC Unemployed Workers’ Committee
Unite
Unite Community
UVW
Campaign groups
People’s Assembly
Unfair Debt Group
Draft Action Plan
Pre-budget
Joint open letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Chancellor and accompanying press release. In response to contradictory media reports about whether the WCA changes will or won’t be included as part of the 3bn welfare savings to be announced in the budget. Letter to highlight: numbers impacted and size of financial loss; tiny proportion expected to move into employment; high support needs of those who will be impacted (eg not “mild” mental health conditions but substantial risk group); cut condemned by the UN Committee on the Rights of Disabled People; will lead to increased poverty and quote figures from Social Metrics Commission on rise in disability poverty rates before the cost of living crisis; risk of further benefit deaths which is subject of a current EHRC inquiry; multiple ways in which the cut will lead to additional long-term spending pressures; fact that we do not have record numbers on out of work disability benefits; need for future social security policy to be evidence-based.
Briefing paper about the WCA changes to be sent to all MPs. One side of A4. Explain what the cut is, who it will affect, outline how it will cost more than it will save in the long-term and how it is potentially unworkable from an operational angle.
Call to action to be circulated among members of our organisations/groups and on social media. Including call to sign the Z2K petition against the WCA changes and a template letter for constituents to send to their MPs.
Early Day Motion to ask MPs to sign up to which could help us identify which are allies.
Post-budget
Draft a joint response to the welfare savings announced in the budget
Roll out of regional #NoMoreBenefitDeaths actions. Delivering copies of John Pring’s new book ‘The Department: How a Violent Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence’ to relevant politicians and policy makers in the devolved administrations and mayoral combined authorities.
National social security conference. Funded by trade unions.
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