Government defeated on time limiting of ESA

Last night (Wednesday 11th January) the Government was defeated in the Lords on the time limiting of contributory ESA. An amendment was passed that extends the period of eligibility to at least two years. This was a great result and we now need to put maximum pressure on MPs to ensure this is not overturned when the Welfare Reform Bill returns to the Commons. This success is very much down to the Hardest Hit campaign and the efforts of individual campaigners. Thanks to all of you who contacted your MP or tweeted a Peer. DLA and PIP will be debated next week in the Lords and we will again be asking campaigners to “Tweet to Defeat.”

Tweet to Defeat

Members of the House of Lords will vote next Wednesday (11th January) on whether 700,000 ill and disabled will see a crucial work benefit cut after receiving it for just twelve months.

Please tweet a peer the following message:

Please protect the #HardestHit & vote on Jan 11 for Welfare Reform Bill Clause 51 amends to help ill & disabled people.

Hardest Hit Christmas Card Photos

This gallery contains 10 photos.

Photos of the giant Hardest Hit Christmas Card. First we gathered outside the Houses of Parliament to sing some “alternative” Christmas carols. We then moved the giant card to the Department of Work and Pensions offices at Caxton House. We … Continue reading →

Merry Christmas, from the Hardest Hit

Today, we delivered the giant Hardest Hit Christmas card signed by almost 25,000 disabled people, their families and friends to the government grinches – David Cameron and Nick Clegg – calling for a fair benefits system.

We let the government know that people with disabilities and long-term conditions are not asking for gifts, but simply want their basic rights protected and the support to enable them to live independently and with dignity.

The response has been amazing, but there’s still more to do to ensure that disabled people have a new year to look forward to.

What can I do?

Even if you’ve only got a few minutes to spare you can still take action to ensure that we continue to make an impact.

1. Send your MP a Christmas card from the Hardest Hit and enclose a message to make them aware of how the proposed reforms to the benefit system will impact upon you and your family.

You could save the image, and email it to your MP, or print it off and then use this tool to find your MP’s postal address.

Click here to download a copy of the card!

2. Visit your MP at their constituency surgery so you can deliver the card to them in person, and tell about your concerns. Here’s a handy guide with some great tips for visiting your MP.

3. Write to your local paper to explain to others in your local community what proposed changes will mean for you.

What’s your Christmas message to the Government?

The Hardest Hit are planning to send a giant Christmas card to the Government to let them know that we are not asking for gifts, but we do want our basic rights protected and the support to enable us to live independently and with dignity.

You can sign the card and leave your message by following the link below:

Sign the card!

Thank you for taking action!

On 22nd October over 5,000 people took to the streets in towns and cities across the country to add their voices to the clamour for a change of direction on welfare reform and an immediate end to cuts to vital local services.

We secured national press coverage and raised awareness amongst the general public, the media and politicians of our key messages.

Together, we’ve shown the government that we’re not going away.

Key messages on the Hardest Hit

Further questions raised on Welfare Reform

Concern over the Welfare Reform Bill is clearly growing in a week when over 50 Peers spoke out in a debate on the Bill and the Liberal Democrat conference are preparing to vote on a motion questioning key aspects of the reforms.

Yesterday’s decision to hold the committee stage of the Bill away from the main chamber of the House of Lords is deeply frustrating. However, we were encouraged by the large number of Peers who voiced their concerns in this week’s debate. Many had heard the concerns of disabled people across the UK and had a real understanding of the negative impact this Bill could have on disabled people’s income and independence. We hope that this support will lead to amendments at the committee stage of the Bill.

Backing the Bill, Lord Freud asked Peers to support an end to the ‘something for nothing culture’, yet the response of fellow Peers shows that the Welfare Reform Bill risks creating a ‘nothing for some’ culture.

The proposed time limit on contributory Employment and Support
Allowance fails to acknowledge the complex issues that disabled people face in preparing for and finding work. While the arbitrary 20 per cent reduction target for the benefit that will replace Disability Living Allowance will deny many people vital help with the additional costs of living with a disability.

The continued support of those who voiced concerns is crucial if we are to have a fair welfare system that supports people with the additional challenges and costs of living with a disability or health condition. We urge Peers to make sure that their serious concerns about the Bill lead to practical amendments at committee stage and invite them to join us at one of the Hardest Hit events taking place across the UK this October, where disabled people will be speaking out against cuts to the benefits and services they need to live their lives.