Welfare Reform on the Web (May 2000): Services for the Disabled - UK
GETTING DISABLED PEOPLE TO WORK
B. Massie
Economic Report - Employment Policy Institute, vol.14, Jan. 2000, 11p
The government wants more disabled people to move off welfare and into work and has introduced a New Deal Initiative alongside tougher rules for Incapacity Benefit. Report welcomes many of the government's initiatives, particularly the new Disability Rights Commission, but is critical of the changes in Incapacity Benefit. It is also concerned that a lack of 'joined-up' policy could undermine efforts to help disabled people into work, in particular reductions in the amount of support offered by local authorities. Extra welfare and medical support will be needed if disabled people are to have genuinely equal opportunities in the search for jobs.
NICE PLANE, BUT WHERE'S THE MONEY?
N. Huber
Community Care, no.1305, 2000, p.10-11
The government backed Carers and Disabled Children Bill will introduce a statutory duty for local authorities to provide services directly to carers to meet their assessed needs. It will also extend direct payments entitlements to parents of disabled children and to 16- and 17- year old disabled young people. Broad support from the care sector has been tempered by fears among social services departments that it will not be sufficiently financed.
PAY LAW TRIGGERS JOB CUTS FOR DISABLED PEOPLE
D. Brindle
Guardian, Feb. 4th 2000, p.7
Mencap estimates 1,000 people with severe learning disabilities have lost their jobs or had their working hours cut as a direct result of the national minimum wage. The charity calls for an urgent revision of the rules to enable low output work to be classified as "special placements" exempt from the statutory provision.