The High Court has ruled that the government's consultation on proposed changes to the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) was misleading and did not adequately inform disabled people about the potential financial impact. Campaigners celebrated the victory, urging the Labour government to reconsider its plans for welfare cuts and prioritize the well-being of disabled benefit claimants.
Campaigners are celebrating a High Court victory that found the government failed to adequately highlight the substantial financial impact of proposed changes to the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). The ruling, brought by disability rights campaigner [Name], states that the government's consultation on WCA reforms in 2023 was misleading, as it did not clearly explain that many disabled people would see their benefits reduced by an average of £416.19 per month.
The judge ruled that the documents lacked transparency regarding the significant financial loss many claimants would face, creating a misleading impression that the changes were necessary to improve access to employment support. This victory now puts pressure on the Labour government to reconsider its plans for welfare cuts and engage in more transparent and inclusive consultations with disabled people.Despite the ruling, the Labour government has reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing cost savings in the welfare system. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall emphasized that Labour will proceed with WCA reforms, though they aim to achieve savings through their own proposals. The DWP plans to tighten the WCA, which determines an individual's ability to work, for those with health conditions or disabilities applying for universal credit. The key change is removing mobility issues as a sole qualifying factor for benefits, requiring claimants to actively seek employment and participate in job-related activities. The government estimates this will affect 424,000 claimants currently classified as unable to work and could save nearly £3 billion over the next four years.Campaigners are urging Labour to prioritize the well-being of disabled benefit claimants and reconsider these cuts. They argue that the government should focus on supporting disabled people into work if they are able, rather than pursuing measures that would significantly reduce their income. Disability Rights UK called on Labour to heed the court's warning and engage in genuine co-production of reforms that protect the rights of disabled people to a decent standard of living. They stressed the importance of moving away from policies that further impoverish disabled people and instead creating a system that supports their full participation in society
Politics Disability Rights Disability Rights Welfare Cuts Work Capability Assessment High Court Ruling Labour Government
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