Helen Barnard, Director of Policy at the Trussell Trust, said:
“We are deeply concerned about the unacceptably high numbers of
disabled people facing hunger and hardship. Sixty-nine percent of
people referred to food banks in the Trussell Trust network are
disabled, and 48% of disabled people have faced food insecurity.
This represents a serious moral failure in our social security
system.
“We share the Prime Minister's concern about the large numbers of
people excluded from suitable work due to ill health. However,
the government must recognise that many people are simply too ill
to work, and others struggle to find employment with the right
flexibility and support that would enable them to rejoin the
labour force.
“The UK Government has made some positive announcements about
investment in specialist employment and health support, including
the Work Well pilots. They need to build on this, rather than
increasing conditionality and sanctions which often worsen
people's health and are a hindrance to their recovery. They must
also do much more to support and encourage employers to make the
adjustments needed to enable more disabled people to work.
“The Government must urgently move to ensure that social security
payments cover the cost of essentials so that people's health
does not get even worse through severe deprivation. Increasing
pressure on people to work, fuelling the fear of sanctions, or
making people even poorer will simply make the situation worse,
both for individuals and for our economy.”
