Scope responds to the 2013 Budget

Today the Chancellor delivered his 2013 Budget. Richard Hawkes, Chief Executive of disability charity Scope, responds and outlines what this means for disabled people:

“There’s no place for disabled people in the Chancellor’s aspiration nation.

“Disabled people want to live independently. But the support they need to get up, get dressed and get out and about is being squeezed due to chronic under-funding of social care.

“Neither the £72,000 cap on costs nor £118,000 means test will resolve the care crisis for disabled people, who make up a third of the people who use social care.

“Disabled people want to be able to pay for essentials without turning to credit. But in 2013 they are struggling to make ends meet. Life costs more if you're disabled and this is being compounded as living costs spiral and incomes flat-line. What’s the Government’s response? A squeeze on financial support which means many disabled people face not one, but two, three or four different cuts to vital support.  

“In this context it’s a frightening prospect that welfare could be capped in the June spending review – having already been slashed by billions.  Some people need benefits, get over it. It doesn’t make them a scrounger, it doesn’t make them workshy and it doesn’t make them a lay-about.

“Surely an aspiration nation should be a place where disabled people can pay the bills and live independently?”