Every Disabled Child Matters is supporting a group of backbench MPs, led by Jeremy Hunt MP, who are calling for a simpler assessment process for disability benefits
South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt will be introducing the Disability Benefits (Single Assessment) Bill to the House of Commons today (Wednesday 20 June). Although the Bill will not have time to become law, it will highlight the issue for Government and policymakers within the opposition parties.
Jeremy Hunt will argue that a single assessment system for disability benefits would stop unnecessary repetition, frustration and wasted resources. Parents with disabled children applying for benefits may have to answer 1194 questions over 319 pages. Of the 7.2 billion questions processed annually by government from disabled people (children and adults), no fewer than nearly 6 billion are repeated at least once.
The Bill would require the Department for Work and Pensions to set up an IT programme so that disabled people are only asked questions about their disability once. However, information would only be shared between different government departments with the permission of a disabled person.
The Bill has cross-party backbench support, including Natascha Engel and Sally Keeble MPs for Labour and Malcolm Bruce MP for the Liberal Democrats.
Steve Broach, Campaign Manager, Every Disabled Child Matters says: 'The Every Disabled Child Matters campaign welcomes and applauds the efforts by Jeremy Hunt and a group of cross-party MPs to highlight the need for a simpler benefits system for families with disabled children. The shocking statistics collected by Jeremy's team show how much time families are forced to waste on duplicate benefit applications. We urge Ministers to consider how government can respond to ensure that the benefits get to those families in greatest need without families having to repeat their information on endless forms.”
EDCM gave written and oral evidence to the ongoing Work and Pensions select committee enquiry on benefits simplification. The campaign recommended a major national take-up campaign on Disability Living Allowance and more holistic local advice for families on their full range of benefits entitlements.
More from EDCM
News story: Disabled children 'living below the radar'
News story: Government needs to invest to ensure equal support for parents
News story: Stop disablist bullying - EDCM backs Mencap call