£345 million cut for over 200,000
people with mental health conditions under this Government
A new Freedom of Information
response published today by the Department of Work and Pensions shows that over
200,000 people with mental health conditions will have their income slashed by
Conservative cuts to Employment and Support Allowance introduced in April this
year.
This data flies directly in the
face of the Prime Minister’s commitment to end the “burning injustice” of the
treatment of people with mental health conditions.
With the cut to Employment and
Support Allowance Work Related Activity Group amounting to a £1,500 reduction
per person, these new figures show that over £345 million will be taken from
the pockets of people with mental health conditions.
Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary
said:
“These cuts to people with mental
health conditions just go to show that you cannot trust a word the Tories
say.
“They have boasted about offering
‘parity of esteem’ to mental and physical health. In reality this just means
equal austerity for all.
“Labour is committed to reversing
the Conservatives’ pernicious cuts to Employment and Support Allowance, as well
as the cuts to Personal Independence Payments introduced by emergency
legislation in March also affecting people with chronic mental health
conditions.
“We want to transform the social
security system so that it is there for anyone of us in our time of need.”
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