£345 million cut for over 200,000 people with mental health conditions under this Government – Debbie Abrahams
£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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