ESA time limit amendment reversed

Wednesday 01 February 2012

Time limit decision ignores needs of jobseekers with a learning disability

Coalition MPs have voted to reverse a Lord’s amendment to the Welfare Reform Bill to increase the one-year limit for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to two years.

MPs voted by 332 to 266 to back the government’s original one-year limit – a majority of 66.

Employment minister Chris Grayling told the House of Commons that the changes in the Welfare Bill were the right ones: “What we have is a system that reflects, in Jobseeker’s Allowance, the principle [that] people should get something back from their contributions, but not indefinitely,” he said. “These measures simply seek to extend that to the group on ESA.”

Mencap and other disability charities believe that restricting the ESA to one year will penalise disabled people. Many people with a learning disability want to work, but face barriers that mean finding a job within a year could be impossible.

Mencap’s chief executive, Mark Goldring, said: “We are extremely disappointed by the government's rejection of the Lord’s amendments, and failure to listen to the concerns of disabled people and their families.

“Putting in placing arbitrary time limits is nothing more than a cost-saving measure, which ignores the needs and challenges which many people with a disability face when trying to find employment.”

Benefits for disabled children

MPs also overturned an amendment to the Bill by the Lords protecting benefits for families with disabled children.

Currently, parents of disabled children who receive Disability Living Allowance get a top-up of their Child Tax Credit of £53.62 per week for each child with a disability. This money is used to pay for the additional costs involved in bringing up a disabled child, like wear and tear to clothes, equipment and the house.

The Lords had voted for an amendment to ensure the current level of support would be maintained, but this was overturned. Instead, the extra amount paid will fall to £26.75 per week – less than 50% of current rate.

The change won’t affect families with a child in receipt of the high-rate care component of DLA, who will continue to receive a similar level of benefit. However, the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign group, including Mencap, estimates approximately 63% of all future disabled children will lose out and. The cut could amount to more than £22,000 over the childhood of a disabled child.

More positively, during the debates on the Bill, Minister for Welfare Reform Lord Freud announced a review of which children will qualify for which rates.

Find out more about welfare reform

Find out more about the Welfare Reform Bill

Download an overview of Employment and Support Allowance or an easy-read guide to Employment and Support Allowance

Find out more about the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign