Ahead of next week’s Welfare Reform vote, Gemma Sherrington, CEO of Refuge, said:
“Refuge is deeply concerned by the Government’s proposal to restrict the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and its plans to reduce the value of the Universal Credit health component for new and existing claimants. Both measures will have devastating impacts on disabled survivors of domestic abuse.
“Our message is clear – every disabled survivor deserves to live with dignity. As the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill heads to a vote next week, the disconnect between efforts to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG) and the support available to disabled survivors is alarming. Financial independence is a crucial lifeline for those fleeing abuse, but this Bill threatens to sever that lifeline for disabled survivors who depend on benefits to cover essential costs.
“Disabled women are more than twice as likely to experience abuse compared to non-disabled women. At Refuge, the UK’s largest specialist domestic abuse organisation, nearly one in three (29%) of the survivors we support has a disability or mental health condition. Many have experienced economic abuse and coercive control, as well as long-term trauma due to abuse.
“Welfare payments must not be treated by the Government as an optional extra. For disabled survivors, access to welfare benefits can mean the difference between safely escaping an abusive partner or remaining trapped with a dangerous perpetrator. If these cuts go ahead, existing barriers to support will be exacerbated, and thousands of already marginalised survivors will be pushed further into poverty and isolation.
“The connection is undeniable; welfare cuts directly undermine the Government’s commitment to halve VAWG by compromising the safety of disabled survivors. At Refuge, we will do everything in our power to ensure that no survivor is left without support, but if the Government further restricts the financial resources of disabled survivors, thousands may be forced to remain with dangerous abusers. The consequences could be catastrophic – even fatal. We strongly urge the Government to scrap this Bill and actively protect – not punish – survivors who are already facing multiple layers of disadvantage.”