Letter
United Response's letter to the Guardian
18th March 2008
United Response responded on the Guardian's letter page to the recent Government announcement that up to 2.6 million people currently claiming incapacity benefit would face "strict testing" in order to encourage them to work.
Su Sayer, chief executive, United Response, said:
"Dear Sirs,
I think most people would agree that more needs to be done to help people into work. But the current debate only looks at the symptoms (2.6m on incapacity benefits face tough 'back to work' tests, 14th March). One of the root causes could be solved by a simple amendment to the benefits system.
Through our work, we come across many people with learning disabilities or mental health needs, who would like to have a job, but who need to build up their hours slowly in order to gain confidence.
When the minimum wage was first introduced people we support were able to work for 5.5 hours a week, without disruption to their benefits. But over the years increases in the minimum wage have outpaced the disregard. As a result, from this October, even people employed to work as little as 3.5 hours a week will be 5 pence above the £20 disregard, forcing them to cut their hours for the sake of 5p.
Testing will not help the people we support to find work. And unfortunately even providing more employment schemes will not solve the problem on its own. But raising the weekly disregard on earnings, even to £32 a week, could give this often overlooked part of the workforce, their first, but important, step into employment and greater independence.
Yours faithfully
Su Sayer, Chief Executive, United Response"
- Ends -
For more information please contact Sarah Bartlett or Jaime Gill in the United Response Press Office on020 8246 5237/ 020 8246 5122 or emailsarah.bartlett@unitedresponse.org.uk or jaime.gill@unitedresponse.org.uk
Note to editors:
United Response is a national charity that works with people with learning disabilities or mental health needs – including some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
We provide everything from 24 hour care to a few hours of support a week. United Response is community based, working in many localities across England and Wales.
Our mission is to support people with learning disabilities or mental health needs to take control of their lives. We design our care and support around each person and work with them to achieve real inclusion, independence and citizenship for all. We support people across the whole spectrum of learning disability and mental health and have developed a range of specialisms in working with people with the most complex needs, particularly person-centred active support.
We are working towards a society where people with learning disabilities or mental health needs are equal participants and have access to the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
We have won several awards for our pioneering work and for being a top employer. In 2007 alone, we were highly commended by the Charity Awards for our “Good To Great” approach to providing support, while the Charity Times named us one of the best six charities to work for in the UK. We are experts in the development of accessible communications.
United Response was founded in 1973 by chief executive Su Sayer. We are a top 100 charity, supporting more than 1,500 people throughout the UK at any one time and employing more than 2,000 staff.