AS a disabled person, and also the manager of Bury and District Disabled Advisory Council (BADDAC), I have great fears about the proposals to cut disability benefits contained in the Government's Welfare Reform Bill. These would leave thousands of disabled people and carers worse off.

The Bill currently going through Parliament includes moves to means test new Incapacity Benefit claimants, even though eligibility is already subject to strict conditions and depends on the payment of National Insurance contributions. There are also proposals to abolish Severe Disability Allowance.

Anyone in work who has to retire early because of disability or sickness, despite building up employment contributions, a pension scheme or making other savings, will be penalised if this aspect of the Bill goes through. This contradicts the Government's attempts to encourage more disabled people to look ahead and plan for their future security.

Surely the Government is focusing on the wrong people. It only serves to make disabled people feel as though they have no right to expect help from the State, despite the fact that many struggle to make ends meet now.

The Disability Benefits Consortium, representing more than 500 organisations, wants clearer assurances from the Government that they are listening to them and will amend this Bill before it is too late to prevent thousands of vulnerable people getting less support in our society in the next century.

ALAN NORTON,

BADDAC manager.

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