The Hardest Hit Campaign is a coalition of groups concerned about the impact of targeting people with disabilities for cuts. Their report, The Tipping Point, records the concern of many people with the prospect of losing current benefits. It follows hard on the heels of Holes in the Safety Net, a report anticipating losses to disabled people from the introduction of Universal Credit, published by Citizens Advice, TheChildren’s Society and Disability Rights UK. Pat’s petition asks the government to “Stop and review the cuts to benefits and services which are falling disproportionately on disabled people, their carers and families”.
Two thirds of the benefits paid by the DWP go to pensioners, and those are currently protected. Of the remaining benefits, nearly half go to people who are sick or disabled. The cuts are falling on this group, because the government has left itself with little else to cut.