SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson, Dr Eilidh Whiteford, has warned
that coalition government plans to cut sickness benefits must be based
on genuine medical evidence.
Dr Whiteford said:
“George Osborne’s language suggests he is only concerned with reducing
the number of claimants, regardless of the needs of individuals, or of
the medical evidence.
“While supporting benefit reform, genuinely vulnerable individuals
must not become an easy target for Con/Dem cuts.
“There are already huge questions over the assessment process with
people undergoing chemotherapy, in some cases terminally ill people,
being ordered to attend back-to-work interviews.
“Return-to-work initiatives can benefit both the economy and the
individual, but people should only return to the workplace when they
are genuinely able and when correct support measures are available.
“Existing safeguards are not working and, with major reforms in the
pipeline, we need real guarantees to ensure that that people living
with genuine incapacity and ill health are spared added stress and
uncertainty.”
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