Third sector advice agencies from Merseyside, including Citizens Advice Bureaux, Merseyside Welfare Rights and others, will be heading to Liverpool City Centre on Saturday 22 October to take part in the Hardest Hit Day of Action, campaigning against cuts to disability benefits and services that will leave disabled people without vital support.
Similar protests by disabled people, their family and friends, will be held in towns and cities across the UK on that day. A stall will be constructed on Church Street in Liverpool City Centre (outside Primark) providing information about the Hardest Hit Campaign - including what it means for those affected by the cuts - as well as offering people the chance to sign a petition to show their support for the campaign.
It is estimated disabled people and their families will be £9bn* worse off over the course of this parliament as they are the hardest hit by the government's cuts, losing out in multiple areas including benefit reforms and service cutbacks.
The Hardest Hit campaign intends to send a clear message to government:
- Stop cuts to services vital to disabled people
- Make sure changes to Disability Living Allowance do not make disabled people worse off
- Make sure Employment and Support Allowance works by improving the assessment process and making sure disabled people who are unable to work get the support they need as long as they need it
- Make sure that the welfare system supports people with the additional costs of living with a disability.
For more information or to sign up to an event, visit www.hardesthit.org.uk. The website also contains information for those who cannot travel to an event, but want to support the campaign today by writing to their MPs or joining our online protest.
The Hardest Hit campaign is coordinated by The UK Disabled People's Council and the Disability Benefits Consortium, a coalition of over 50 disability charities and organisations.
* Research by Demos and Scope found that changes to the welfare system brought in by the Coalition Government would find disabled people worse off by £9bn over the course of this government.