STATEMENT: Government’s Proposed Cuts to PIP
The following statement from Rising’s team and board is in solidarity with our disabled friends, community members and peers. It details how we are approaching and resisting the proposed changes.
The government’s proposed cuts to PiP and Universal Credit is a form of state violence.
We have been standing alongside our friends, comrades and community who are protesting, writing letters and platforming the voices of disabled people, their carers and families, who will feel the cuts to PIP and Universal Credit most acutely.
Rising will always stand for disability justice, and we’ve been reflecting on what more we can do to make the lives of disabled people easier.
One small step we’ve taken, inspired by a video by @LongCovidRockstar, is to mandate ‘Disability Leave’ to our Sickness & Absence policies to protect disabled people’s right to reasonable adjustments and support them to manage ableist workplaces and systems.
As an inaugral member of WECA’s Good Employment Charter, we will be lobbying for other employers to do the same. We are calling for our friends in the creative sector to join us in holding each other to account.
Here’s things that you can do right now to oppose the cuts:
Support and platform the work of ‘Crips Against Cuts’ - they have pulled together a comprehensive G-Drive or resources.
Join the Government’s Consultation online
Add your voice to this survey from Carers UK opposing the cuts
What you can do generally:
Write to your work’s HR and demand for ‘Disability Leave’ to be added and enforced in their policies
Ask the difficult questions in hustings and vote in the local and mayoral elections on 1st May
Encourage access riders in all workspaces and call-out inaccessible infrastructure at every opportunity.
Protecting the personhood of disabled people should be everyone’s business.
Below are some links and resources of comrades who we are grateful to for leading the way.
Forever in solidarity,
Rising Team and Board
Additional Resources:
Access to Work - financial support in your work if you are living with a disability or mental health condition.
PohWer - Advocacy for people living with a disability, mental health condition or social exclusion
