Ulster Unionist welfare spokesperson Roy Beggs MLA has welcomed the Government U-turn on further proposed reductions to disability benefits.
Roy Beggs MLA said:
“As a result of the Welfare Reform Act 2012, the Disability Living Allowance is being replaced by the Personnel Independence Payment (PIP). From the end of May the changes from Welfare Reform will begin to be implemented locally. Mitigation measures will provide a degree of protection for a temporary period.
“I am concerned however that several major reports have found that the Government's benefit cuts are hitting disabled people hardest of all.
“The proposal in the recent UK Budget to further cut working age benefits for those with disabilities, at the same time as reducing tax levels for those who were better off, was deeply ill-judged. Northern Ireland citizens are about to experience the initial wave of welfare reform never-mind a potential second wave. I am glad that the Conservative Party eventually saw the dangers of what they were proposing.”
