Universal Credit appeal ruling
Our Director of Policy Gemma Hope responds to the ruling on 28 January by the Court of Appeal that Universal Credit was discriminatory against two disabled men.
In response to the to the ruling on 28 January by the Court of Appeal, Gemma Hope, Director of Policy, said:
‘Today's ruling should serve as a wake-up call for the government, and evidence that we need to rethink the way Universal Credit is delivered for disabled people. No one should be left financially disadvantaged from their move to Universal Credit.
‘Flawed implementation of the new welfare system led to the unacceptable treatment of two disabled men in this case, and we welcome Court of Appeal's recognition of that fact.
‘However, it remains true that the errors that placed these two men in a very precarious situation could be repeated if the underlying decision-making process remains the same.
‘We urge the DWP to urgently review how it awards Universal Credit to disabled people, to ensure that the benefit provides sustainable financial support to all disabled people.
‘Taxpayer money used fighting cases like this would have been better spent on support for disabled people.’
