Women respond to the Government's disability benefits reform consultation
The FiLiA Campaigns and Policy team have been working to support women to contribute to the Government’s consultation on disability benefits reform. This week, we wrote to Parliamentarians who are also working to support disabled people to share our work and some of the responses we've had, and invite them to support and work with us to stand up for disabled women and carers who could be devastated by the proposed reforms.
Kruti Walsh, FiLiA’s Director of Policy
I am writing to introduce myself and FiLiA, the women’s rights charity, and alert you to our current work supporting women to contribute to the Government’s consultation on disability benefits reform, including our programme of focus groups about this. I know you have an interest in policy and legislation that impacts on people with disabilities, and therefore wanted to get in touch with you to share the work FiLiA is currently engaged in with women across the UK who have experiences of disability, and to share some of these experiences, views and concerns with you. We would be delighted to speak with you if you are interested to hear more about this project and explore whether we can work together to ensure policy and legislation best addresses the issues that matter to them.
FiLiA
FiLiA is a grassroots feminist charity which aims to amplify the voices of women, particularly those who are seldom heard, to defend women’s human rights, and to build sisterhood and solidarity. We hold the largest annual feminist conference in Europe. At this year’s conference, which is taking place in Brighton in October, we expect to welcome 3000 attendees; tickets are available here.
Over the past 12 years, FiLiA has developed relationships with women and women’s groups, across the UK and globally, unreplicated elsewhere. We are uniquely positioned to hear and record the concerns of women in the UK. Women have consistently and increasingly highlighted to us that their voices are not heard and are at times deliberately ignored in policy forums, and that women’s differing needs and lives are not being recognised in policies and processes.
The Government’s disability benefits reform
The main current priority for our campaigns and policy team relates to disability benefits, and specifically the government’s consultation on proposed reforms. We have been dedicated over the past few weeks to simplifying this complex 86-page document for women, and facilitating in-person and online sessions to support women to contribute their views and evidence. FiLiA will collate this information into our official response to the consultation which we will also share with you and other interested parliamentarians.
We have held three in-person focus groups in Manchester, Swansea and Glasgow and we are also hosting three online sessions via Zoom, one took place last week, and the other two are as below.
Thursday 5th June at 6.30 p.m. – focussing on Supporting People to Thrive
Sunday 8th June at 3 p.m. – focussing on Supporting Employers and Making Work Accessible
We are focussing on different aspects of the consultation in each session. We would be really grateful if you would help us reach even more women by sharing with your networks or directly with any women who you think would be interested in contributing and may benefit from the facilitated and supportive environment our sessions provide. Women can sign up here.
Women have told us that they are very grateful to FiLiA for organising focus groups to discuss the Government's plans. They have said that this has helped them understand the potential impact the reforms will have on them as individuals and families, but also that it has encouraged them to speak out. For all of the women who have attended so far, this has been the first time they have taken part in a consultation. Women have said they appreciate the opportunity that FiLiA has given them, and that they feel we have listened to their concerns and to their experiences within the current system.
Women across the cities where we've held focus groups are scared about the potential impact of the reforms. They are worried about whether they will have less money to live on and about the impact this will have on their daily lives, as well as what this will mean for their future. Women described currently having difficulty in making their money stretch to cover their basic needs and were fearful of how their lives would look if they received less. Women were also very concerned about the impact of the reforms on their children and of the people in their lives for whom they provide care.
FiLiA is keen to work with parliamentarians like you who are well positioned to stand up for disabled women and carers who could potentially be devastatingly affected by the proposed reforms. You may also like to read this blog that one of our volunteers wrote when the cuts were first announced.
If you would like more information, or would like to meet to hear more about FiLiA and our work, you or your office can reach me at kruti@filia.org.uk and I would be really happy to arrange something to suit your availability.
Yours sincerely,
Kruti Walsh
Director of Policy
FiLiA