Disability benefits Proposed cuts will have a 'devastating' impact on women

Disability benefit cuts will have a "devastating" impact on women's health and dignity and could breach equality law, the government was warned yesterday.

- Frances Ryan

Charities and groups including Scope, Inclusion London, the ME Association and WinVisible said tightening eligibility for personal independence payments (Pip) would discriminate against disabled women because they had higher personal care than male counterparts.

Under plans to be voted on by MPs next week, a claimant must receive four points in a single daily living category to qualify for the cash.

Washing below the waist will score just two - half the number given to needing assistance between the shoulders and waist. It means the new four-point rule will not take into account menstruation or some women's extra toilet requirements - such as incontinence from pregnancy - unless they have additional needs.

"The proposed changes to the Pip assessment criteria ignore fundamental aspects of women's health and dignity," said Dharshana Sridhar, of the Spinal Injuries Association.

Awarding fewer points for help with personal care below the waist overlooked needs that were often more acute for women with spinal cord injuries, Sridhar added.

"By failing to recognise the distinct and disproportionate impact of these changes on disabled women, the proposals risk breaching the Equality Act 2010," Sridhar said.