UN asks UK government for details on effects of its welfare bill

The UN organisation for disabled people's rights has asked the UK government for details about the impact of its welfare bill amid concerns about the potential adverse effects.

- Peter Walker Frances Ryan

In a rare intervention, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities asked about the legislation after receiving "credible information" that it seemed likely to worsen the rights of disabled people.

It has asked in particular about the extent of any impact assessment of the bill and sought information on "any measures to address the foreseeable risk of increasing poverty rates amongst persons with disabilities if cuts are approved".

According to an impact assessment by the Department for Work and Pensions released on Monday, the revised bill - after the central element of changes to personal independent payments was removed last week - will mean 50,000 fewer people are in relative poverty after housing costs in 2030. An assessment of the original plans found the measures would have pushed an additional 250,000 people into poverty.

Charities have also voiced concern about the number of severely disabled people who will be hit by the planned universal credit cuts and say the bill fails to account for disabilities if they are progressive or fluctuating.