Disabled women subjected to an avalanche of injustice
Dear Editor,
We are dealing with a dramatic increase in refusals of benefits, housing and support services for women with disabilities and other vulnerable people in Camden.
They include: a woman just out of hospital, threatened with court if she doesn’t pay hundreds of pounds for homecare; a blind pensioner with multiple health problems, allocated minimal care hours; a mother and rape survivor with refugee status denied Disability Living Allowance despite medical evidence; a young woman with cerebral palsy at risk of falling downstairs, denied adaptations and physiotherapy; a woman with severe mental health problems whose benefit was cut without notice; a suicidal woman pressed to attend a “Pathways to Work” interview, contrary to Dept for Work and Pensions guidelines; a single mother with anxiety disorder denied Income Support and Child Benefit for her toddler.
Some of these cases have been won, but only after hours of effort by our volunteers. We are a small organisation of disabled women. What is happening to the thousands of people who have no help? How many more will suffer and even lose their lives after the cuts planned for April?
This avalanche of injustice is compounded by uncaring officials. Crisis Loan staff have put the phone down on us; benefits staff have misinformed people in ways that sabotaged their claim. Black and immigrant women are often the target for particular rudeness. Attacks on the welfare state won after WWII, and on the multiculturalism we so value in Camden, seem to give free rein to staff to exercise their prejudices.
We cannot allow this to continue. We invite everyone to join us at the anti-cuts lobbies of Camden Town Hall and on the Mothers March on Saturday 12 March, “For Everyone’s Survival and Welfare, and Against Cuts, Poverty and Discrimination”. (Assemble 12 noon, Trafalgar Square, north side. Accessible minibus along the route, sign language interpreters.)
Stella Mpaka and Olivia Romano
WinVisible (women with visible and invisible disabilities)
Crossroads Women’s Centre
230a Kentish Town Road
NW5 2AB
