Quote:
Originally Posted by RichardCoulter
It originates from the introduction of Income Support in 1988 and is the basic amount that a single person over the age of 25 is said to need to live on, before Cameron froze it.
It's also the starting point for other benefits as outlined in Thatchers 1986 Social Security Act for other benefits, including sickness and disability benefits. To say that he wouldn't freeze benefits for the sick and disabled and then go on to freeze this component (particularly without mentioning this in his statement to Parliament) was a downright lie.
Since then, a lot of sick and disabled people have only been awarded this frozen amount with no additions.
This is the first time in history that the extra costs associated with disability have not been recognised. All previous systems of social security (Outdoor Relief, National Assistance, Supplementary Benefit and Income Support) recognised this fact and provided extra help.
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The base amount is not disability/sickness related. IS and ESA are not about extra costs of disability, that is DLA/PIP. The extra amounts with IS and ESA are more to do with being a form of compensation, for not being able to increase your income by finding work.
Not sure who these "lot of sick and disabled people" are meant to be, other than those categories that have always only been eligible for the basic benefits, eg not yet assessed.