Quote:
Originally Posted by nomadking
Not really a disability/sickness component of benefits. It's the core component of benefits including income support and JSA.
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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.