On the front page it states it's intent: "Make provision to alter the rates of the standard allowance, limited capability for work element and limited capability for work and work-related activity element of universal credit and the rates of income-related employment and support allowance, and to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment".
Note that last "and to restrict.....'.
In the green paper and in statements it was all about getting disabled people back into work. Now it's clear that this really is just a money saving exercise.
The Bible tells us to "Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable. Speak out in order to judge with righteousness and to defend the needy and the poor" (Proverbs 31 vs 8 & 9)
But the church has forgotten that this includes those who are disabled, are neurodivergent, have mental illnesses or have additional needs. (For the sake of brevity - referred to as disabled for the rest of this post).
From the point that these changes were hinted at, though to the green paper coming out and on to today, the church has done nothing.
There was a half hearted statement from the church of England, but nothing since. No lobbying, no prayers for those set to lose so much and in despair.
The evangelical side of The Church has been even quieter - with a deafening silence that tells anyone with any form of disability "You are not worth it".
There have been prayer meetings up and down the country about the assisted dying bill, but nothing about this bill. Disabled people are used in the argument against assisted dying, but we're not prayed for when we face losing what helps us to live!
As an aside, the church is now rightly incensed about the abortion amendment, which in essence, makes it legal to terminate a pregnancy up to birth. It's been legal for disabled babies for years....but I haven't heard an outcry about that. Maybe a whimper here and there, but nothing like the outcry I've seen this week.
The big church organisations that lobby on these things have also been silent. One had a small comment in the middle of a 40 minute pod cast about other rather trivial things, but that's it.
Why is it 'The Church' in all it's 'glory' has largely ignored the most vulnerable amongst us at this time?
Maybe for some, the need to see us fixed/cured/healed is the issue. If we only had enough faith then we would be cured and wouldn't be facing this problem.....
Maybe they believe some of the untruths out there in the press.
For some - we are an irritation because many of us need accommodations that challenge the norm. Therefore, there is an existing bias.
Or maybe, people just don't think.
In 'The Church', when diversity is mentioned - disability is more often than not missed out. We celebrate black history month, but forget disability history month, which follows on. How many churches do 'Disability Sunday'? A few do, but it's a very small percentage of the whole.
Both the Trussell Trust and Christians Against Poverty are doing their best against the tide of disinterest (You should see CAP's report about their meeting with Stephen Timms!!)
The truth is, most people in the church today just don't get the daily struggle that can come with disability.
Few will know it costs, on average, over £1000 per month more to live with a disability than it does for those who are not disabled. They won't know that most of those living in poverty have someone with a disability in their household. They also won't know that being disabled means you are three times more likely to be abused. You're also less likely to get a job you have applied for - because of your disability (which makes a mockery of the government's rhetoric about getting disabled people back into work).
Few will realise that these cuts will cause absolute poverty - that could mean starvation (It's happened before when people have wrongly had their PIP taken away). It could mean no heating, not being able to charge up vital medical equipment.....and so much more.
When you put all the changes together, the estimate is that over 3 million disabled people will be affected in some way - some to the point of taking their own lives.
As the government have poured out lies and misinformation about disabled people and their benefits, the tide of hate against us has risen higher and higher.
I have Christian disabled friends who have been speaking out, but they're tired, weary of fighting alone without the backing of the church. They are angry with a church that seems as though it couldn't care less about what happens to them.
One friend will have to give up her long standing ministry because PIP pays for the equipment she needs to work. In a missionary news update, she said she was struggling to advocate on the green paper because she herself was going to be badly affected.....not ONE person outside her close friends has followed that comment up or checked in to see how she is.
For those hovering over the comment button ready to say "but I have done..." or "but my church....", yes it's great that you or your church has said or done something, but you're in a tiny minority.
I'm aware of and thankful for those small communities who care and have spoken up. But when you make that comment, those who have done bog all just think; "Oh, thank goodness, they've done something, so I don't have to".
We need 'The Church' as a whole, with all it's might, to say to the government "This. Is. Wrong."
It maybe too late - "The Church" has had 7 months to speak out about this and now the vote is very soon.
It will take a miracle to change minds that are already made up.
