Public and Commercial Services Union

Urgent action needed to save welfare

30 January 2012

PCS members and supporters are being asked to take urgent action to stop cuts to the benefits of the people who need them most.

Please write to your MP before the House of Commons debates the welfare reform bill on Wednesday, 1 February.

The House of Lords has already passed amendments taking out some of the cruellest clauses in the bill.

But the changes could be thrown out by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat majority in the Commons.

The things the lords opposed include:

A change to housing benefit which risks pushing families on to the street
A cap on benefits, including child benefits that will affect struggling families and push children into poverty
A new rule making parents pay £100 to receive the services of the Child Support Agency and deducting money from payments they receive
Changes which make it more difficult for people to access disability benefits and limit the time which people with degenerative illnesses including cancer and MS will be able to receive enhanced payments.