Simon Duffy talked to members of Learning Disability England (LDE) about basic income and basic income plus (UBI+). These slides explain the key ideas and open up a discussion about the value of basic income to people with learning difficulties.

1. Does the benefit
system work for you?
Dr Simon Duffy | LDE Webinar | 10 November 2020

2. • How the benefit system works now
• What is wrong with it
• What is Basic Income Plus (UBI+)
• Why it will be better
• Discussion

3. Some benefits in 2020
Universal Credit (UC)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Employment Support (ESA)
Work Related Activity Group (WRAG)
Support Group (SG)
Severe Disability Premium (SDP)
Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
Work Capability Assessment (WCA)

5. 1. You earn nothing or a little
2. Limited savings (>£6,000)
3. No one else to help (partner/family)
4. You obey the rules (e.g. no volunteering)
You get benefits, if:

6. Disability Benefits
You may get a little extra money, if
• You can prove you can’t work, or
• You have extra disability-related costs

8. ?

10. 1. Some disabled people can do paid work
2. Some people can do some paid work
3. Some people could do paid work if work
was changed
4. Paid work is NOT the only kind of work
and is not the most important thing
Why is ‘work capability’ important?

11. What is a poverty trap?

12. Most benefit systems give people small
amounts of money - but in a way that makes
it more difficult for people to develop.
It is like putting people behind a wall and then
lowering food down to them

19. 1. Everyone gets enough
2. Rich and poor alike
3. It’s individual (just for you)
4. You are free to do what you think right
Basic Income

21. ?

24. We’re seeking
views on this…
• Base it on Minimum
Income Standards
• UBI plus ‘bolt-ons’
• No sanctions,
individualised and no
means-tests

25. There is a lot of evidence
that Basic Income would…
• Reduce poverty
• Improve health
• Improve work life
• End benefit stigma
• Reduce suicides
• Reduce bureaucracy
• Increase solidarity
• Increase citizen action
• Improve life for carers
• Reduce domestic
violence
• Improve learning

26. Some disabled people
like the idea, some don’t
V

27. 1. Higher taxes
2. It will make us lazy
3. It will lead to cuts in services
Some people fear