政府正在考虑取消25岁以下残疾人的“普遍信用”健康补助，这一消息令许多家庭感到担忧（《青年残疾人的关键福利可能因重大福利改革而被取消》，10月1日）。对许多人而言，这一举措引发了严重关切：他们该如何继续为残疾青年提供支持，并帮助他们融入日常生活？
Reports that the government is considering removing the universal credit health element for disabled people under 25 will be alarming for families (Key disability benefit for young people may be axed under major welfare changes, 1 October). For many, it raises serious concerns about how they will keep disabled young people supported and able to participate in everyday life.
在Contact，我们经常听到家庭对“普遍信用”及其对残疾成员影响表示担忧。一些领取健康补助的人正在学习、兼职或参与志愿服务；另一些人的残疾程度非常严重，根本无法从事有报酬的工作。
At Contact, we hear from families worried about universal credit and its impact on disabled family members. Some receiving the health element are studying, working part-time or volunteering; others have disabilities so significant that paid employment is impossible.
最近，我们与40多个慈善组织一同呼吁政府官员不要剥夺残疾青年的经济支持。我们认同政府希望年轻人能够工作并实现发展的愿景，但我们认为，取消经济保障并不会创造这些机会。政府官员表示，残疾最严重的群体将受到保护。然而，担忧的家庭仍然不清楚具体适用标准，也不清楚证明资格会有多困难。
We recently joined more than 40 charities urging ministers not to take financial support away from disabled young people. We share the government’s ambition for young people to work and thrive, but we do not believe removing financial security will create those opportunities. Ministers have said that those with the most severe disabilities will be protected. But worried families still don’t know what criteria would apply or how hard it would be to prove eligibility.
关键在于，领取“普遍信用”的健康补助并不意味着该青年不属于“非教育、非就业、非培训”（Neet）群体。在实施如此根本性的变革之前，政府官员必须公布相关证据：领取健康补助的年轻人中，实际有多少属于Neet群体？而在其中，又有多少人因残疾或健康状况而无法参与社会活动？残疾青年需要机会与保障。二者之间不能随意取舍。
Crucially, receiving the health element of universal credit does not mean a young person is not in education, employment or training (Neet). Before making such a fundamental change, ministers must publish the evidence. How many young people receiving the health element are actually Neet? And among those who are, how many cannot participate because of their disability or health condition? Disabled young people need opportunity and security. One cannot safely be traded for the other.
Anna Bird，Contact首席执行官这项削减对残疾青年支持、而非提供平等福利获取渠道的提议，向他们传递了一个信息：他们在社会中的重要性更低。此类削减非但不会提升他们的独立性或就业机会，反而会对他们的健康造成损害，并让更多人陷入贫困。假设就业支持能够填补这一空缺，这种想法是草率的。
Anna Bird CEO, Contact This proposal to cut support for disabled young people rather than provide equal access to welfare sends a message to them that they matter less to society. Far from improving their independence or opportunities for work, such cuts would harm their health and push more people into poverty. It is careless to assume that employment support could fill the gap.
残疾不会因为年龄而区别对待；福利体系也不应如此。无论是20岁还是60岁，轮椅、专业设备、交通或社会护理的费用都是一样的。年轻的残障人士理应拥有一个平等尊重其人权和尊严的社会保障体系。里克·伯吉斯，英国国际特赦组织残障人士人权网络主席
Disability does not discriminate based on age; nor should the welfare system. A wheelchair, specialist equipment, transport or social care still costs the same whether you are 20 or 60. Young disabled people deserve a social security system that respects their human rights and dignity equally. Rick Burgess Chair, Amnesty International UK’s Disabled People’s Human Rights Network