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To feel the Disenfranchised have been Scapegoated.

186 replies

Gilead · 26/11/2025 17:28

Just fed up with a society that has become so incredibly selfish. The vilification of disabled people and the drubbing of benefit claimants whilst managing to forget that most of the people on universal credit are working families. Forgetting that most pensioners have worked and saved all their lives, some still paying tax. And let’s not forget those lazy bastards who are putting on an act in order to get a ‘free’ car.
I predicted this was the way we were headed on mumsnet in 2010. Got called all sorts of names, but, at that point in time people were a lot more understanding of the issues encountered by the disenfranchised.
If you want to come on here and tell me you don’t want to pay extra for someone else to have kids you can’t afford, research it first, look at the (myriad) reasons for this, the figures, the number of women who had extra children during the period. Then think how it would be if you suddenly became disabled, or more severely disabled.
Im off with my carer in a bit. In my Citroen C3 that actually cost me a wee bit more because I had to pay for the wheelchair hoist as well as the (approx) 350 quid every four weeks to cover the lease, and the insurance.

OP posts:
Kleeneze · 27/11/2025 10:50

MyTrivia · 27/11/2025 10:27

Disabilities cost more money to live with. You clearly don’t understand that and have no experience of what it’s like to be disabled, or you would not have asked a question like this.

Be happy that you don’t instead of judging what people should spend their money on.

I’d be happy to let the government give people money for disabilities - if they provide a receipt for costs incurred. If they can’t, they can sod off. I think that’s perfectly fair.

Kleeneze · 27/11/2025 10:49

MyTrivia · 27/11/2025 10:30

And remember that everyone is only an accident or an illness away from becoming disabled.

Yes but we make our own financial provisions for that. Savings. Insurance. Don’t you? If not why not?

Kleeneze · 27/11/2025 10:46

UserFront242 · 27/11/2025 03:26

The lady on question time said she was looking for work. You can also claim PIP and work, as it is not an out of work benefit.

When you are award PIP, you are not told what to spend it on. So the person you read about who is not spending it on therapy is doing nothing wrong. They will have never been told to spend it on therapy, so your little tale does not pass the sniff test.

Many people on PIP do end up using it for food and bills because the cost of living crisis and because UC is not enough to live on.

Why should she get the PIP money for bills and a low pay worker not? Can’t you see the issue here? Scrap the entire pip system and start again.

Gilead · 27/11/2025 10:45

localbutterfly · 27/11/2025 02:50

I predicted this was the way we were headed on mumsnet in 2010. In 2010, the Conservatives had just taken over government in the UK under David Cameron. Conservatives held the office of PM and ran the government until July 2024, when Labour came in with Keir Starmer as PM. And yet, you blame Labour for the current state of affairs? How?

Of course I blame the Tories; and before they got in, in 2010, I was saying that this would be the eventual outcome. Until recently I’ve been a Labour Party member. I may well vote Green in the next election, anything that keeps reform out.

OP posts:
Kleeneze · 27/11/2025 10:43

Trumpisacunt · 27/11/2025 03:06

Pip payments can be spent on anything so I'm not sure why its supposed to be spent on 'therapy' .Just another typical comment from someone who doesnt achieve a clue how the system works and decides to believe the propaganda.

Why are we giving her a penny if she’s incurring no costs? Clear cut case of the government flushing oil it money down the loo. Are you ok with that? Because I’m not!

Gilead · 27/11/2025 10:40

This reply has been deleted

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MyTrivia · 27/11/2025 10:30

And remember that everyone is only an accident or an illness away from becoming disabled.

MyTrivia · 27/11/2025 10:27

KilkennyCats · 27/11/2025 09:00

Why is it awarded if not to address a particular need?

Disabilities cost more money to live with. You clearly don’t understand that and have no experience of what it’s like to be disabled, or you would not have asked a question like this.

Be happy that you don’t instead of judging what people should spend their money on.

Northquit · 27/11/2025 10:25

GentleOlive · 26/11/2025 18:55

The ‘disenfranchised’ are the best looked after in society. No one is being scapegoated. Questioning the balance between the paying public and the receiving public is not scapegoating. And the emotive language to suppress perfectly reasonable questions about the colossal waste and entitlement of people won’t work anymore.

Everyone knows people who are abusing the system. It’s certainly not a rarity.

disenfranchise
/ˌdɪs(ɪ)nˈfrantʃʌɪz,ˌdɪsɛnˈfrantʃʌɪz/

verb
past tense: disenfranchised; past participle: disenfranchised
deprive (someone) of the right to vote.
"the law disenfranchised some 3,000 voters on the basis of a residence qualification"
deprive (someone) of a right or privilege.
"we strongly oppose any measure which would disenfranchise people from access to legal advice"

Who are you all talking about?

Before you continue to Google Search

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=59038b22a1d9f5de&rlz=1C1FKPE_enGB1143GB1143&sxsrf=AE3TifPh_AIznGGSZ87Brftsqrn4Ym_mhQ:1764239125774&q=how+to+pronounce+disenfranchise&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcTowC3w8sc9YSnzSWtOXmM05OINKMrPK81LzkwsyczPE5LiYglJLcoVEpIS4OJLySxOzUsrSsxLzgCyrFiUmFLzeBaxymfklyuU5CsUAHXmA7WmKqAqBAAgC25AZwAAAA&pron_lang=en&pron_country=gb&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjc4Y_zjpKRAxU_UUEAHSgCA2YQ3eEDegQILRAN

MyTrivia · 27/11/2025 10:23

Bringemout · 27/11/2025 05:57

Sorry but stuff like removing the child benefit cap is ridiculous, no-one needs 6 kids especially if you never had a chance in hell of actually being able to support them. You can get a mobility car for fucking anxiety, it’s ridiculous!

No, but your post is totally ridiculous. Why don’t you educate yourself on the rules around mobility cars and who can and cannot get one because you clearly have no idea.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 27/11/2025 10:12

Kleeneze · 26/11/2025 20:00

Indeed. Labour don’t seem to give a shit about the workers. They just want to take money off you to give to those who don’t want to work. I voted for them expecting so much more.

And yet they bang on endlessly about ‘working people’.

hattie43 · 27/11/2025 10:07

We have far too many ‘ vulnerable’ in society and the time is coming when those in work cannot support those not working . No one says the genuinely disabled shouldn’t be supported but everyone else needs to play a part .

Sartre · 27/11/2025 10:05

This has been an issue for years OP, really nothing new. People love to stomp on the poor because they’re such an easy target. Generally less educated and find it harder to defend themselves as a result. Very, very easy scapegoat.

I grew up poor. Council estate in probably the most deprived city of the UK by all indexes. Mum was a dinner lady and claimed benefits to top this up, also did things like hairdressing on the side to earn extra cash. I worked my way out of this through education. Still don’t earn a phenomenal amount but I have a PhD and I do my best. We’re not eligible for benefits, even child benefit. I don’t care about my taxes helping the disadvantaged, I would much rather this happen than it be fed into the pockets of the super wealthy as the tories did during covid.

Nothingl3ft · 27/11/2025 10:00

thewintergarden · 26/11/2025 19:45

Then it's not you people are fed up about

It's Bill who gets motability but could buy a Beemer out right.

And Jenny who works 16 hours a week and refuses to take a promotion or do more hours because she's living the high life on universal credit.

And Mary who gets Winter Fuel Allowance even though shes got millions in the bank

I agree on the other two, and used to on 'Jenny' but having experienced it I can assure you UC does not make my PT wages up to £57k a year! (From your later post)
I was earning £28k and then fell ill, had 6 weeks off sick (getting SSP from my employer) and returned to a different job, on a lower wage, and a phased return before the sick note elapsed - so effectively PT hours while I adjusted to the new role and I've just moved up to ft hours in the new role now everyone is happy I can sustain it.
I claimed UC while off sick, and during my phased return, and have had to justify the low hours during that time, repeatedly, plus fill in a capability to work assessment - although I had a sick note and returned to work before I even got the capability to work assessment.
From this month I won't qualify for UC as I'm full time again and although on a lower wage, too much to qualify.
The UC I have received doesn't even make my income up to the £28k I was earning before - never mind £57k!
But the point is, even on more than 16 hours on my gradual return to work, I a) wasn't living the high life and b) wasn't having my earnings supplemented to anywhere near what you say your friend does - and had to explain why I wasn't working 30 hours or more and claiming, and why I wasn't seeking alternative/extra employment to take me to that level.

So if your friend is having 16 hours a week topped up to £57k then we're all doing something wrong because I wasn't even on that before I became ill and needed to claim anything!

Morningsleepin · 27/11/2025 09:54

Since yesterday I've read several verbal attacks on the elderly and several others on "breeders". Makes a change from immigrants and Muslims I suppose but the UK will never improve its lot as long as everyone is fighting each other

LadyKenya · 27/11/2025 09:37

Celestialmoods · 27/11/2025 09:34

@UserFront242 She also said she had applied for PIP, was not claiming it, and said she was looking for work.

How does that work? How do you apply for something without claiming it? Surely if you apply for something and go through the assessment, you are claiming it?

What would be the point of applying, waiting for the benefit to be awarded, and then turning down the money?

She may have tried to claim it, that does not mean that her claim was successful does it? It was not clear whether she was actually receiving any money, as she did not state that she was, implicitly.

Celestialmoods · 27/11/2025 09:34

@UserFront242 She also said she had applied for PIP, was not claiming it, and said she was looking for work.

How does that work? How do you apply for something without claiming it? Surely if you apply for something and go through the assessment, you are claiming it?

What would be the point of applying, waiting for the benefit to be awarded, and then turning down the money?

LadyKenya · 27/11/2025 09:11

Bringemout · 27/11/2025 05:57

Sorry but stuff like removing the child benefit cap is ridiculous, no-one needs 6 kids especially if you never had a chance in hell of actually being able to support them. You can get a mobility car for fucking anxiety, it’s ridiculous!

🥱 Not this weaselly lie again! Educate yourself please.

KilkennyCats · 27/11/2025 09:00

Trumpisacunt · 27/11/2025 03:06

Pip payments can be spent on anything so I'm not sure why its supposed to be spent on 'therapy' .Just another typical comment from someone who doesnt achieve a clue how the system works and decides to believe the propaganda.

Why is it awarded if not to address a particular need?

HostaCentral · 27/11/2025 08:27

There are too many net takers, it's unsustainable.

BBC piece focused on a 26 year old young lady, 4 kids under 8, one with SEN, in temp accomodation. No social housing available. Single, not working. The usual questions arise, where is the father/s, why did she have so many kids at such a young age, what the hell did she expect.

Gilead · 27/11/2025 07:06

@Bringemout no of course you can’t. There are varying levels of PiP.

OP posts:
Size18onagoodday · 27/11/2025 06:03

A slightly odd thread, OP.

Bringemout · 27/11/2025 05:57

Sorry but stuff like removing the child benefit cap is ridiculous, no-one needs 6 kids especially if you never had a chance in hell of actually being able to support them. You can get a mobility car for fucking anxiety, it’s ridiculous!

labamba18 · 27/11/2025 04:32

HelenaWaiting · 27/11/2025 03:51

Those figures mean zip unless you present them as a percentage of GDP. Of course you can't do that, because it wouldn't present the picture you want it to.

Yes it’s stayed at 10% ish, however that is of a stagnating economy. GDP growth has been weak over the past decade and taking the same percentage is harder to fund.

On top of that, welfare costs are being driven by factors that are getting worse, not better: high housing costs, low productivity, rising disability claims, and a huge increase in people out of the workforce. If those trends continue, welfare will take more of GDP in the future.

HelenaWaiting · 27/11/2025 03:51

labamba18 · 27/11/2025 03:40

Benefits bill was 36 billion in 2020.

It’s now 52 billion.

14 billion in 5 years.

And it’s predicted to be 75 billion by 2030

That is not just the case of adding people with high rent.

But whatever way you slice it, this is unsustainable. And the people who will be hurt the most are those most vulnerable who need welfare.

I don’t want to see the welfare system collapse. I have people close to me who are severely disabled who rely on that as a lifeline.

But that is where we are headed. And it’s a dangerous place to be!

Those figures mean zip unless you present them as a percentage of GDP. Of course you can't do that, because it wouldn't present the picture you want it to.