Well this is a new fucking low....

[CherryMyBrandy]

Tories are now proposing to stop benefit claimant's access to medicines if they have been deemed not doing enough to look for work....

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/michael-heseltine-hate-politics-jobless-prescriptions-b2449412.html

It's not enough to sanction them, so they basically have next to no money to live on. Now they want to take away their access to medicines, some of those will of course be life-saving.

It’s not taking away medicines. It’s taking away free prescriptions. That’s only if they don’t engage with help for getting them back to work. Having purpose in your life and meeting people through work, plus the income it brings you, is good for mental health.

It’s not taking away medicines. It’s taking away free prescriptions.

As I said ...

It costs about £10 a month for a pre pay prescription card. Perhaps the majority got one there would be a saving to NHS rather than blanket free prescriptions?

@IClaudine even if that's the case that's a really tiny percent of people. The GOV are happy to sit by and let the majority believe it is more common than it actually is. we can start being realistic so 2 parent households and single parents cannot be expected to work the same amount of hours. Let's address why the government cap how much they will pay towards childcare costs?? Why is this? Because they know themselves it's not always finicially viable for a single parent to work 5 days a week. In my job there's no way I could afford childcare 5x during the week. 4 weekdays is the maximum and I work weekends when DS stays at his dad sometimes, I have that luxury though not everyone does.

Oh come on, their voters will love it.
Rip tents off the homeless and medicine of the work shy sick. Hmm, both things sound like the result will be people (undesirables) will die. Brilliant!

But @TigerRag his GP would gave had to sign him off with depression and then he would have had an assessment by another HCP. Otherwise he would not still be getting sickness/disability benefits. It is not easy to falsely claim these benefits.

They get free prescriptions because of a low income. Do you think that someone on UC of £368 per month has a spare £10 a month?

@TigerRag Yes, perhaps the gov stopped tv licence and did the pre payment prescription card then there would be no need to find an extra tenner.

@newnamethanks agree with you, let’s make Poverty a spectator sport

It’s not taking away medicines. It’s taking away free prescriptions. That’s only if they don’t engage with help for getting them back to work. Having purpose in your life and meeting people through work, plus the income it brings you, is good for mental health.

It's not just people with poor mental health though, is it? And if the prescription isn't free then they can't get the medicines can they? So, yes. It is taking away the medication, isn't it?

Also working isn't a magical cure for poor mental health either. Especially people with severe anxiety and other disabilities which maybe affects how they interact with people and the impact it has on them in return.

My sentiments exactly.

This is disgusting.

@iklboo well if they have physical ill health but engage with the system they will still get free prescriptions. This is for people who don’t go to PIP assessments or take any help from programmes to get them into some sort of employment.

I don't think you understand the benefits system. PIP is an in work benefit and does not qualify recipients for free prescriptions in England.

So are you saying that there isn't anyone at all who has ever managed to hoodwink GPs and the DWP into believing that they are unwell when they're not? Or are you saying (like I am), that yes, the majority of people on disability benefits are genuine however there are some who do slip through the system?

You can get signed off with depression and get given a prescription for antidepressants at the drop of a hat by the GP.

So people with autism, BPD, ADHD, PTSD, agoraphobia, bipolar disorder, ED, etc etc etc are going to magically become able to navigate these complicated systems, attend appointments and courses, and hold down a job just because we threaten to take away their medication?

Despite what a lot of people assume "mental health" isn't just feeling a bit sad now and then or liking to have a lie-in.

You don't get signed off as unfit for work easily, that's not the same process as getting a prescription for ADs. Because most people with depression work.

You appear either to not understand the process, or you could be misrepresenting on purpose.

This policy is not going to fix anything, it is intended simply to appeal to those voters who have an emotional liking for harshness.

You can get signed off with depression and get given a prescription for antidepressants at the drop of a hat by the GP

Kindly explain how, please?

I ask because my daughter is currently being assessed for BPD and autism having recently made several suicide attempts and I cannot get her "signed off". I still have to help her fight UC for every penny she gets and she still gets regularly sanctioned for being unable to attend appointments. The very nature of her condition makes it difficult for her to "engage" even with people she knows well.

If she loses her entitlement to free prescriptions for medications she takes to reduce the chance of her killing herself, I will pay for it for her, but what about the thousands of people like her who don't have anyone willing or able to fund them?

They should get free prescriptions.

It is taking away something they can't afford, simply to perform being harsh.

It's a disgusting policy.

I understand perfectly well. Perhaps you do not understand or are deliberately misinterpreting? The GP can sign you off as unfit for work for a period of time. I recently got the GP to do so for me a couple of months ago. I was referring to the pp who said that a GP would have to sign you off for work.

You can get a sick note, which is what you are referring to. To get one you have to attend the GP. Ime, they do not like to give them for longer than 4 weeks at a time.

Can you seriously not envision any kind of physical or mental illness that might make booking and attending regular GP appointments difficult?

Yes that's exactly what I'm referring to. A sick note. Where you get signed off work for a period of time. And....?

And can I not envision any kind of illness that may make it difficultto attend a GP appt.....? What has that got to do with anything that I said? Are we just making random responses up on this thread now to things people have never said?

OK, so let's say someone is well enough to get out of bed, pick up the phone, speak to a stranger to make an appointment, get dressed, leave the house, speak to another stranger to get a sick note.

(Each one of those steps is extremely difficult for someone with undiagnosed or unmanaged autism or BPD)

They then get 4 weeks where they do not have UC sanctioning them.

What happens if they are not well enough to do that again after those 4 weeks? Atm, they are financially sanctioned for missing UC appointments, so paying for prescriptions is likely not possible. How is taking away medications that help them manage their condition going to help them find work?

Actually you're all probably right. No one has ever falsely claimed disability benefits in this country ever. Not one single person. Every single person on disability benefits is genuine 🙄

@Frequency yes, well people with jobs also have to make themselves get up and go in when they don’t feel like it. Fix up difficult appointments and give up free time. Also they pay for their prescriptions. It’s called being a responsible adult.

Again, where have I ever said anything about people's abilities to attend GP appointments etc? A pp and I were talking about a family member of mine who claims disability benefits. Are you sure you're responding to the right poster, @Frequency ?