To think my Blind husband should not be loosing his benefits

[Condemned]

My husband is registered blind. He has a degenerative eye condition and used to work for the NHS as a psychiatric nurse. When he became blind he had to give up work and received Incapacity benefit and DLA. Under the Welfare Reform Bill his Incapacity Benefit will be migrated to Employment Support Allowance (ESA). This benefit is quite complex but the only people who will receive it beyond 12 months are people so disabled to be in the support group (and this does not include blind people). He will loose his ESA after 12 months (which will be judged retrospectively so he will loose it as soon as he is re-assessed). He will not be entitled to means tested benefits as I work. I am self employed so work is sporadic but as I earn more then the minimum wage he will be entitled to nothing. In 2014 his DLA will be changed to Personal Independence Payment and he could loose this as well.
Is this the actions of a civilized society?

I agree that blind people shouldn't automatically be given benefits. Many blind people do work - I have worked with 1 totally blind person and 1 with severe sight difficulties.

Of course many people would need to retrain in your husbands position and help should be given to identify possible careers and retraining given.

If I remember rightly it was David Blunkett who is blind who kicked up a fuss about blind people in the benefits system automatically beinga ssumed as not fit for work.

YANBU that is really unfair. So he won't get anything other than DLA which may be withdrawn for him after 2014? I'm sorry I don't know what to suggest to help you, maybe others will have more advice.

My Incapacity has already migrated, it only requires a medical, when you go for the medical you have to be as you are on your worse day scenario. Am sure he would pass and migrating is nothing to worry about.

You have in effect three years to worry, and you really have no way of knowing right now how it will affect you fully.

I think there are cruel elements to the proposed Tory benefit changes.

The disabled and the young mums are going to be given a rough ride unless changes are made as Camerons bil goes through parliament

No it is not the actions of a civilised society but of a toff-led callous government.

They virtually gave way to millionaire bankers. And the Tory party got £11m quid from City donors

I'm rather with lesley33. I don't think you're being unreasonable exactly, but perhaps you're both thinking too narrowly that his working life is automatically over due to his loss of sight? Could he retrain in a different role or find a role that uses his previous skills differently? Would the RNIB be able to help him?

Personal independence payment, like DLA is supoosed to be for help people need with basic tasks they can't do themselves. Some people with sight problems can do everything themselves others need help.

So again I think it has to be judged individually and not just given automatically. Lots of people don't realise that the term blind actually covers a wide range of visual impairments with differing levels of sight.

Why can't your husband work though? Surely he can retrain to do something else?

I'm rather with lesley33. I don't think you're being unreasonable exactly, but perhaps you're both thinking too narrowly that his working life is automatically over due to his loss of sight? Could he retrain in a different role or find a role that uses his previous skills differently? Would the RNIB be able to help him?

Good advice. I only know one blind person and he works. Obviously jobs are limited but not out of the question.

Action for Blind people reccently carried out a survey and 92% of employers said that they would find it impossible or very difficult to employ a blind or visually impaired person. What do you suggest he re-trains as Lesley33. Of course some blind people work I have also worked with people with all sorts of disabilities. Stephen Hawkins works so maybe no disabled people should get any benefits. I hope you never loose your sight with an attitude like that.
Are you aware of the rise in umemployment figures I am sure that my blind but 'retrained' husband will at the front of the queue in front of all those young graduates who can't find work!!

Goodness OP, what an amazingly negative attitude. Do you see your husband as a victim? Is that why you don't think he can work?

I am flabbergasted that so many people think that in the 30 odd years that my husband has been loosing his sight that he and I have not thought of options and been in cintact with the RNIB. He was on the phone to then this morning and they are opposing this check out their website. Morticia the fact thet you only know one peron and he works is probably because most blind people don't so you are unlikley to meet them inn the workplace. Blindness is not a deliberate act and does not deserve punishment or blame which is what is happening and what you are suggesting. My husband paid national INSURANCE as we all do so we can be helped when we really need it. you are very fortunate to get through life if you don't really need it. Anyway I am leaving this discussion as I am too upset to continue and am unable to tell my husband some of the responses on here as he is stressed and frightened enough already

CONDEMNED is talking sense . Most other posters need to read the research. Good research is better than prejudice. cheers "Gabby"

"The disabled and the young mums are going to be given a rough ride"

I disagree Gabby, there are no proposals that target young mums that I have seen, Tackling non working parents yes but nothing aimed at young mums.

The disabled benefit system needs to change in order to be sustainable. Nobody should be written off working just because they have x, y or z. Those truly unable to do any form of work to support themself will be covered by the welfare state, those that could work will be encouraged to do so.

Actually my father is registered blind and he runs a busy restaurant. Actually he owns it now but he didn't at the beginning.

And I know a blind guy who works at a call centre I help design. He's a bit grumpy but guess you find those types everywhere, its not related to his disability but I totally give him kudos for working.

So yes I understand that blindness precludes your husband from working in most jobs but there are jobs he could do and I don't think asking him to seek suitable work is unreasonable in return for his benefits.

I am sorry if I come across as unsympathetic. Of course this must be a traumatic experience for both of you.

But in terms of disability and chronic illness I think there are roughly 2 kinds of people.

1. People who reasonably couldn't be expected to get a job. I would put Stephen Hawkings disability in this category. Of course people in this category will rarely get a job; but it would be unreasonable to EXPECT people in this category to get a job.

1. People who can't do some jobs but can do others. This may include people who have to leave a job they were doing. I am included in this category. I have a rare lung disorder which means I have lung damage which is very slowly getting worse (don't flame me - its not caused by smoking or anything i do!).

One of the things I geta nnoyed about is that there are many many people working who fall into this category. My partner has a rare genetic disorder affecting bones; a colleague has Cushing's - a nasty illness; another colleague has multiple sclerosis.

I had to move from my job working with children as my lung disorder means this became impossible for me to do.

I am not saying your husband should be working. I think each case has to be assessed individually. However I do think having a visual impairment doesn't automatically mean that you won't be able to work.

I realise many employers discriminate against people with all sorts of disabilities. But employers discriminate against mothers with young children; black people; people who have criminal records, etc. Surely you wouldn't suggest that all of these people should automatically be given benefits because of discrimination by employers.

I really am not trying to belittle the difficulties you face, but I honestly think the situation is more complex than everyone who is visually impaired should automatically get benefits.

BTW I work in the charity sector - only part time now. But the charity sector IME tend to be much more open to employing people with disabilities.

Being able to work and being able to get a job are two different things.
Employers need a lot of encouragement to see past a disability.

We should continue to support people who can't get a job, not just people who can't do one at all.
Off course it is all part of the plan to erode the welfare state down to nothing.

I feel for you condemmed. I see my own (in no way disabled) sisters/ friends struggling to find work. It's hard enough for a seeing able-bodied graduate to find work, let alone a blind man who is retrained in an area he has no previous experience in. He would sadly be just too difficult for many employers to employee.

Well said, Gabby. Will borrow your phrase for RL use, if you don't mind.

OP,YANBU in the slightest and I'm sorry the system is causing you, and huge numbers of others in your situation, such worry.

My DP used to work with a man who was blind. This is in the Civil Service and the man got his job prior to our lovely new government. He uses specialist software which enables him to use a computer, he is also allowed to bring his guide dog with him to work (apparently the dog was a massive hit in the office). Obviously there are going to be cases where some people who are blind can work, to automatically assume disabled people can't work without weighing up their circumstances is unfair.

BUT it must be remembered that it's much much harder for disabled people to find work than it is for non disabled people (and it's hard enough for them at the moment). I'm currently job seeking and the fact that I lost my previous job due to the amount of disability related sickness I had to take last year isn't making me attractive to employers.

Lesley ...you were right to pull back. It did seem callous. (you probably would not say that to their face),,,,men feel unable to apologise, they wrongly think it shows weakness. It can show just the opposite.)

It is no good thinking we can stick out our chests and feel big when being anonymously critical of disabled people.

David Cameron will not rush to look them in the eye. He just goes for Tory photo opportunities

We mumsnetters can do better than that. cheers "Gabby"

IMO your DH should be given support by the state ... because he is currently unable to find work (and not because he is blind).

andy additional 'benefits' related to disability are there to compensate for the additional exenses associated with the dsiability not to compensate for the lack of work.

muddleduck Do you work for the Dep of work and pensions?

Employers have a legal obligation to give work to disabled people. (The numbers are small and the disability is often minor) Employers call the shots. And often do as they like. Cheers. "Gabby"

Cityhobgoblin use the phrase if you wish. I have created a few good ones. "Gabby"

YANBU. and no, this is not the action of a civilised society. I really feel for you and the many others who have just been shafted by this government.

I popped back and thank you for the people who have posted views that acknowledge the reality of looking for work with a disabiity. Yes all peoplee face discrimination but if you are discriminated due to race or sex this is because people unfairly feel that you are not good enough for the job. If you have a disability or people see the words 'registered blind' they have may have some well founded concerns about if that person is capable of doing the work, will it take longer and or the additional costs that might be involved.
Employers do not want to employ blind people. In any case we are faced with loosing a significant portion of our household income very soon and that is obviously our major concern.