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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

And so it begins...

96 replies

Dawndonnaagain · 08/05/2015 17:59

The first round of cuts affecting those with disabilities.

OP posts:
Jessica2point0 · 08/05/2015 19:42

hillingdon, stock markets like certainty. A clear majority is better than a coalition. That is not, in itself, an endorsement of the party in the majority. Any majority government was likely to see a rise in the stock market.

Besides which, it's a bit fucked up that we decide the pros and cons of a particular political landscape based (at least in part) on gamblers the stock market.

Dawndonnaagain · 08/05/2015 19:53

The usual suspects are on the thread saying the cuts cannot of course fall to them. Everyone else, just not them.
So you support cuts to people with disabilities then, Hillingdon?

Shock
OP posts:
SauvignonBlanche · 08/05/2015 19:57

Anyone saying that people with disabilities will not be worse off under a Consersative majority is either naive, deluded, stupid, or lying.

Stinkersmum · 08/05/2015 20:09

Where in the PDF - NOT THE ARTICLE - the PDF, does it say anything about cuts?

Hillingdon · 08/05/2015 20:24

I support genuinely disabled people. Of course Donna that wont be good enough for you I know.

SauvignonBlanche · 08/05/2015 20:36

Who decides who qualifies as the genuinely disabled people? Hmm

Hillingdon · 08/05/2015 20:41

Something needs to done to stop the bloated welfare state. Full stop. The Tories will be hopefully be the ones to do it.

If you are relying on the state certain checks need to done. You cannot just expect a cursory check and then that is it forever.

SauvignonBlanche · 08/05/2015 20:50

Like this Hillingdon? Hmm

Terry McGarvey, 48. Dangerously ill from polycytheamia, Terry asked for an ambulance to be called during his Work Capability Assessment. He knew that he wasn’t well enough to attend his WCA but feared that his benefits would be stopped if he did not. He died the following day.

Elaine Lowe, 53. Suffering from COPD and fearful of losing her benefits. In desperation, Elaine chose to commit suicide.

Mark Wood, 44. Found fit for work by Atos, against his Doctors advice and assertions that he had complex mental health problems. Starved to death after benefits stopped, weighing only 5st 8lb when he died.

Paul Reekie, 48, the Leith based Poet and Author. Suffered from severe depression. Committed suicide after DWP stopped his benefits due to an Atos ‘fit for work’ decision.

Leanne Chambers, 30. Suffered depression for many years which took a turn for the worst when she was called in for a WCA. Leanne committed suicide soon after.

Karen Sherlock, 44. Multiple health issues. Found fit for work by Atos and denied benefits. Fought a long battle to get placed into the support group of ESA. Karen died the following month of a heart attack.

Carl Payne, 42. Fears of losing his lifeline benefits due to welfare reform led this Father of two to take his own life.

Tim Salter, 53. Blind and suffering from Agoraphobia. Tim hanged himself after Atos found him fit for work and stopped his benefits.

Edward Jacques, 47 years old and suffering from HIV and Hepatitis C. Edward had a history of severe depression and self-harm. He took a fatal overdose after Atos found him fit for work and stopped his benefits.

Linda Wootton, 49 years old. A double heart and lung transplant patient. Died just nine days after the government found her fit for work, their refusal letter arriving as she lay desperately ill in her hospital bed.

Steven Cawthra, 55. His benefits stopped by the DWP and with rising debts, he saw suicide as the only way out of a desperate situation.

Elenore Tatton, 39 years old. Died just weeks after the government found her fit for work.

John Walker, 57, saddled with debt because of the bedroom tax, John took his own life.

Brian McArdle, 57 years old. Suffered a fatal heart attack the day after his disability benefits were stopped.

Stephen Hill, 53. Died of a heart attack one month after being found fit for work, even though he was waiting for major heart surgery.

Jacqueline Harris, 53. A former Nurse who could hardly walk was found fit for work by Atos and her benefits withdrawn. in desperation, she took her own life.

David Barr, 28. Suffering from severe mental difficulties. Threw himself from a bridge after being found fit for work by Atos and failing his appeal.

David Groves, 56. Died of a heart attack the night before taking his work capability assessment. His widow claimed that it was the stress that killed him.

Nicholas Peter Barker, 51. Shot himself after being told his benefits were being stopped. He was unable to work after a brain haemorrhage left him paralysed down one side.

Mark and Helen Mullins, 48 and 59 years old. Forced to live on £57.50 a week and make 12 mile trips each week to get free vegetables to make soup. Mark and Helen both committed suicide.

Richard Sanderson, 44. Unable to find a job and with his housing benefit cut forcing him to move, but with nowhere to go. Richard committed suicide.

Martin Rust, 36 years old. A schizophrenic man who killed himself two months after the government found him fit to work.

Craig Monk, 43. A vulnerable gentleman and a partial amputee who slipped so far into poverty that he hanged himself.

Colin Traynor, 29, and suffering from epilepsy was stripped of his benefits. He appealed. Five weeks after his death his family found he had won his appeal.

Elaine Christian, 57 years old. Worried about her work capability assessment, she was subsequently found at Holderness drain, drowned and with ten self inflicted wrist wounds.

Christelle and Kayjah Pardoe, 32 years and 5 month old. Pregnant, her benefits stopped, Christelle, clutching her baby son jumped from a third floor balcony.

Mark Scott, 46. His DLA and housing benefit stopped and sinking into deep depression, Mark died six weeks later.

Cecilia Burns, 51. Found fit for work while undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She died just a few weeks after she won her appeal against the Atos decision.

Chris Cann, 57 years old. Found dead in his home just months after being told he had to undergo a medical assessment to prove he could not work.

Peter Hodgson, 49. Called to JCP to see if he was suitable for volunteer work. Peter had suffered a stroke, a brain haemorrhage and had a fused leg. His appointment letter arrived a few days after he took his own life.

Paul Willcoxsin, 33 years old. Suffered with mental health problems and worried about government cuts. Paul committed suicide by hanging himself.

Stephanie Bottrill, 53. After paying £80 a month for bedroom tax, Stephanie could not afford heating in the winter, and lived on tinned custard. In desperation, she chose to walk in front of a lorry.

Larry Newman suffered from a degenerative lung condition, his weight dropping from 10 to 7 stone. Atos awarded him zero points, he died just three months after submitting his appeal.

Paul Turner, 52 years old. After suffering a heart attack, he was ordered to find a job in February. In April Paul died from ischaemic heart disease.

Christopher Charles Harkness, 39. After finding out that the funding for his care home was being withdrawn, this man who suffered with mental health issues, took his own life.

Sandra Louise Moon, 57. Suffering from a degenerative back condition, depression and increasingly worried about losing her incapacity benefit. Sandra committed suicide by taking an overdose.

Lee Robinson, 39 years old. Took his own life after his housing benefit and council tax were taken away from him.

David Coupe, 57. A Cancer sufferer found fit for work by Atos in 2012. David lost his sight, then his hearing, then his mobility, and then his life.

Michael McNicholas, 34. Severely depressed and a recovering alcoholic. Michael committed suicide after being called in for a Work Capability Assessment by Atos.

Victor Cuff, 59 and suffering from severe depression. Victor hanged himself after the DWP stopped his benefits.

Charles Barden, 74. Charles committed suicide by hanging due to fears that the Bedroom Tax would leave him destitute and unable to cope.

Ian Caress, 43. Suffered multiple health issues and deteriorating eyesight. Ian was found fit for work by Atos, he died ten months later having lost so much weight that his family said that he resembled a concentration camp victim.

Iain Hodge, 30. Suffered from the life threatening illness, Hughes Syndrome. Found fit for work by Atos and benefits stopped, Iain took his own life.

Wayne Grew, 37. Severely depressed due to government cuts and the fear of losing his job, Wayne committed suicide by hanging.

Kevin Bennett, 40. Kevin a sufferer of schizophrenia and mental illness became so depressed after his JSA was stopped that he became a virtual recluse. Kevin was found dead in his flat several months later.

David Elwyn Hughs Harries, 48. A disabled man who could no longer cope after his parents died, could find no help from the government via benefits. David took an overdose as a way out of his solitude.

Denis Jones, 58. A disabled man crushed by the pressures of government cuts, in particular the Bedroom Tax, and unable to survive by himself. Denis was found dead in his flat.

Shaun Pilkington, 58. Unable to cope any more, Shaun shot himself dead after receiving a letter from the DWP informing him that his ESA was being stopped.

Paul ?, 51. Died in a freezing cold flat after his ESA was stopped. Paul appealed the decision and won on the day that he lost his battle to live.

Chris MaGuire, 61. Deeply depressed and incapable of work, Chris was summonsed by Atos for a Work Capability Assessment and deemed fit for work. On appeal, a judge overturned the Atos decision and ordered them to leave him alone for at least a year, which they did not do. In desperation, Chris took his own life, unable to cope anymore.

Peter Duut, a Dutch national with terminal cancer living in the UK for many years found that he was not entitled to benefits unless he was active in the labour market. Peter died leaving his wife destitute, and unable to pay for his funeral.

George Scollen, age unknown. Took his own life after the government closed the Remploy factory he had worked in for 40 years.

Julian Little, 47. Wheelchair bound and suffering from kidney failure, Julian faced the harsh restrictions of the Bedroom Tax and the loss of his essential dialysis room. He died shortly after being ordered to downgrade.

Miss DE, Early 50’s. Suffering from mental illness, this lady committed suicide less than a month after an Atos assessor gave her zero points and declared her fit for work.

Robert Barlow, 47. Suffering from a brain tumour, a heart defect and awaiting a transplant, Robert was deemed fit for work by Atos and his benefits were withdrawn. He died penniless less than two years later.

Carl Joseph Foster-Brown, 58. As a direct consequence of the wholly unjustifiable actions of the Job centre and DWP, this man took his own life.

Martin Hadfield, 20 years old. Disillusioned with the lack of jobs available in this country but too proud to claim benefits. Utterly demoralised, Martin took his own life by hanging himself.

Annette Francis, 30. A mum-of-one suffering from severe mental illness, found dead after her disability benefits were ceased.

Ian Jordan, 60. His benefits slashed after Atos and the DWP declared Ian, a sufferer of Barratt’s Oesophagus, fit for work, caused him to run up massive debts in order to survive. Ian was found dead in his flat after taking an overdose.

Janet McCall, 53. Terminally ill with pulmonary fibrosis and declared ‘Fit for Work’ by Atos and the DWP, this lady died 5 months after her benefits were stopped.

Stuart Holley, 23. A man driven to suicide by the DWP’s incessant pressure and threat of sanctions for not being able to find a job.

Graham Shawcross, 63. A sufferer of the debilitating disease, Addison’s. Died of a heart attack due to the stress of an Atos ‘Fit for Work’ decision.

David Clapson, 59 years old. A diabetic ex-soldier deprived of the means to survive by the DWP and the governments harsh welfare reforms, David died all but penniless, starving and alone, his electricity run out.

Chris Smith, 59. Declared ‘Fit for Work’ by Atos as he lay dying of Cancer in his hospital bed.

Nathan Hartwell, 36, died of heart failure after an 18-month battle with the ­Department for Works and Pensions.

Michael Connolly, 60. A Father of One, increasingly worried about finances after his benefits were cut. Committed suicide by taking 13 times the fatal dose of prescription medicine on the 30th October – His Birthday.

Jan Mandeville, 52, A lady suffering from Fibromyalgia, driven to the point of mental and physical breakdown by this governments welfare reforms. Jan was found dead in her home after battling the DWP for ESA and DLA.

Trevor Drakard, 50 years old. A shy and reserved, severe epileptic who suffered regular and terrifying fits almost his entire life, hounded to suicide by the DWP who threatened to stop his life-line benefits.

caroldecker · 08/05/2015 20:53

Where is any evidence that any of these deaths were caused by the current govt?

YouTheCat · 08/05/2015 20:57

Something needs to be done to stop the bloated bankers - not the welfare state. Most welfare goes on pensions. The next highest amount goes on in work benefits.

Maybe if employers paid a living wage we wouldn't need working tax credit?

Without this money, how are people with disabilities supposed to have the opportunity to support themselves?

Stickytoffeepuddingplease · 08/05/2015 21:02

Shall we discuss each of the 1400 deaths at the West Staffs hospital under Labours Watch?

Or how about Rotherham Council? Again under Labours watch.

Thought not.

Hillingdon · 08/05/2015 21:09

Some of these are just out of context and leftie proganda. Labour are out, everyone is going to have to have a rethink about how it affects them. George's Scollen lost his job so killed himself. Sadly people kill themselves all the time, how that is the fault of a Conservative is beyond me.

The Wesr staffs Hospital was truly shocking. I have worked for many years with health authorities as a supplier, the waste, disorganisation is just staggering. It will take a brave government to root this out and tackle it.

SeenSheen · 08/05/2015 21:11

Who decides who qualifies as the genuinely disabled people? hmm

Surely the more stringent the checks to root out the non genuine ones, the more money left to spend on the most deserving?

SeenSheen · 08/05/2015 21:11

Who decides who qualifies as the genuinely disabled people? hmm

Surely the more stringent the checks to root out the non genuine ones, the more money left to spend on the most deserving?

EcclefechanTart · 08/05/2015 21:18

It doesn't matter really "whose watch" these people died on. What matters is that it is a shameful and shocking list of people who were found fit to work by a private company contracted by the governemnt while on their deathbeds, or who saw no alternative but to take their own lives in desperation because of government cuts. I can't believe anyone would read that and respond in the way posters on here have.

We are not even discussing party politics here. We are discussing the appalling impact the cuts are about to have on the weakest and most vulnerable members of society. Yes, it's a Tory govt which is doing this, and I would never in a million years vote for them - but I don't think that is the point. The point is that a very large number of people are being failed by these cuts and that this is absolutely shameful in a rich country like the UK.

EcclefechanTart · 08/05/2015 21:20

Where is any evidence that any of these deaths were caused by the current govt?

No, you are right. Clearly not all these deaths were caused by the current government. The woman who received her "fit to work" notice as she lay dying in hospital was killed by cancer, not the government. Does that make it OK that a government contractor sent her a notice that she had to work or have state support cut off?

Stickytoffeepuddingplease · 08/05/2015 21:22

Sauvignon... Where did all this information come from?

The guardian?

Also what evidence, as a pp said, is there that these deaths were under the current gov?

Also shouldn't you be more aware of the data protection act 1988 disclosing all that information on an Internet forum?

EcclefechanTart · 08/05/2015 21:22

Surely the more stringent the checks to root out the non genuine ones, the more money left to spend on the most deserving?

Yes, good point. Perhaps if a few more of them kill themselves well have more money left for the others too. Keep up the good work, Atos! Hmm

Hillingdon · 08/05/2015 21:22

There seems to be a defensive view that when you claim benefits you shouldn't be asked more than once. No checks should be done. How dare people ask you. A friend of mine adopted a child a few years ago. The questions she and her DH were asked didn't stop for months. But she recognised she needed to answer them not fight the process.

She is now the Mum to two lovely boys.

Hillingdon · 08/05/2015 21:23

It will shortly be stated that fraud is very very low and what about the bankers...

Aermingers · 08/05/2015 21:23

It says they are examining how much they are going to budget for it.

That's what governments do.

EcclefechanTart · 08/05/2015 21:26

The list is here: www.disabilityartsonline.org.uk/?location_id=1193&item=2517

Anything offensive to say about Disability Arts?

AWholeLottaNosy · 08/05/2015 21:28

They only got 36% of the vote, and as 30% did not vote, that is 36% of 70% which is roughly 23% of the population. 1 in 4 are easily lead, and ignorant probably far less venal.
75% of us suffer for our dreadful voting system.

YouTheCat · 08/05/2015 21:28

These are people we're talking about here.

How absolutely callous the attitude of some on here is. Regardless of the government, that is shitty behaviour.

A decent society protects its most vulnerable. I see very little decency about these days.

EcclefechanTart · 08/05/2015 21:30

A friend of mine adopted a child a few years ago

Yes, quite rightly you get asked a lot of questions before you get to raise a child. Thankfully if you get them wrong though you don't have your only means of living cut off so that you can't afford food. You don't get a note on your deathbed saying you should be at work. And usually those applying to adopt are in good mental health, not society's most vulnerable and marginalised.