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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Disability cuts

298 replies

Springsummer123 · 12/03/2016 08:35

Name changed as obviously sensitive subject and don't want to put myself .i possibly don't know enough on this so am interested in other views . I may have only seen a small percentage - I'm insure ?
I have 2 sisters . One has had a stroke .which had devestated the family . She is quite well off yet has been upset she will loose a benifit that I believe is for her husband being her carer . Ok discussion to try to ease her fears it's very clear they don't need it . They can afford all care , holidays good standard of living on her payout . Number of property's all fully owned out right . Yet she thinks she should get it as some sort of compensation for the stroke .i can see why she would be angry with life but she doesn't need the money ? Surely it's right to be cut ?
My second sister works with adults with autism . She was saying they are struggling to spend the last part of their money entitlement before the next claim . I know they have holidays etc and their is still money over ( my sister accompanied many times )
So I'm wondering in some cases should the disability benifits be cut ?

OP posts:
Obs2016 · 12/03/2016 12:45

The disability cuts are a disgrace. How anyone can argue is beyond me.

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 12/03/2016 12:45

And this government
Well
Words fail me

Twirlywoooo · 12/03/2016 12:46

I've only read the OP thus far and all I can say as a parent to a child with Aspergers is, a big, fat, ODFOD
Goady fecker.

OccamsRazorSharpner · 12/03/2016 12:49
Biscuit
SilverDragonfly1 · 12/03/2016 12:51

Thanks hobnob. Heaven forbid disabled people be allowed to accrue any money for future eventualities.

Twirlywoooo · 12/03/2016 12:53

Having just read the rest of the thread, HQ let it stay. Im happy for you to delete my post the sentiment still stands

Dollymixtureyumyum · 12/03/2016 12:55

Op fuck off to the far side of fuck and then fuck off again

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 12/03/2016 12:56

I also have a relative who works with adults with LD and they have to do the same and they struggle to spend the money

Well do more nice things with them the whole year round then

Sallystyle · 12/03/2016 13:00

It's a pretty wide range, some get a lot of money and others have very little.

Basically they have their own bank accounts and the people who provide the funding can check their bank accounts and if there is a lot of money left over they will say they don't need it and then the funding will go right down. It's ridiculous to me because I can't see why they shouldn't be able to save their own money.

I never really dealt with the money side of things that much and I didn't work there long term so I don't know all the ins and outs.

Just to be clear, I'm in no way agreeing with the OP's stance on this. I think it is disgusting what is happening and it is currently a big worry of mine with dh soon to be moving over to PIP.

Sallystyle · 12/03/2016 13:04

Well do more nice things with them the whole year round then

Oh they do. Meals out, cinemas, trip to the zoos, weekends away, theatre and all sorts.

I'm not sure why you think that they aren't doing this?

I'm very much on the same 'side' as you and agree with all of your posts when these discussions come up. I am just pointing out that while I don't agree with the OP at all, what her sister said can be very true.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 12/03/2016 13:06

So we should take away from adults with LDs?

MessedUpWheelieBin · 12/03/2016 13:07

I can say this has a lot of truth in it. I know this for a fact as I worked in a supported home for adults with DS and we had to go out for meals and extra holidays to spend the money or we ran the risk of losing the funding. I also have a relative who works with adults with LD and they have to do the same and they struggle to spend the money.

Whereas thanks to my PIP I'm working among other things with people living in care on the absolute breadline. They're mainly spending their days waiting for painfully basic meals then waiting all day to go back to bed having done nothing because there’s no spare money. Many used to have MC lives and professions. Most are now not considered to have capacity, but many given assistance do have, but easier and cheaper to treat them as not.
Some know how bad their lives are and all I can do is acknowledge and commiserate.

The personal allowance is £25 pw and the home generally spends it for them and gives them no choice on what or how. It has to cover clothes, hygiene products etc and there's little concern over ensuring people get to wear their own clothes etc and they aren't allowed towels in their rooms. I do know some of it is taken of them for their once a week 1 hour activity session. Most don't actually get to go to it, but they're billed for it.

Sallystyle · 12/03/2016 13:08

Have you read my posts?

I think I made it very clear that I don't agree with cutting disability benefits at all. I couldn't have been more clearer.

I am a carer for my husband and my child. I have two children with special needs. This affects me just as much as it does others.

SilverDragonfly1 · 12/03/2016 13:09

I don't think U2 is saying that at all. Just explaining that there is an excess of money in some very specialised situations, which less educated people can use to generalise across the board.

That is just as much a failing on the part of the government as the cuts.

Sallystyle · 12/03/2016 13:11

Whereas thanks to my PIP I'm working among other things with people living in care on the absolute breadline. They're mainly spending their days waiting for painfully basic meals then waiting all day to go back to bed having done nothing because there’s no spare money. Many used to have MC lives and professions. Most are now not considered to have capacity, but many given assistance do have, but easier and cheaper to treat them as not.

It's disgusting and it isn't fair and I hate this fucking government.

I have met many people like you who are disabled and struggling with the bare basics. It's awful.

Rebecca2014 · 12/03/2016 13:14

Why isn't this getting more press? We mananged to take down the Tories over tax credits cuts, why not this?

Sallystyle · 12/03/2016 13:14

Thank you Silver

You put it much better than me. I tried to be really careful to make it clear that I don't agree with any cuts. How could I when i'm a carer to two people and a mother of two special needs children?

potap123 · 12/03/2016 13:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 12/03/2016 13:16

Yes I'm just asking what you think the answer is?

If it's not to take it away I don't see the benefit in mentioning it here to reinforce people's ideas about people with disability benefits receiving too much.

This is not personal and i have nothing against you as a poster.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 12/03/2016 13:20

Don't want to cause any offence. Am posting while doing 10000 other things

MessedUpWheelieBin · 12/03/2016 13:22

U2 not sure if you're post is to do with mine, but please know I wasn't having a go at you, just trying to offer up the other side to the story of what some people in specialised care are getting.
(on that note I have to go there now.)

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 12/03/2016 13:24

Excelleny post potap123
As someone who works in the VI "world" your experience is sadly by no means unique

SilverDragonfly1 · 12/03/2016 13:25

Fanjo I know that wasn't @ me, but I think it's okay for people to point out things that are true in a thread like this. It doesn't mean that anyone wants to disadvantage adults with LDs. If we try and fudge issues that people who support the cuts bring up, it makes the rest of what we say appear biased and suspect.

The way it should work is that disabled people in care should be able to save up money if that's what they want to do and no facility should be pressured to spend every penny every year. Having a surplus of funds should be seen as a plus, not some kind of failure.

PhilPhilConnors · 12/03/2016 13:26

"Why isn't this getting more press? We mananged to take down the Tories over tax credits cuts, why not this?"
Because TC affected more people? Because many people who aren't disabled or don't have disabled children also seem to be completely lacking in the empathy department and can't see that every single one of us is one accident or health issue away from life changing disability, and if you can't afford to pay into umpteen insurance policies, disability can mean you're fucked.
Because it's a them and us situation.

Sallystyle · 12/03/2016 13:29

Why mention it? Because we are having a conversation I guess and I was sharing my experiences.

I didn't really think about it reinforcing people's ignorant views, so you are right, I probably shouldn't have said anything. That is the last thing I ever want to do.

Messedup I didn't think you were having a go at all.

No offence caused, I was just worrying that I came across as a GF and I was going to have to keep repeating that I don't agree with benefit cuts :)