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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not understand how people can justify it

667 replies

ijustdontunderstand · 14/03/2016 18:16

Okay, not a bun fight I just want to understand how those who vote Tory can think the cuts to disability benefits are OK.

This is NOT saying if you vote Tory you're a bad person, at all, I just want to understand. Will you vote them in again knowing?

OP posts:
rumbleinthrjungle · 14/03/2016 20:56

I'm not a tory voter, but I have the old problem of whoever I vote for the government always get in.

I'm chronically ill and disabled. Ten years ago I was a professional at the top of my game with a high powered career ahead of me and everything set for a large private pension, the game changed overnight when I got ill. Now I'm unemployable due to government led sickness absence policies that insist disabled people should work but won't accept that some disabled people have good days and bad days. I never know from one day to the next how I'll feel and can go from a productive day where no one would know to one where it's not possible to wash, dress, sit up for more than a few minutes or get myself something to eat never mind go to work for eight hours. However I will never qualify for disability benefit, so I'm politically stuffed working and I'm politically stuffed not working, and this all happened to me under the Labour govt, I don't look back on that as a land of milk and honey. Pension? Forget it. No way I can afford to save for that and the state pension is likely to be gone by the time I need it. So is free health care.

I can only hope that going forward they legalise voluntary euthanasia, as I honestly worry there may come a time where I have no other viable alternative.

lighteningirl · 14/03/2016 20:56

I don't support cuts for genuine disability MH or otherwise but the benefit culture (speaking as someone who ran a post office for twenty years) went rampant under Labour and needs reorganizing. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to look at the pain and distress a country running out of money caused in Greece. We have to be more mindful or there won't be any money at all.

Owllady · 14/03/2016 20:57

This thread isn't about tax credits Hmm

peggyundercrackers · 14/03/2016 21:02

Long jumping why should people have to work overtime to make a living?

LuisSuarezTeeth · 14/03/2016 21:03

rumble Flowers

MinniedeMinx · 14/03/2016 21:06

Has everyone conveniently forgotten that Labour had to bail out the banks, and the next year they refused to repay the money, and then paid themselves even more in bonuses?

No, I did not vote Tory. My conscience wont let me. I dont like the 'modern' Labour party. I look at conditions in the modern work place and think a lot of people act like they are scared to speak out. That worries me.

There were very different conditions in the 1980's. The Tories abolished a lot of working practices and benefits that led to the situation today.
For example, the jobs that 'British people dont want to do'. they dont exist. It was Tory policies that made it impossible for people to do them.

People used to be able to sign on, work a temp job for a week and just suspend their benefits for that week. The system worked pretty well, your boss would sign your (P45/6?) green form, your CHB would be unaffected. It pretty much worked on trust.

And thats something the Tories despise. So they abolished that system, and people could no longer work temp jobs. Then they were able to make snarky comments about the 'workshy' - and that coming from people who have never worked in the fields picking potatoes and onions, or cleaned a toilet.

Babylove2015 · 14/03/2016 21:10

After the news about the new housing bill. I will be voting Tory all the way. I don't want my children growing up in a country where depriving the genuinely needy such as the homeless and those who genuinely can't work ie disabled/ mentally ill is acceptable because the university educated/ high earners ( I'm too good to struggle and pay rent/ a mortgage like everyone else) and the healthy but work shy, think life is about being spongers and holding onto a council house for life.

longjumping · 14/03/2016 21:11

Of course I have read the original post. I reported someone for illegally claiming DLA. There was nothing wrong with them. They even recommended it to me and told me how to get away with it. Not everyone who gets disability benefit needs the money, and it should be based on need. People seem to consider it an entitlement.
I tried to explain our welfare system to people in Singapore where there is little if any state welfare. They could not believe that people who do not go to work get paid by the rest of the tax payers.
Coffee.....how can reducing your benefit prevent you from going out?
And please can we have a civilised debate without all the swearing and name calling?

chilipepper20 · 14/03/2016 21:13

yes, labour is shit. there are a bunch of other parties that haven't caused the damage the two main ones have. so 'labour is shit" isn't a good excuse to vote tory.

longjumping · 14/03/2016 21:13

Peggyunder......I am not saying that people should have to work overtime to make a living.....I am saying that if they want the extra money they should earn it and not ask me for it.....because I am a tax payer and, indirectly I am paying it.

shazzarooney99 · 14/03/2016 21:14

Owllady ,not read through but tax credits is a benefit, it will come to everyone, even though on tax credits, mark my words.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 14/03/2016 21:14

longjumping I would suggest to you that anecdata isn't really helpful.

If you can get through an assessment without a genuine problem under the current system, I'll class you as a genius.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 14/03/2016 21:15

I just want to understand how those who vote Tory can think the cuts to disability benefits are OK.

This is in the OP. Not tax credits.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 14/03/2016 21:17

Asking why Coffee won't be able to go out shows your level of ignorance. Shocking.

shazzarooney99 · 14/03/2016 21:18

LuisSuarezTeeth, tax credits are a benefit too and they will get hit strongly too!, why do people think tax credits will not be affected? they will!!!!

LuisSuarezTeeth · 14/03/2016 21:19

I didn't say they wouldn't be shazza. Just that this thread is about particular cuts.

Alasalas2 · 14/03/2016 21:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Akire · 14/03/2016 21:25

Tax credits may be cut but they haven't been leaked as a cut coming this week. The actual plan so we are told is to simple reduce points people get for two areas.

At moment you need 12 points for care. You get 2 each if you need help for getting dressed/undressed and help going to the toilet.

The plan is to reduce these to 1 point each. Meaning ppl with quite extensive disabilities may only score a max of 10 points. 8 -11 only qualifies you for low care rate.

BUT also mean you can't get carers allowance etc even if you still need 24/7 care. Because PIP is so rigid with set points and questions the DWP can sit and play and tweak programme and know in instant how much "savings" they can get if adjust just 2 questions.

If you need. Help to go loo say 8 times day. And you carer can't claim so had go get a job. What are you supposed to do? How is wetting or soiling yourself going to assist you life. It's only going to make people liked faster, get more infections, not eat or drink and get depressed. We are not talking about just bumping off those with v minor disabilities because there has been so much stripped off already. You have be in a lot of difficulties to even qualify.

Alasalas2 · 14/03/2016 21:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Owllady · 14/03/2016 21:26

This thread isn't about tax credits, this thread is about cuts to disability benefits.
The former has to be paid because wages aren't in line with the cost of living. The latter is paid to cover the additional costs of having a significant disability, including mobility.

Akire · 14/03/2016 21:27

Sicker not liked!

Bubblesinthesummer · 14/03/2016 21:32

I am a Tory voter and I support the cuts. For too long some people have taken benefits for granted as if they are a wage. I think individuals and families must take responsibility for themselves.

Do you know how wrong that sounds?

I was a high earner as was my DH until I became termination I'll.

He is now my carer. Do you know how much money that actually saves the government?

I will never see my DC grow up, yet I'm according to some meant to feel guilty for the bit of help we get?

I just hope you are never in the same position as me.

The attitudes some have make me so so angry.

Boredworkingmum020 · 14/03/2016 21:33

Because Labour have no understanding of the economy and now don't trust Jeremy Corbyn who quite frankly has the political acumen and policies of a 6th form sociology student and seems to be in a 1970s time warp. Unfortunately until people are affected by disability benefit cuts they will not really form a large part of their considerations re voting

ConfuciousSayWhat · 14/03/2016 21:33

You need 8 points to claim pip lower rate

scarlets · 14/03/2016 21:33

OP, I think there was a general feeling that Cameron/Osborne would be better for the economy than Miliband/Balls. A YouGov poll from February 2016 showed that most people still trust Cameron/Osborne more than Corbyn/McDonnell. I don't think anyone thought about disability benefits specifically, it was a gut instinct that the Conservstives would be safer on "the economy", an instinct that persists.