To not understand how people can justify it

[ijustdontunderstand]

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?

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!!!!

Not in this round of cuts.

There was huge uproar and numerous threads when there were going to be.

Extremely disappointed that there isn't the same for these disability cuts that will affect the most vulnerable in society.

I meant if you scored between 8 and 11 you still only get lower care. Thats why knocking 2 points off is cruel. The person on 11 is treated same someone on 8. When reality huge difference.

The Tories promised to protect disability benefits.

Oh bubbles please don't listen to these people. They are inhumane :( and completely fucking ignorant. There really is no excuse for them. Please don't let them upset you

I once had argument on here with someone who honestly truly thought once you on benefits - even for the rest of your life through no fault of your own. Where house bound and had very little quality of life that you shoul t ever have money to spend on anything nice because it was benefit not a luxury.

So if you became paralysed tomorrow she would be quite happy never have glass of wine, a bar of chocolate or buy anyone a birthday card EVER because you should live on bread water and be greatful.

LuisSuarezTeeth, they are liars, arent they? because they diddnt stick to it.

She sounds a joy akire :o

Thank you Owllady

Osbourne spent more in his first three years as chancellor than Labour spent in thirteen years.

When Labour came to power in 1997 there were just under 500,000 registered for what was then called incapacity benefit.

In 2011 there were about 4 million on the equivalent DLA.

Why is this?

Incapacity benefit was not the equivalent of DLA. Incapacity benefit was the predecessor of ESA - an out-of-work benefit for those on long term sick. DLA is an in-work benefit for the disabled.

Possibly because children are entitled to DLA, hazel. And not entitled to incapacity benefit.

hazelisours ,,hmm cos they are 2 different things

*When Labour came to power in 1997 there were just under 500,000 registered for what was then called incapacity benefit.

In 2011 there were about 4 million on the equivalent DLA.

Why is this?*

You're confused. Incapacity benefit was for people who were too ill to work, it's now been replaced by ESA

DLA is for anyone who passes the requirements, you can be in receipt of DLA and be in work, it isn't an out of work benefit. It has now been replaced by PIP for the over 16s, DLA remains in place for under 16s

In the spring of 1997 there were 2,373,000 claimants of Incapacity Benefit and in February 2015 (the latest date for which I can find statistics) there were 2,525,000 claimants of ESA.

all you people who say you don't trust labour with "the economy": what decisions, specifically, do you think they won't take correctly, what do you they will do with "the economy" and what aspect of it, do you refer to?

As CauliflowerBalti pointed out upthread, labour didn't cause the crisis, tories borrow loads of money too - why does everyone buy the story that labour is worse for "the economy" or not to be trusted with it? And economics is complicated! What do you all mean by "the economy": jobs? interest rates? debt? deficit? infrastructure? housing costs? housing policies? benefits policies? why is no one here talking about defence spending, taxing multinationals, financial policy as part of "the economy"? Why do so many people seem so certain that tories are better for the economy?

I found figures for whe it was 3million. It gives the individual real life ppl count for each serious illness. It sounds a lot but when you divide it up between every sensory impairment every physical disability, mental health condition it's not v much. For example in 2012 there were.
Arthritis 562k
Heart disease 125k
Blindness 70k
Deafness 43k
MS 64k
Diabetics 59k
Neurological illness 129k
Cronin fatigue 139k
Epilepsy 72k
Parkinson's 19k
Learning difficulties 280k
Physics neurosis 178k
Psychosis 245k
Dementia 15k
That's best part of nearly 2 million that's without hundreads of other conditions, amputation , paralyses cancer etc the elderly population the increasing birth rate- more prem and seriously ill children surving.

There's nothing amazing about figures it's just illness and age effects on body.

I was on DLA and just found out I have been awarded PIP.

I have a life long disability which you wouldn't know was there. People think I make it because the disability itself is usually "obvious" if you like.

I went into my assesment was open and honest with the woman. She did try to catch me out on a few things but fortunately managed to spot them.

Since then I refuse to believe these stories in the likes of the Daily Mail of those who are seriously disabled and haven't been awarded their PIP. Either way in my eyes at the moment they have lied about something which has obviously led to distrust/belief.

Not to mention I have been told (by a very reliable source) that over 80% of PIP appeals are approved.

Flying- so because of your positive experience everyone else must be lying!?

why is no one here talking about defence spending, taxing multinationals, financial policy as part of "the economy"?

you mean like the Iraq War? Thank Labour for that.

FlyingRussianUnicorn I used to get DLA. I dont get PIP. I'm not lying, I need a carer for 16 hours a week, I just dont need a carer for enough different tasks to qualify.

Thats a pretty ignorant statement you made there.

Since then I refuse to believe these stories in the likes of the Daily Mail of those who are seriously disabled and haven't been awarded their PIP. Either way in my eyes at the moment they have lied about something which has obviously led to distrust/belief.

Sorry but that is rubbish.

FlyingRussianUnicorn, PIP assessments are a postcode lottery. I'm glad your experience was straightforward, but sadly that is by no means the case for everyone and it doesn't mean those who have a different experience are liars.

The fact that 80% (latest official figures are 57%, but hey ho...) of PIP appeals are successful means that that corresponding number of original decisions following the first decision was wrong. That is an appalling rate - if I was only getting 43% of my work right, I'd be on a performance improvement plan or worse! Why should so many disabled people have to go through the stress of an appeal process to get something they are entitled to, and what happens to those who don't have the werewithal to appeal themselves and no one to support them through it?

Sorry, that should read following the first assessment.

Sorry, but I think the question is a bit daft. At general elections we vote for a political representative from a party with a certain philosophy. We don't get to choose specific policies individually.

I agree with certain policies from all the main parties, and disagree with just as many. But I cannot express that come election time. I simply have to pick one party that I feel on balance has most of what I want and the least of what I don't.