To Think the Tories Are STILL At War With The Disabled?

[JoffreyBaratheon]

As parent of a disabled child, this is what I'm preoccupied with, during a General Election...

Under Cameron and Osborne, and iDS - it was clear the tories were engaging in an all out war on the disabled. Cuts to benefits, and services and of course, the loathed and disgusting PIP replacing DLA...

But what has strong and stable (well, weak an unstable) Theresa May done to reverse the damage? Nothing, so far as I can see.

My son had DLA for life and by some miracle, managed to get PIP but will now have to re-apply in five years. If the tories have the cure for autism and it is going to be made available in 5 years - fair enough. But something tells me - they haven't. We were put through months of hell for that.

Other disabled people and their carers have far worse stories.

Now I might be stupid but I can't see what May has done to address the callous culture of PIP. She is still attacking the disabled. Or am I missing something and AIBU?

I think this should be enough to lose them the election. The fact they have attacked disabled people to the extent they have. Am I the only one not to be hoodwinked by this 'I'm only a vicar's daughter' BS? What she has done to the disabled is the least 'christian' thing I can think of and I want her held to account for it. Anyone else?

last thought there is supposed to be transitional protection for those moving to UC? maybe it will be ok..

What can Tory supporters say to this?

Why do they have to say anything ? Either they don't know (locked in the echo chamber that is the Daily Mail and it's henchmen) or they don't care. Even if they do care, their concern will be tempered by the warm feeling that those affected are probably immigrants. Or single mothers. Or socialists. Or workshy. Or enemies of the people. Or just plain poor.

Twist of unfortunate circs beyond our control mean no transitional protection for us.

Very, very easy to fall into one of the many loopholes these days.

I think Lurking is absolutely right. However, in addition to the Victorian morality motivation, I think they are also motivated by a need to make Conservative voters think they are saving taxpayers' money. Therefore they keep very quiet about the fact that these measures in fact save nothing, and likewise about the fact that the reality is that benefits are heavily underclaimed. They don't want their voters' heads to explode.

However, in addition to the Victorian morality motivation, I think they are also motivated by a need to make Conservative voters think they are saving taxpayers' money.

I don't think that has much bearing. People were willing to vote to leave the EU even if it cost them money.

Never underestimate the power of prejudice, and the willingness of people to cut off their nose to spite their face if it leaves them feeling superior.

Growing up (in London) we lived two doors down from the local Tory councillor. His proposal that our section of road did not have a street party in 1977 was enthusiastically supported by the majority when canvassed. Hence, we didn't have a street part between no.s 75 and 200.

Why ?

Because "too many Indians live there".

" and the willingness of people to cut off their nose to spite their face if it leaves them feeling superior."

There are quite a few of them on the June 8 thread.

Lurking I can well believe it.

A few years back Channel 4 did a series called It was Alright in the 60s/70s/80s/90s

On It Was Alright in the 1960s they showed a clip of a VERY VERY racist Tory MP (cant remember his name) His attitude and the stuff he said was disgusting and quite frankly horrific.

I knew the Tories would get away with election fraud

Lurking I can well believe it.

You'd be surprised who doesn't though. Bear in mind at that time schoolteachers found it "hilarious" to mock non-English names (including mine) for the amusement of the "proper" pupils. And picking football teams was invariably done with "Eeny Meeny ..." to coincide the word with an Indian lad.

Writing about it makes me sound nostalgic - oh well, I've started getting my fair share again ...

Oh, and not ONE paerty is saying they'll take away the bedroom tax for disabled are they? the room that's a necessity for medcal supplies/equipment.

Ive also tried my local MP and newspapers about the treatment of disabled, and just literally hit a brick wall. they don't want to know.

as for poster 24 ive never heard anyone as disablist as you and Ive reported you, as I hope other posters have done.

you're disgusting.

Oh, and not ONE paerty is saying they'll take away the bedroom tax for disabled are they?

I have a vague memory of Labour saying they would scrap it ? Not that it counts for much. Loads of people say loads of things before elections.

with 20.3 million families receiving some kind of benefit (64% of all families), about 8.7 million of them pensioners

That is a lot for those paying tax to bear....Should we accept that more than half the families are being subsidised by the other lot? Is that fair. Some may think it is

Really? Really???

You must know that the majority of tax credit and housing benefit claimants are actually in work? That they too are tax payers? That it isn't black and white?

FFS I am a teacher- with a degree, a Masters and a professional qualification but as a sole earner, I am in receipt of tax credits. Or does i the fact I claim make me a non person in your eyes?

with 20.3 million families receiving some kind of benefit (64% of all families), about 8.7 million of them pensioners

Pensioners don't receive benefits. They are enjoying the fruits of their hard work.

(Demonstrating the nature of an irregular verb in politics)

YY LH The reframing of state pension as a benefit seems to have many MNers nodding sagely.
But the reframing of tax credits seems to get the opposite reaction.

I dont agree with the reframing of either btw.

JoffreyBaratheon

Do take ALL your paperwork to the assessment even if you have sent it before. IME the assessors will not (or pretend not to) have read the orginal paperwork or even the form. We have had to go through everything from scratch with PIP and ESA twice - it can be exhausting and rushed so take notes.

If you don't have any and all evidence to literally shove it in their faces, you run the risk of it not being logged by the assessor.

Also, do everything you can to have the assessment tape recorded so you can be sure of what is said and to protect yourself from assessor who will outright lie. It isn't paranoia, it happened to us.

Be suspicious if they aren't typing enough to fit with what you have said - it isn't shorthand and they won't just fill it out later.

The lies we experienced are beyond disgraceful.

Many times in recent years I have come to wish fervently that karma/ god/fate/whoever would strike down the cruel and selfish "I'm alright Jacks", with illness/ disability (and take away any money they have) and let that teach them a lesson in suffering and, hopefully, compassion.

I took all of my paperwork, including pictures of my ulcerated colon. Still got turned down the first time!

Yes, dawn sorry, didn't mean to suggest it was foolproof, I know it is not. Just a way to increase chances of success. Sorry you've also had to go through it

Do take ALL your paperwork to the assessment even if you have sent it before. IME the assessors will not (or pretend not to) have read the orginal paperwork or even the form. We have had to go through everything from scratch with PIP and ESA twice - it can be exhausting and rushed so take notes.

The assessor that came to see MrsLH had not seen any of the paperwork at all. It's clear this was by design, and she was a little taken aback when I offered her a bound printed copy, plus an email to wherever, plus a memory stick, DVD or any other media they cared for.

Every question she asked, I flipped through the form and said "that's answered on page , with references from and in the appendix.

It's the only way to do it .

Thanks, achey. I should have realised they're liable t try and pull something like that.

You know, this is sickening - that we have to pre-empt the assessors trying to behave dishonestly (should I say 'fraudulently'?)

Sounds like your approach is a good one, so thanks for sharing that and I will try it that way.

We have come a long way from the concept of DLA - which was to HELP people. PIP is literally a weapon to beat them with.

The fact that claimants have to circumvent the government's agencies, actively trying to rob disabled people and their carers - really should be enough to kick this government into touch.

Incidentally, when it comes to tribunal - which I have no doubt it will, as it did before - I will this time have it all chapter and verse.

I would like to think in a month we might have a government who will stop this insanity instantly and put all those assessors out on their arses.

Far too much to hope.

Very best of luck with it Joffrey. We have had some OK assessments some bad.

Lurking has it right - take a copy of the original form if you have it.

We just about remembered to photocopy ours before sending it back but then forgot to take it to the assessment as was in the midst of crisis, hence not being able to arrange recording. Regret that so much now. BUt they know that struggling unwell people will be easy targets.

My DH is too unwell to go to tribunal at the moment so they have won for now. I am tempted to request a paper-only review, but even though I think the court would be fair, I can''t risk squandering our only chance.

more disability benefit cuts?

thanks for the article dawn, I didn't realise the bedroom tax disproportionately affected the disabled - cannot understand how this wasn't an upfront exemption from the policy. As for making the ESA and JSA the same, I can't understand that at all.