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?

It's scary.

The ONLY unfair thing that ESA did change was the fact that very ill people on benefits were paying sometimes very high amounts for prescriptions on the old Incapacity Benefit.

What can Tory supporters say to this? Nothing that will make it right.

Most don't care. But mention anything about a corp tax and they'll be outraged. Also, we'll just ignore the fact that the Conservatives saying Labours Corp Tax will affect small businesses, are the same Conservatives who had to do a major u-turn a few months ago when they tried to impose a similar tax on the self employed. Because we all know most self employed struggle like hell to make ends meet are up there in the profits margin with the likes of Starbucks

HelenaDove my very ill late friend still had to pay for her prescriptions.

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.

Yes, one of the places I used to work for, once had a wheelchair bound couple come in (both close to tears-both used motorised wheelchairs). They'd been given their bungalow after years of waiting for one, it was 2 bed and the 2nd bedroom was for all intents and purposes, to store their equipment. Hoists etc for when the carers came around.

They were paying bedroom tax / spare room subsidy whatever people want to call it (it still affects people) - because they had a spare room - with a house they were purposely given; and no, applying for a DHP didn't work, because they are extremely hard to get. I once had a HB officer complete my form herself, and I still got refused. (I was paying BT on my sons room - that he slept in and still does - there was nothing 'spare' about it).

I didn't realise the bedroom tax disproportionately affected the disabled - cannot understand how this wasn't an upfront exemption from the policy.

Because it was the whole point of the policy.

I'll keep saying it, until I am dead: judge people by their actions, not words. Ask a Tory about support for the disabled, and you'll get a warm, cuddly,. vague speech using lots of nice words like "support", "those that most need it", "compassionate" etc etc - words.

Then they vote for this - action.

Returning to the bedroom tax, who was exempted ? Pensioners. And a cursory look at any statistics you like would have shown you that the demographic most likely to be under-occupying was pensioners.

Unfortunately for the less-able, pensioners outvote them.

those that most need it",

Exactly Lurking. There all buzzwords. If they weren't they wouldn't have done away with the Independent Living Fund, or Remploy, or reduced money for those on the WRAG group significantly, etc etc.

My friend has severe progressive MS. She has been offered a new flat and it has two bedrooms. She said this wasn't a problem with the bedroom tax as her GP wrote mentioning she needs the room for her wheelchair and stuff. And it was OK. So there are people who find ways around this.

PS about the paperwork I agree with this for PIP / ESA. We made the mistake of asking them to refer to the previous form and medical letters, but they didn't and took me off PIP last time. At a paper based assessment (where they are supposed to use the paperwork, hmm). Appeals used the paperwork though.

We just keep a folder with all the letters etc and photocopy it all again and sent it out again. now.

Maybe it depends how they need to other room? and the equipment they need etc? and of course if they have a supportive GP...

She has a new ground floor flat with doors which open with a remote thing, in a new private block / development. which makes a huge difference to her.

I feel for others who really need the room and would say to get the doc to write explaining why the room is needed for medical reasons, if people don't need it for that then suppose they would be treated the same as everyone else...

We just keep a folder with all the letters etc and photocopy it all again and sent it out again. now.

I scanned in everything, and created a document which was a copy of the form (notice how in 2017, there's no electronic version of the form. It's almost like they want it to be as hard as possible).

I then put a header and footer (including the QR code) on every page with MrsLHs name, DOB, NI number, and "Page x of y".

Copies sent to Capita and the decision maker.

DHS PIP appointment letter has finally arrived. Its too far away He is unable to travel.

We have asked for a home assessment. The person we spoke to seemed co operative. And they have put in a request for one.

DH did have a home assessment in 1995 because he has always had bad arthritis but this was before the ischemic heart disease and COPD.

The assessor treated our home with utter disrespect He played the buffoon card!

He did an anal exam on DH in the bedroom He dumped his case on my dressing table sending my stuff flying and managed to get KY Jelly all over the dressing table all up the dressing table mirror and loads on the bedspread.

DH really needs a home assessment but we arent prepared to put up with that again.

Oh and he failed it that time.

Anal exam!! why did they do that, inappropriate surely ?! I'm sure I read they aren't allowed to do intimate exams...and what on earth has that to do with arthritis? I'd complain.

Yes they seem to have the ESA form online and can fill in as a pdf, but not PIP. Not sure why.

It was a long time ago Bath. I havent forgotten it though. DH has been in reciept of low rate care DLA since 2006 and high rate mobility since late 2008.

His massive heart attack was in the spring of 2006.

Just remembered something else. Sorry for drip feed but it was 22 years ago.

We did take it to tribunal back in 1995. Afterwards when we received the paperwork it clearly stated that DH manages to go upstairs to use the toilet. WE LIVE IN A FLAT.

Lying on the paperwork is NOT a post 2010 thing.

I'm really shocked and saddened to hear how your dh was treated Helena

Thankyou Armour. It was a long time ago but has all come back to us since this PIP transfer started.

Yes, that is very bad the way he was treated and sorry to hear it, hope it is better now.

I mean, the assessment not the condition. Kind thoughts x

Thanks Bath. Hopefully he will get a home assessment.