What lifestyle do you think disabled people who are not working should have?

[HmmOk]

Curious about what other people think. Before anyone says it, yes I am quite aware that plenty of disabled people do work and lots earn very well. However not everyone is able to do that.

I generally think disability benefits should cover a decent quality of life - should make up shortfall in rent as rents are so high, decent quality food, pay for therapies and tools that would help the person's disabilities, and pay for some fun stuff so that everyone can participate in society. People need to have a bit more money than only meets their basic needs, to be able to meet a mate for coffee or have a day out or whatnot.

Thinking about this today as not currently working due to bereavement and poor physical health and know I'm lucky to be in a loving marriage where i am supported, and for now we are ok with money. I'm hoping to find work I can do soon that won't further fuck my health.

In contrast I have a mate who is very ill with very serious life threatening conditions. She is single, abusive family of origin and she is quite vulnerable especially looking at the future. I think there should be better security for her future as the immense stress of money is not helping her health at all. Like why can't PIP be given for life to someone in that situation? It is cruel.

What do you think?

It is pretty crap. I was medically retired and am now unable to work. Want to get better and work, but medical professionals tend to discharge when there's nothing more they can do, and we're left to cope alone

Agree that disability benefits should be high enough to provide a decent standard of living for genuinely disabled people. Many people do get long PIP awards. I also think employers need to be more mindful of what help they can give to disabled employees.

I think disabled people need security more than anything so they don't have added stresses on top of dealing with their existing conditions.

I'm thinking mainly in housing, especially if renting. I know it can be difficult to find landlords willing to accept someone on benefits even if it's due to disability.

The assessment process should be more humane.

I think a lot of people with disabilities and various ill health fall through the net. The safety net doesn't work anymore.

Excluding housing costs, £20k per year.

I don't think it's really designed as a safety net anymore, rather as a stick to coerce people into employment and punish those who can't.

The assessment processes are cruel.

I think a good standard of living. At the very least average.

I think it’s hard to judge or gauge.

Should every person be able to eat, heat their home and have a home, the odd treat take away/meal out of course.

Should say someone non working for any reason be able to afford much much more than someone scraping by on minimum wage. I’d say no in the sense that some people just don’t have the skills for anything above minimum wage.

Lots of disabled people work so again they don’t need huge top ups. But like oaps some are mega wealthy much more than todays 30 year olds and others are mega broke. You’d have to go down the route of means testing every penny.

The always wondering if your about to have your payments stopped isn’t fair though, but on the other hand if you’ve a condition that can get better than they do need to check in every so often I’d say. However that would work much better if we had much better medical care for those suffering from things such as depression and anxiety.

Its. Crazy system all over we have.

I know it can be difficult to find landlords willing to accept someone on benefits even if it's due to disability.

I've had a landlord not want to rent to me because of my health before. Not even about benefits. I did a viewing during a flare when it was pretty obvious I wasn't feeling well and bluntly asked me what was wrong with me.

When I told him about my autoimmune conditions he said it wouldn't be suitable for me to live there!

I agree OP, but at the same time I’m sure some people will be along to comment that there are people working full time etc that don’t have these things due to low wages, COL etc.
Which is true, and not fair either

I think there’s possibly some truth, as PP suggests, that it’s designed to “encourage” working and prevent abuse of the system

I think the sickness element of UC (and ESA in areas that are not yet UC) should be more.

PIP is something different, which working people can also claim if eligible.

The Tories believe that disabled people who cannot work should live in near poverty. Emerging only to be regularly assessed to see if they can be forced back into looking for work

I think disability benefit should be linked to national average household income.

Plus- as others have said- secure housing.

Fair enough but I've honestly never noticed the sense of entitlement and lack of gratitude. I'm a disabled person who knows other disabled people in the same boat.

My job currently involves helping people with PIP applications. The overwhelming majority are for mental health, anxiety and depression, addictions ( drugs and alcohol ). There is however little help so they often don't have the medical evidence needed to make a successful claim. I really also have some qualms about extra money to people with addictions - it just fuels the addiction. I had a GP say to me the other week " you advisors, you help people to get extra money but it just makes our job worse, they just drink themselves to death. He had a point really.

Intrinsically, a disabled person would have little earning potential, compared to most able bodied people but it really depends on which industry the person is in.

Academia would be fairly well remunerated but not to big detached house standards.

However, what do you mean by disabled?

If physically challenged then the barriers are to commuting, workplace situations but, given that so many wfh then there should be no barriers.

If you're talking about MH barriers. Not sure as the variables in MH seem to change every single day .

Gratitude? Lol

Then that sounds like discrimination

Sorry I should also say, many addictions are people self medicating for MH issues. There needs to be a lot more help.

Hmm. Interesting take. Why do you think that?

I'm in a situation like your friends. Severe M H and physical impairments, abusive family of origin. Complex trauma and one of my triggers is money and financial insecurity because it flashe s me back to that fear of being dependent again on my abusers. I am thankful that currently my benefits allow for decent standard of living and I can afford my therapy. I try not to fear the future.

Indeed my own father has mental health issues and what he needs is intense one in one or rather with my mum close by therapy and such, he needs that push with a hand hold. What he gets is well if you feel like coming to a group meeting then maybe we can help. Ring us when you can. Which he can’t. He can’t even answer the phone without panicking even with my name on caller display. But while we can’t help you here’s 50 million drugs with horrible side effects some that will make your already suicidal self have suicidal thoughts. It’s laughable.

decent quality food, pay for therapies and tools that would help the person's disabilities, and pay for some fun stuff so that everyone can participate in society

You're quite right and it'd be lovely if these were covered, but many people working 40+ hours per week can't even afford these things either tbh.

Of course they should have a decent quality of life. I do think that the extra help available on top of benefits just isn't promoted enough. There are schemes with free home adjustments available ( grab rails, ramps etc ) & the help with replacing outdated storage heaters or boilers etc. The emotional & practical day to day support often comes via the relevant disability charity if you're looking to help your friend. They will have a wealth of info on support available.