To think that this government are at war with disabled people and always have been?

[MyopicBunny]

I am assuming that the part of their UC that will be cut is the disabled element? Most people can’t even get this at all if you are disabled. The rules to receive it in the first place are extremely strict.

Why us nobody talking about this? Has our society now become brainwashed with the idea that it’s acceptable to call disabled people with significant needs benefit scroungers?

Why is it the most vulnerable being shat on from a great height, over and over??

people seem to assume that it just a case of form filling, then pippety pop, the money rolls in.

you can have YEARS worth of medical evidence supplied, but if an assesor decides that they think that your not disabled enough, then thats it. Case closed.

You have to provide proof of which jobs youve applied for and you have to provide a certain number each week, whether they are there or not. You have to provide proof of what you are doing to look for work, where you have been, what you have been doing. what things you are doing to increase your liklihood of getting a job, what steps you are taking to improve your prospects. Initially you are allowed to look in your preferred area of work - for the types of job that you are trained for, but after about 3 months you then need to apply for any job, and be able to fully justify why you wont take, for example, working in a turkey plucking factory when you are a vegan. All this needs to be logged in your journal and is open to any job centre staff scrutiny and cross examination, and you need to be ready to answer any questions that they have, no matter how intrusive. If they think you should retain in something they decide then, pretty much, you need to do it.
And its no good applying for, say 11 jobs this week and 9 next, computer says 10 each week and you will be sanctioned. So there had better be 10 jobs to apply for (Im not sure what the number is now, could be more or less)
Its this level of hoop jumping and scrutiny, and the feeling of being under constant surveilance (they can and do access your bank accounts) and feeling as if they are waiting for you to fuck up so they can cut the minimal money that they give you, that makes it really hard for people especially with MH problems. And one of the reasons why many people choose to sleep rough, for the freedom, rather than put themselves through this.

It is a shame that the same government is proposing to limit civil service workers to one or two days working at home when many could work primarily from home. If the government doesn't want to make it easy for disabled people to work for them at home, why should other employers?

It's not just UC related. Try getting a suitable education for a severely disabled child. They are trying to get my son into school an hour and half away. He's in reception and severely mentally impaired. Imagine how that would feel to a four and a half year old who is NT let alone severely ND. We have to take the place if they offer it as we can't afford to home school.

@Babyroobs such a clear description you gave - there is a lot of scaremongering in the press which is terrifying for disabled people. I really hope this isn’t all about benefits cuts.

Please explain to me why any government should be responsible for disabled people.

You can't be serious?!

Should disabled people just be left to rot on the streets?

Are you for real? I assume you have no disabled family members.

It's called collective responsibility. Nobody chooses to be disabled.

What next? Children being sent to work houses?

From what I've read I really don't think the most severely disabled have anything to be worried about, especially those on PIP.
I think it is just the sheer numbers of people being awarded LCWRA ( especially for anxiety, depression etc ) and then staying on it for years and becoming virtually unemployable. Unfortunately the government just sees it as a huge pool of people, that could be working. Those on PIP, those with severe mh issues will be protected.

What annoys me is that genuine applicants are being tainted by those who are faking or taking the piss. I personally know of several - self employed who worked but claimed furlough, very well paid people who successfully claim for a child who is fully functioning and actually have a blog about spending the additional money on travelling (surely that is not what it is meant for?!) and another couple I know who have never worked, have custody of their grandkids due to their son and daughter in law being drug addicts who pull in 50k a year in benefits and go to Disney (out of term time) every other year. That sounds made up but it isn’t - all have Facebook posts and Instagram blogs I can refer to. I don’t know what the answer is but I can’t think it is the system we currently have.

Humanity?

Why wouldn't they be?

Absolutely. Everything under this government has become worse and worse. I'm now back at square one of 'is she, isn't she' with my preschooler with Aspie traits. The thought of school for her is concerning.

Because they didn't choose to be disabled for a start and well, we are a civilised society!

It's this type of person described that is causing the govt to hurt real disabled people, sadly.

It's funny how people like you report these things as if you have access to these people's bank accounts?

Their child might look 'fully functioning' to you but that doesn't mean a thing. There is this saying in the autistic community 'mild autism means that you experience my autism mildly, NOT that I experience it mildly'

Even genuine claimants struggle hard to get disability benefits. Child DLA has never been so hard to get as it is, today.

I had to jump through many hoops and tribunals to get my disabled children what they're entitled to.

I am disabled and look quite often. There are very few that advertise as being totally work from home. Most require people to go into work at least some of the time.

Yes my Dp has a WFH job but he has to go to London every other week and it's WFH because it saves the company money - no other reason.

The process for disability benefits is horrific - a huge number of govt refusals got overturned in court, and benefits don't even cover all the costs that come with being disabled.
This government is so disturbing and intent on dismantling everything that makes the UK a great country. They've pushed the NHS into such a state and are now trying to ratchet up the pressure on people that are the sharp end of the NHS crises too. It's unreal - how can they think anyone would support this

I'm a mother to a severely autitistic doubly incontinent non verbal child and I don't think the policy is a bad idea. If genuine there is no need to worry. Its aimed for people who can work with the right help and support. My brother has been on benefits for 2 years with mental health and he absolutely could work. In fact he needs a sense of purpose and routine but he's getting paid to do nothing so he does. I love him but he is the type their aiming at. Also, What does it do to someone's mental health to constantly feel useless and have that reinforced. My only issue with it currently is the mental health support is probably going to be minimal. A lot more money needs to go into mental health in general. Too many are struggling on long waiting lists. With the right support many could find employment

No, you tell me why a government of a civilised society in a developed country should not provide or be responsible for any or all of it's disabled citizens?

Do you honestly think that DWP would "help and support" people into work? No, they will just cut their money and threaten them with sanctions, which would further exacerbate already existing MH issues.

Yes, that. Because there are not that many, and most of those that exist presuppose a level of computer skills many people don't have.

But also if you believe that this government won't sanction people if they try but fail to gain employment. That is the big one.

@FelicityFlops are you fucking kidding ?
You really dont see a reason that disabled human beings receive support ?

I honestly think it has just got to the point where so many are trying to claim for all disability benefits and sickness element of Uc / ESA that they are just clamping down to make sure the most disabled are protected. The government have repeatedly said there aren't enough tax payers to pay for it all. Like you say if early interventions can support people to carry on working in some capacity then that will be helpful. The worry is that some will slip through the net and many will experience poverty whilst waiting for that chance to work to come along and risk their mental health declining further.