Don't be poor, disabled, sick or elderly . .

[MistressoftheDarkSide]

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/apr/19/rishi-sunak-sicknote-culture-welfare-reform-post-office-horizon-conservatives-labour-uk-politics-lastest-updates

So this is a big part of the next Tory strategy to get elected.

I hope the buggers don't get in

It’s been in nearly all the papers and that money saving advice website.

Oh, really? Wow. So HMRC is taking no action about 20 years of tax evasion? Awful.

@AE9766 What are you talking about? I did not say ALL benefits. I did not say ALL conditions. Of course people with disabilities deserve dignity but the system as is stands is already problematic and the new proposals would likely make it worse.

Even if the Conservatives do no return to government the warning signals are already in place that disability benefits are not working. I would rather know what the incoming government plans are rather than once voted in doing what they want.

You can sweep the problem under the carpet but it is not going away.

It's a chicken and egg situation isn't it?

The stresses and strains of trying to keep up with COL keeps those working on a knife edge and less able to take personal responsibility because at the lower end of the economic ladder immediate costs must be met, so accruing money for a rainy day is less and less achievable. One - or multiple - unfortunate events can tip the balance catastrophically.

The available help and support us underfunded and oversubscribed. The window of opportunity to head off a spiral into worse situations is closed and barred.

Structural barriers such as technological advances coming at a pace average Joe can't keep up with exist. Employers demands for degrees when it used to be possible to work up from an entry level job is one that springs to mind.

Ageism and able ism are rife. In many cases it's not what you know, its who you know, and if your face doesn't fit and you have a disadvantaged support network you're in an invidious position.

As I said before, you make choices that solve immediate problems because it's impossible to plan for an uncertain future.

It has become a circular exercise trying to get people with challenges and responsibilities work because employers are businesses not charitable institutions.

When people have been kicked often enough, hope looks like a trap.

And trusting "the state" feels like naivety because what it hands out is snatched back on the whim of the next ideology that gains traction.

It's a pretty pickle indeed, but telling the sick to heal themselves by way of work to set them free is a massively over simplified solution.

I genuinely can't find anything specifying Labour's ISA proposals, I would really appreciate a link.

Eta: all I can find is something about simplifying the ISA landscape, but nothing more detailed?

However, there is a conversation to be had about disability and incapacity to work. Should all disability benefits be paid in cash? Would some conditions benefit from fast track into health services? I have always wondered why people with addictions are given more money. Is this the best way to help them? Is this what they really need? It is a much larger conversation and with the change to the type of work available, the increase to retirement age and shocking cost of living, maybe now is exactly the right time for the population to put forward the challenging questions/issues and expect incoming prospective parties to state exactly how they would change things and add them to their manifestos

Why shouldn't disability benefits be paid in cash? You can't eat CBT, or pay your bills by offering up bath rails.
And like I said, deny addicts money, they can end up stealing to fund their habit.

This.

When I ask someone how they are, and they say I'm fine, I assume theyre not telling me the shit bits.

When someone tells me they're using the benefit system, I assume they're absolutely mortified to be in it and they're putting a 'dont give a shit' spin on it to make themselves feel better. Or because they feel vulnerable, or any number of sad reasons.

Some of you bitches on 6 figure salaries need to learn critical thinking skills.

The lack of empathy is staggering.

And don't assume the Tory's won't come after you next.

@XenoBitch There are a lot of people who have no issue with disability benefits (me included) but do wonder why additional money is given to addicts. Is this the best we can do for the most vulnerable? This would not stop their UC claim, which would pay for living costs? It is the additional money (PIP/DLA). What is it for? Genuine question

Some people don’t half spout some shit, but it’s always the way when disability benefits are discussed on here.

I get PIP, for now. I don’t get anything else because I was too unwell to work full time, and I have a husband who was in the armed forces so was hardly ever here, and I had 2 DC to look after. When I physically couldn’t drag myself into work anymore my NI contributions weren’t enough, by pennies, so I wasn’t eligible for anything else, which is fair enough.

I went from DLA to PIP, but even when I was on DLA I had medicals. It’s never been easy to claim. One doctor checked the soles of my feet, because apparently if my skin was too hard it wouldn’t fit with me not being able to walk. I’ve not heard that one before, but there you are.

My PIP is up for review, I’ve sent in 55 pieces of evidence and have over 300 more . I’ve a letter from one of the top consultants in the country that says I won’t get better, so why does Rishi Sunak think that he can pluck someone who doesn’t know me, who knows nothing about me, and decide differently after a ten minute assessment? It’s ridiculous.

DH earns over £70k a year, so if my PIP does get taken away I won’t be on the streets, but I won’t be able to keep my car so that will be me stuck in the house all week while he’s at work. I won’t be able to pay for my acupuncture, my private physio and my massages.

Oh, and when DS2 went for his interview at university he said he’d been a carer for me, because he was doing nursing and it was relevant. Never once did they say they’d give him some leeway with his grades or reduced offers. He was treated the same as everyone else. He was given an unconditional offer, just before he had to give his firm choice, by one uni, because they wanted him.

Toastandbutterand a lot of the anecdotes are made up. They all follow a similar pattern, it is so obvious.

In real life, very few people share the finer details of their financial arrangements with friends and neighbours.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/19/sunak-accused-of-making-mental-illness-another-front-in-the-culture-wars

Where are the services going to come from to replace the benefits? Waiting lists are already long, even for those in active crisis. At least the benefits may alleviate some of the stress while waiting.

That is something down the to people assessing them.
From personal experience.... needing ready meals to get some proper nutrients in... think Hello Fresh. A bit of cooking, but nowt as complicated as working it all out on your own. A lot of addicts suffer from malnutrition.

The addiction of choice can be seen as a therapy.... it is coping mechanism. What is needed is to address the why. It is no good to say just stop the cash flow and hope they stop drinking/shooting up etc. Cutting of benefits will just plunge people into further dire straits.

TheFairyCaravan I hope your PIP review goes OK. It is insane how much evidence you need to submit.

I don’t suppose that Rishi bothered to mention that the majority of people who had depression/anxiety listed had it as a secondary condition and it wasn’t their primary reason for being long term sick?

Thank you.

I do understand that alcohol and drug addiction is an illness but receiving all this extra money is really not in their best interests. I just see it time and time again. I am obliged to help these people claim this money as part of my job. It's the sheer amounts of money that some of them get. And that isn't the end of it. many of these people are still on the old legacy benefits system as they have been mentally unwell for years so then get severe disability premiums added onto those benefits once PIP is awarded which gives them another £80 odd pound a week. By claiming PIP they suddenly have an extra £800 + a month in their pockets.

What would you suggest as a solution to this issue?

No idea, it's a very tricky one because they have been deemed to qualify for all this extra money but it's not in their best interests to receive it. Unless they have an appointee who can take care of it/ use it in their best interests there is little that can be done.

No action whatsoever.
Im guessing they are banking on getting money through cgtax. She’s been warned she must declare as soon as it’s sold.
So, yes, they’ve written off 20years of not paying tax and claiming benefits based on a much lower income. The rent is high as it’s near London.

What is the success rate for PIP for people with alcoholism? It must be quite hard to get in those circumstances.

This is annoying. I dont get PIP, but clearly need it, but would spend it on therapy and treatments to allievate my pain and symptoms.

I never considered becoming an addict to get the money to treat my root problem.

I'm in agreement that addicts should get therapy. How that mechanism works I don't know....

Maybe Rishi should focus on training more mental health workers, councillors and theapists and creating a country which isn't destroying people. 🤔

That is very unlike HMRC. 🤷‍♀️

It's not hard to get because they often have a lot of physical health problems too due to alcoholism. Most of the ones I've assisted with recently have been awarded with no problem. One had quite bad gout so couldn't walk far so got enhanced mobility as well. I'm sure some of it must be spent on other things because even the most hardened addicts aren't going to spend £700 a month on extra alcohol. The charity I work for also runs an alcohol support service. Most of the clients are already either receiving PIP or we help them to get it.

That makes sense, although according to these figures almost 40% get turned down.