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

They were always going to do this sort of thing because they have no other angle to campaign on...

Brexit is a shambles
The country is in a noticeably worse state since they took over
They have had three ridiculous leaders
They are so far down in the polls and getting lower all the time
Labour have not given them much to have a significant dig at them for - hence the mountain they are making about a house sale
They have been plagued with sleaze and corruption headlines for years now.
Net migration is higher than ever and, thanks to Rwanda policy we're paying hand over fist for nothing at all.

What else have they got now except to make people fear each other and try to convince us they are the ones to save us from the guy next door who might try to pinch our house/job/money?

I think almost all of us agree that people shouldn’t incorrectly get signed off work or claim benefits. However, logically, it’s such a small group. We really shouldn’t make the system more difficult for vulnerable people trying to access it to tackle this small group!

I say that as someone who has never claimed a benefit. I have however had a lot of NHS support and services. I’m happy to live in a society that was able to support me in this. I’m happy to support others with my taxes and even happy to pay higher taxes.

I work FT, have paid tax my entire life and have been a HRTP in the past.

I still don't give a fuck if a minority game the system. We could pay for it 1000 times over if we closed a few tax loopholes and stopped tugging our forelocks as the billionaires roll by.

Well you are posting on here, are you not?

Perhaps Polishedshoesalways has a rich husband?

A lot of people are signed off due to work-related stress - burnout due to high workload, unrealistic expectations, effort-reward imbalance, workplace bullying. And it's often people who are very conscientious and struggle with not being able to do their job properly. They should address lack of funding, understaffing and working conditions in general. And on top of that you have other life challenges - menopause, aging parents, cost of living crisis and so on.

Well working for the NHS I see huge numbers of staff off sick (then see posts of themselves doing fun things on fb etc!) whilst the majority of us have to cover their work - some virtually brag about it 😡. So I think something definitely needs to be done, whether this is the right way, I don’t know.

Oh don't like the truth?

Something does have to be done about the number of people who can't be arsed to work or only want to work cash in hand, pay no tax or NI and claim benefits on top.

What do you imagine is going to happen when there are more people on benefits than working? Sure you must have all the answers

It’s my lunch break and I couldn’t help but see the connection. It’s important to note that most people work day time hours and won’t be available to post what they think about the sky high benefits bill….. just for balance this is important to say.

Yes, a deliberate move to win votes in the next election. They would have done their research, focus groups etc.

Ever heard of shift work, evening work? Annual leave etc...

They kinda did and kinda didn't.

It was a statement made by a pensions advisor who is working with Labour - so not a Labour policy - and was in reference to his own circumstances where he felt he (and pensioners like him) were not taxed enough. Or, to be even more specific, were given too many tax breaks.

Again, just because someone is signed off sick, doesn't mean they should shut themselves in a dark room. They may not be well enough to handle 12h shift on a ward but they may be perfectly fine to go to the park for 30 minutes or meet friends for dinner.

I have a breast lump, 12 week waiting list for follow up. I don't see how the Tories have anything to boast about when it comes to people's health. The NHS is a shit show nothing in it, around it, or under it, has improved under their watch. They should be ashamed but unsurprisingly they're not.

Well some of us have neighbours that are also friends and yes I do know what he put on his forms.

So anxiety which means he can't leave the house can present hour to hour can it? He goes out Monday to Friday to work cash in hand and then weekends and evenings he goes shopping, walks his dogs, goes swimming, goes to visit friends, goes to judo, goes out to eat.

You should report him. It’s fraud.

I'm conflicted by this. I absolutely agree people who need sick leave and associated benefits should have it, but it is too easy.

I needed a certificate for the first time in my life recently. I told the receptionist my issue and she had one sent. I didn't see or speak to a doctor.

From talking to colleagues, doctors just seem to sign people off when they ask, without any discussion about whether or how or when they might be fit to work.

The system does need some change.

Absolute bollocks rubbish. Some people definitely know how to play the system.

Makes me furious about my neighbour and I have reported him to the inland revenue for working cash in hand and the benefits people for claiming to be to ill to leave the house but actually leaving the house every day. Nothing is done about it.

He was told if he could not leave the house he could work at home but then they got him to do some sort of spelling and english test which he failed so they said he couldn't work from home!!!!

I could not be friends with someone like this.

It is very hard to get ESA. A lot of evidence needs to be provided. The assessors and decision makers don't just take the claimants word for it.

OMG this! So much this!

The bit that killed me here was: The implication that people are regularly whining about ordinary life events. Because it is a demonstrable fact that life has gotten very much shittier for a significant majority of people under the Tories. Even if you're lucky enough to find a job that pays enough to live off, which is no longer a given, you are likely to struggle to find somewhere affordable to put your kids while you're doing it, and if any of us needs an ambulance we better just cross our fingers and hope. They seem baffled that so many people are depressed when quite a lot of the depression people are carrying around is a very rational response to the shitty circumstances we are currently living through. Depression isn't something which is entirely divorced from the circumstances of our lives and it isn't surprising more people are affected as the fabric of society and the services that are supposed to support and help us crumble to nothing. Ordinary life is pretty fucking miserable under these cunts, isn't it?! Makes me want to weep. Often literally.

Or she could just concern herself with her own affairs, just a thought.

A lot of people play the benefit system,if you think they dont then you are delusional,yes,there is genuine people who need it but most don’t.

I think almost all of us agree that people shouldn’t incorrectly get signed off work or claim benefits. However, logically, it’s such a small group. We really shouldn’t make the system more difficult for vulnerable people trying to access it to tackle this small group

The wider issue is, that there are people who are perfectly able to work that are currently on repeat sick notes issued by the GP's receptionist.

It's another way of covering up the underfunding of the NHS.
Let us think this small group is significant enough for a bit of benefits bashing. When in reality all they need is being seen by their Dr or a specialist to give advice and support in order to return to the workforce.