To be frightened about the Government’s plans for benefits reform?

[PilgorTheGoat]

I am one of the millions of people currently on long term sickness benefits. I receive the LCWRA element of UC and PIP due to poor mental health and autism. I have severe anxiety and depression and I am awaiting an appointment to see if I also have PTSD due to sexual abuse in my childhood.

I have tried every element of support offered to me. I’m maxed out on 2 different types of antidepressants. I have had back-to-back (excluding the 6 month wait in between) 12 week sessions of counselling offered via the NHS. I am on a waiting list for intensive CBT due to my possible PTSD. I am currently having twice weekly private, video counselling appointments.

I can’t leave my house alone due to panic attacks. I struggle to meet my own care needs and my husband has to do a lot of the work for us both (although he works full time). I have a very understanding friend whom I force myself to go for a short walk with twice a week in order to stop myself becoming completely imprisoned at home but I find this very distressing and we have to take the same route each time.

I am so, so scared about the government’s plans to end sickness benefits for people like me. We don’t have a load of spare cash, we’re just about getting by. There is no support available. I’ve taken everything offered and my husband has been very proactive in seeking out other services for me to be involved with. I’d love to be better, I’d love not to live in fear but there is no help.

This is something they are planning for after the next election. There is not a chance in hell of them being reelected, so don’t worry about it for now. Best to ignore if you can.

YANBU, if they really wanted people to work, they'd make all large employers offer some entry level jobs with fixed hour and fixed pay contracts.

The tories have a habit of spouting a load of crap they think their voters want to hear before an election. Anything that was ever actually done by any party that gets in next would take a very long time to come to fruition anyway - if ever.

Try to stay away from news outlets and social media platforms that like to post about it all to whip up clicks and comments via hatred for anyone on benefits.

Please try not to worry about it.

If you can’t leave your house just make sure when there’s an election you register for a postal vote - then we can vote the Tory bastards out and it’ll all be ok

I'm in the same situation.
Though on legacy benefits.
Almost a complete shut in unless I go out with DH.

I'm so scared. I've applied for PIP as our financial situation is getting worse but I'm already having sleepless nights worrying about the interview

I wish I could work. I wish I was normal.

No one chooses to stay in side everyday scared of the world.

Try and ignore it - pre-election bullshit to appeal to the right wing. I would treat it in the same vein as their laughable idea of abolishing national insurance. Hopefully they will lose the next election also, so we will be rid of them and their toxic mess.

I’m with you,OP.
It’s ill thought out, hostile crap, based on ignorance.
Rishi announced that he plans to better define the range of diagnoses eligible for claims.

However, PIP is based on functional assessment, regardless of diagnosis.

Try not to worry. As pp, he won’t be elected (never was).Its probably pre election twaddle.

VOTE - if they don't get back in then all this bullshit, election promises and tory cage rattling wont have an impact. That will happen if enough people vote them OUT - but don't assume 'they wont get back in' we all need to do our bit and vote.

It sounds like you have accessed all the support available to you, including medication and therapy. I’m curious what else might be available? Perhaps longer term therapy? I suffer with anxiety and depression as well and I just never know when I’m going to feel overwhelmed. It’s a terrible feeling. 💐

I think we need a proper dive into why people can’t work and far more support. I have huge sympathy with you OP and telling people just to get on with it - well it’s meaningless and heartless.

I think it's easy to say don't worry esp if one is not affected. Starmers Labour won't be much better. DC has severe learning difficulties and ASD and will need lifelong looking after. I am really worried what will happen to people like her who have very limited mental capacity and are solely dependant on others.

This. They've been at this for a while. They've known they're gonna lose miserably for a while now, and keep announcing extreme policies that don't have a chance of hell of actually getting in, as either a way to draw people in (the kind that hate the vulnerable) or just to punish us.

Saying all these things now will play into the current government hands once there is a new government in power as they will snipe away at them ' not doing anything as we would have done '.

YANBU My dd sounds similar and is in a real state about this. They’re just vile.

As an aside have you thought about DBT, we’ve been advised it’s better for ASC. Also EMDR? Obviously there will be very lengthy waiting lists.🙄

cygnet I share this concern. I judge a country by how it looks after it’s less able. The elderly, disabled, those with disabilities and mental health problems. Utterly shafted in the UK. It is utterly unacceptable that we allow this

I’m not sure why everyone seems to think Labour is going to go any easier on benefits?

I wouldn’t worry too much - it’s highly unlikely the Tories will win the next election, so they won’t actually be in power to implement it.

It’s a way of getting votes from those who are currently supporting Reform and other right wing parties instead.

It's electioneering crap from a failing government which is starting to panic.

I'd ignore it.

They were supposedly going to make work pay and get people into work years ago. Result has meant more than ever on benefits. Just a thought , sort out the NHS first. They are all talk and it’s red meat to the right wing. As someone else said there is no chance they will win next time. Cruel though to play mind games with vulnerable people. Wonder how many suicides this talk will cause? Sheer evil

Maybe getting back into work for some ppl might actually help ..I fluffier mental health and working helps me ..not working and having to much time on my hands really wouldn't help me

Suffer

Exactly...things do need to change regardless of who is elected

I’m surprised too. Or the folks saying the tories don’t have a chance, clearly they have a significant one and these polices play to a lot of people’s issues with society, very populist.

on saying that op they are not after the people who can’t work, it is the can work won’t work brigade. Please don’t be concerned.

I don’t particularly like the rhetoric but currently fewer people are net contributors than contributors at the moment. Fewer than 50% of people actually create a tax surplus.

Theres something wrong with that.

All I hear is people complaining about there not being enough money spent on public services, but governments can’t increase spending when the statistic above is present,

there are some honest conversations that need to happen if people want better public services. You might not be taking the piss OP, but let’s be frank, many people are.

Try not to worry too much.

They won't win the next election and these vile proposals won't be implemented.

It really is appalling that so many disable people and people with long term health conditions are panicking right now because that weasel Sunak is desperately trying to get a few more votes.