To be concerned about what Liz Kendall is up to with disability benefits?

[Locutus2000]

The Times reporting just how enthusiastic Labour are about targeting the disabled.

I can only hope they are getting the worst ideas out there first, if not I dread to think what is coming in the upcoming review.

I was confident Labour would at worst be no worse than the Tories.

I was wrong.

Free archive link here.

I agree, there should be lifetime awards and I think they used to have them but a prior wave of “reform” insisted there were tons of disabled people cured of paralysis, autism, schizophrenia, missing limbs and were now gaming the system just sitting on benefits.

The costs to reassess people that will never get any better must be hundreds of millions, but hey ho, the Tory MPs likely have ATOS/Capita stock and granting disability assessment contracts to them to check on these people is good for their pockets. Taxpayer money goes to silly wasteful contract the profits of which then boost the net wealth of MPs. And they sold it to the public by scaremongering around scroungers.

The Motorbility scheme is a lifeline for so many disabled people. It is really something to see the animosity that it generates in some people. The constant punching down on disabled members of the population, leads to many disabled people struggling in silence for fear of what others may be thinking, or how they will be treated. My close Friends are not even aware of how much I struggle with my disability, only my immediate family, as I just can't deal with them not being able to understand, that they see me when I am at my 'best'. They don't see the daily struggle, and I am too tired trying to explain things, so I don't. I meet up when I can, for a social. Attitudes such as some being displayed on this thread are partly the reasons that some people suffer in silence, which ultimately leads to poorer outcomes for the person affected.

Which is why Reeves scrapped the non-dom tax changes quietly in the background. Apparently the country can’t afford to keep the disabled housed, warm and fed, but we can afford to give multi-millionaires very generous income tax exemptions.

Thanks for the info.

The elephant in the room is employers. No government has ever tried to address the way employers themselves are a huge barrier to people with disabilities and health conditions finding and staying in work.

There are people who cannot work at all. They should be supported. There are however a vastly larger group of people who can work - but not full time, not in a standard office environment, not where there is a commute involved. If any government wants those people in work, they're going to have to deal with that. Employers also need a carrot/stick approach when it comes to allowing people to WFH (and right now the push is in the opposite direction, which is downright stupid as so much can be done from home!), jobsharing, removing punitive sickness policies for people with long term and fluctuating conditions. Businesses should be given tax breaks for putting all of that in place - but it should be monitored because businesses are about profit and will try to get away with a tokenist approach only. Who is going to put that in place? But do it, and deal with NHS waiting list so that ill people get treated promptly rather than wait and deteriorate, and things can be turned around.

My DS has a stack of complex interlinked health conditions. He is now back at uni finishing his degree, but he had a year out and worked. He gets higher rate PIP for both elements and submitted uploads of a stack of evidence an inch thick - it took him 4 hours to get it done. Because of his health, he will only ever be able to work part time. Force him to do more and he will not be able to work at all. Fortunately he had an employer who genuinely wanted to support disabled staff. If you want people back in work, all employers need to be like that.

Ok, I got the party wrong. I do agree that both parties haven’t been good for the NHS.

This. There are people profiting from the constant reviews that disabled people are having to endure on PIP. It really is a scandal.

i know autistic adults whose mental health has been affected by these shitty reviews. And people are being paid to review a lifelong condition. Ridiculous.

I don't think people unaffected by any cuts will feel as strongly as those who are

These are Labour statements and articles on benefits. If people are talking about the high cost it's because they're highlighting it

Why do you think Labour would want it talked about, who does it help?

@NattyTurtle59 care to reference the link Natty? Anything to say apart from your pointless comment?

You've proven my point quite perfectly.

Hopefully the constant reviewing of people with lifelong conditions, that will not improve, will be something that the Government will look into, when they go about overhauling the system. I do think that there will be changes. I really hope that this Government will be fair, and remember that they are dealing with vulnerable members of this Society, when they ring those changes.

@EasternStandard can you provide some evidence as to why @PandoraSox statements on Motability and its benefits are incorrect?

I think you have the wrong poster I didn't mention that in my post

I said Labour are highlighting benefit costs in statements and articles. Doing this will lead to discussion by the public. Why would they want that, who does it help?

I do agree with this in part. I could claim particular benefits but I don't because my basic standard of living is enough atm in my current circumstances.
I have had to use savings to cover costs associated with myself and thousands for my SEN child.

When he grows, I worry greatly how he will get through. The NHS blocked all efforts for an assessment for the multiple ND conditions he clearly has.

I don't know how costly a needs assessment for PIP would be. I can consider some value in that and say attendance allowance.

I said Labour are highlighting benefit costs in statements and articles. Doing this will lead to discussion by the public. Why would they want that, who does it help?

Because they are terrified of Reform and the Daily Mail vote.

Floating the worst ideas upfront maybe, so whatever they actually do is not that bad in comparison.

I don't think people unaffected by any cuts will feel as strongly as those who are

Not everyone only cares about what affects them directly @easternstandard As it stands, I am probably not going to be personally affected by the cuts, but I still care very much about those who will be.

There’s millions of young people on sickness benefits for mental health and yet we don’t have enough workers to work in the construction industry. Something has to change.

Something has to change.

Forcing ill young people to work in construction?

Six million people were granted settled and pre-settled status.

Many are leaving now. Wonder why!

100% this!
Who benefits most from the middle classes turning on the disabled and poor? The very, very rich (I’m talking about£5million plus) who have got richer and richer to the point. You are being robbed, but the culprits are laughing as we blame the most vulnerable and overlook their disgusting levels of wealth whilst they more or less fight off any attempts to make the employment opportunities (they undoubtedly do create) fairer and cover people’s real costs.
How outrageous is it that most people on universal credit are in paid work! We as tax payers are subsidising the shareholders of these companies as they pay less than a livable wage. Appalling! We should be up in arms but not at the person on UC.

Indeed. Also worth noting for any who voted for Brexit that Labour are able to impose VAT on private schools as a consequence of a “Brexit freedom” – EU member states are prohibited from charging VAT on “certain activities in the public interest” which includes education.

Not everyone only cares about what affects them directly

It was in response to your 'frothing' claim, if you need to use that term you're likely looking at the wrong people

Also why would Labour want the public talk about £65bn cost rising to £100bn? How does that discussion help those on benefits?

Plus if you say you care why wouldn't you factor in shrinking the private sector which leads to funding cuts, redundancies and closing businesses

There are around 1.6 million people on ESA overall.

Can you link to the data that says millions of young people are on ESA because of mental ill health, please?

I haven't read the full thread but just wanted to comment as someone with a disability and in receipt of PIP.

I actually work, albeit part time. I have a public sector job which I've noticed a few people say should be more understanding etc. they really aren't.

I'll probably shortly lose my job, which I've been at for years (since before I became disabled). I am under an attendance management procedure due to absences due to my disability (they don't have to disregard it, and companies weigh up the costs of continued sick leave etc).

When I'm good I'm good. My work is great. But when my condition flares up (variable), I am unable to work. It's crap but I understand the position of the employer I work for.

It's not easy to stay in work as a disabled person. I think I will find it to get another job when I am eventually dismissed, and with my sickness record. Why would anyone employ me? I'm actually devastated as I love my job.

Work has given me all the reasonable adjustments that can already.

Working from home wouldn't help. A flare up of my condition would mean I can't work at all while I recover.

Life is really hard as it is, the thought of loosing the help that I get is depressing.

This is a thread about propsed cuts tp disability benefit. If you want to discuss other cuts and changes do feel free to start a new thread, ES.