‘Game the system’ disability benefits

[Tomatochocolate]

WTF
just read a bbc article about welfare reforms

Apparently ministers think that it’s an incentive to claim disability benefits as the incentive is no work commitments on UC. That claimants ‘game the system’

It’s a long process and really hard to get awarded dla or pip. It’s not just ticking a box that says ‘I’m too sick to work’.

AIBU to think this is just horrific

Have you ever met an autistic person?

I also wish they could fund specialist work coaches with experience in working with those who have MH or ND issues, to help them back into work that can suit them if they are able to work.

Those who won't be shocked if someone has a breakdown on their course and freaks out. I was on a work placement course with a work coach, he was fine towards me until I had a very extreme anxiety episode one day and he took me off the course and refused to speak to me after that.

Being disabled doesn't prevent you from being ableist

As an aside from the subject of the thread, you should have your son put on the ld register at his GP. They should give him a once over every year and if they don't offer this you should be able to take him to a different GP. Have a look on mencap.

@TigerRag Actually, yes it does.

@worstdaughter I am an autistic person and I agree with Wildflowers. So what's your response to me? I've met an autistic person.

Yes, my best friend is autistic (diagnosed a few years ago but been friends since 11). She works, but takes a lot of decompression time when she isn’t working and will simply tell me if she’s not in the mood for a planned event. She’s tailored her life to suit herself quite well.

Did you read the comments?

Suggesting a severely disabled person doesn't' lean into MH' and simply goes to work is more than just a difference of opinion.

It's ignorant at best, and I will report as I choose, it's not up to you.

I think she showed herself up with the comments regarding your son.

@Wildflowers99

Isn’t ‘simple’ an ableist insult? I never use it, because it sounds awful.

Perhaps, feel free to report and ask MN to remove. I have no issue with this, I should not have said that.

If only everyone's autism was the same. Ever heard "once you've met an Autistic person, you've met an Autistic person"? We don't all have the same issues

You're obviously aware there's a reason why it's called a spectrum?

I won’t report but I just thought it was unnecessary and not something I would say. I’ve been polite even if you disagree with what I say, I haven’t resorted to insults.

@Wildflowers99

won’t report but I just thought it was unnecessary and not something I would say. I’ve been polite even if you disagree with what I say, I haven’t resorted to insults.

Like I said, i should not have said it.

the criteria does still need to be about how the person is affected by their condition not by the diagnosis. Someone with ME/CFS might be able to work but another person with the same might only be able to do part time , or they might be too unwell to work at all.

Someone may have had a schizophrenic episode 20 years ago but now be stable in their meds and can work but another person might have OCD that's severe and they can't hold down a job at all. I know someone with severe type 1 bipolar who always worked when she wasn't unwell and sectioned but another person with that diagnosis lost confidence in her ability to work and has been in benefits all her adult life.

@richardosmanstrousers I personally don't agree that it's straightforward to suggest your son could work. You have every right to be annoyed and upset. But you open yourself up to upsetting comments when you choose to use your own child as an example. If you ask a question to someone directly, citing your son, you have to be aware you may not get the answer you want. I do think it's unfair to then report them, yes. I don't agree that her view is "goady". It isn't goading you to answer a question that you posed. I also don't believe a disabled person can be ableist in a meaningful sense in a discussion like this one.

Again, I never said her view was goady. There are other comments in this thread I was referring to.

The idea that severely autistic people should just go to work and not lean into their MH is ableist.

I can use any example I choose, the point is still the same.

@TigerRag And yet the question posed by another poster was whether those taking a specific viewpoint had ever met an autistic person, so it is perfectly relevant to mention that one has. That's all Wildflowers was doing.

I was just about to say the same thing regarding it being a spectrum. It affects everyone differently.

Some people need to educate themselves a bit more about Autism because quite frankly some of the comments on here just show how little people understand it but yet they have so much to say about how people should be living their lives.

@richardosmanstrousers As I said, I agree that it would not be at all straightforward for your son to work. I think many people with mental health problems probably could, but not all, no. And certainly not the most severe presentations of developmental disabilities - that would be ludicrous. I don't blame you for being upset by a comment about your son, I just don't agree that you should have reported someone else on this thread. We will have to agree to disagree on this.

So u know that there's a reason most autistic people don't work which has nothing to do with gaming anything? That realistically we can't do most jobs? (on a macro level) and need way more time to do anything in the way someone without autism could? Bc I'm autistic and I'm really good at my job and it took me forever to get where I am but the costs i have to pay to keep myself in my job are actually mental. I can't cook on a workday. I can't work ft hours. I have to book a days annual leave if I want to socialise in the evening. Everything takes so long and it's so hard. I wish people had a touch of empathy.

I don't need you to agree.

I’m sorry to hear about your struggles but glad you son has you to fight his corner @richardosmanstrousers

@richardosmanstrousers If you're determined to be persistently hostile and unpleasant in your comments, then that is of course your choice.

I'm not being unpleasant because I said I don't need you to agree, I'm defending my chose to report a comment. I don't see why you need to have any input on that at all tbh

@worstdaughter It is definitely harder to do almost everything as a ND person compared to being a NT person (exceptions for just a few niche specific things). I'm not arguing with that at all.