To be confused by benefits cuts to the disabled and ill?

[AllyHayHay]

As luck would have it, I have not been in this position, but I do know of one disabled lady who has struggled. She was incredibly fortunate to already own her own home prior to her accident.

I am not what you'd call politically astute, but I have been reading about the proposed spring benefits cuts and wonder why people always discuss this ONLY affecting the sick and disabled.
I am also aware that there are many, many rough areas with families who have never worked, people who are struggling with addiction, prison sentences (their kids, spouse, etc) and these people never seem to be included in the Guardian articles and opinion pieces online.

Why would a system wish to make the life of a disabled person worse, yet ignore the growing issues of illiteracy, generational poverty and other issues which are going on in most urban areas just out of sight of the comfortably off?
Why not address the reasons that great swathes of people are living on benefits across the UK who are NOT disabled? I imagine this would drag up questions of why those issues persist - and no one in government wants to address that.

Since benefits claimants who are not in work of on the pension are a minority, are these cuts more of a populist tendency?

It will last as long as she needs it. She’s been praised for working so hard. If it doesn’t she will
simply end up in hospital and the whole expensive cycle will start all over again.

I think you’re very wise.

If they can adapt to any entry level job for a certain amount of time, the benefit is they then gain some experience from which they can choose a job that better suits them. And then again. So ultimately they end up self sufficient and in a role which is better paid and more suited to what they want.

But by not making that initial effort, they’re stuck and never create more options for themselves.

Yes I don’t like my daughter being on them and she tried really hard to navigate society without the support she needs however what I wanted is neither here nor there. What I’d like now is for her to continue with the treatment and support she needs to enable her to learn skills,get well and progress so she will be able to come off a lot of her benefits. I think the tax payer ( I am one) would like that too.

Simply not appropriate for all. Some are battling at getting well, undergoing quite hard treatment and learning skills for future independence.

Do you not think the rich are taxed enough? I’m sure they don’t mind doing their bit for genuinely disabled people who can’t work, but people who play the system? No wonder they’re leaving the country in droves. Wouldn’t you?

Is there a website that you can do this. Can’t find the award letter atm.

Except these cuts will affect the genuine too... plunge them into poverty.
In some MH groups I am in, there are already people discussing suicide.
How is this acceptable?

‘to stop people wanting to claim they can’t work’
Im not convinced by that statement
I think they are going with their
’Make work Pay’…..headline statement.

In terms of your other comments they are alternatives but nothing to do with benefits. Housing of course can have a direct effect on benefits when local councils pay the rent or at least a top up.

I agree we need to build more affordable flats, that’s an ongoing issue with developers building detached 4 beds on prime agricultural land. We need flats near transport links on brownfield sites but these don’t make developers enough money. We need to start refusing planning applications that are not dealing with the real housing issues. Angela Raynor however is just running rough shot over the countryside allowing developers to build the buildings we are not in urgent need of.

In terms of the issue with dividends to shareholders and wages potentially kept low hence the high UC payments. If we as a country reduce the desirability of businesses to function they may no longer exist. That’s more people out of work. There’s a fine balance and just attacking one, without the obvious realisation of the knock on effect, is why we are where we are as a country now.

I’d be surprised however if there aren’t many more money saving exercises up their sleeves but the welfare one is simply a means to
Make work Pay

We have the highest tax burden since WW2 and the top 1% of earners pay 30% of all income tax. Taxing the rich is already being done, in spades. A wealth tax isn’t an option as it is a one off payment that won’t last long. We can’t have a yearly wealth tax. What are the alternatives?

It is politically easier to cut benefits for the most vulnerable than take money from the wealthy and enititled. Just look at the fuss over IHT for multi-millionair land owners

We absolutely need more affordable housing. Or just housing, frankly. We need to be building huge numbers of well designed 1-3 bedroom flats, for council tenants, and frankly anyone who wants one.

Read my last post. Do you not think the rich are being taxed enough?

Agree Parsnip
And taking their businesses and taxes with them…… it’s simply no way to support a fully functioning society

What is your definition of "wealthy and entitled"? Have you got an actual figure or is it just anyone who earns more than you?

Plenty of alternatives. Make unearned income subject to the same rates as earned income, match capital gains tax to income tax, land tax and fairer council tax.

Not plunge the already poor and vulnerable into destitution. We should be better than that.
Where are the jobs for all these people?

That’s not a response to my question, is it?

Agree
But I do think we all need to contact ( again and again ) our local MPs and stop the current nonsense building going on.
We are about to lose 325 acres of agricultural land owned by Prince William to developers focusing on mainly large detached houses ( they initially got acceptance through planning by proposing terraces ……. Well that’s all gone now surprise surprise. ).

We need flats….everywhere needs flats.
Near transport and infrastructure
We need to grow our food on this agricultural land not concrete over it for carports
😡……rant over

I do understand its not that simple. My point is that these are the things that are driving the state to have to support working people, not the fact that some people can't work. Taking money from those who have no other way to support themselves or ability to change that is not going to solve these problems.

So if the pip does stay the same what happens to the UC? I’m pretty sure she does score over 4

Also if she is assessed as not fit for work( which is likely) will the UC still be reduced and by how much?

That will never even touch the sides of the predicted benefits bill

We are done with sticking plasters…we need an overhaul

👏👏👏👏👏

for positivity 🙂

We’re the same poster. I changed my name because I wanted to ask something a bit outing about my kid’s school, and commented on this before I could change back. I tried but apparently once you’ve commented once you’re stuck with it. Hopefully nobody will see this and recognise me but it would feel underhand not to tell you.

@Fjgjam I'll answer asap but i think we're going to need a new thread!