So, who is going to employ all these disabled people the government wants to wean of welfare

[Jimisnotmyname]

Really wondering. Not saying it is necessarily a bad thing to encourage those who can work, to work but as a carer for 2 disabled family members, I am hugely struggling to find another job as nobody is willing to give me any flexibility (which I need as a carer) and there are always candidates who do not need the same accomodations I do. I would imagine that many of those currently not in work because of disability or a health condition, will often need a similar level of flexibility. I just wonder who on the the government think will offer jobs galore on these circumstances??

CBT is being referred to in the news at the moment as something to try for those sorts of kids. It's not surprising after covid that young people are experiencing these sorts of things and I think the government need to make a real effort to support them better. Not making employing them harder by increasing Employers NI. It's massively in the country's long term interests that these kids get off benefits and have the incentives to work and gain experience.

In the run up to all this there were multiple threads about the proposed cuts, and on a couple I repeatedly asked the question where are all these super flexible and inclusive employers going to come from. Funnily enough despite repeatedly asking, people just kept being righteously ableist but couldn't actually answer the question.

It strikes me the question still isn't being actually answered. Lots of idealistic suggestions that overlook so many obvious pachyderms in the room.

The biggest one is that in the current economic climate, companies need to make maximum profit for minimum outlay, hence job cutting left, right and centre, plus the tinkering with NI and huge rates rises for business premises, not to mention the encroachment of automation and AI that is making certain industries virtually obsolete (no pun intended).

The employment market is changing at an exponential rate, and while it's laudable to think employers will want to embrace the disabled, the costs of reasonable adjustments will not be cost effective for many.

Someone else pointed out the disingenuous language this drive to "help" benefits claimants is being couched in. That it should be considered supportive and an extension of "therapy". Are employers really going to want to sink time and money into that at a time when their basic operating costs are being elevated?

Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of those who feel they can work being enabled to do so, and those who can't being supported to at least live like human beings, however, like everything else being proposed, there seems to be a populist wrecking ball being swung through the most vulnerable sections if society.

I also believe the pace and intensity and complexity of modern life, plus economic stress, is partly behind the apparently increasing numbers of the unwell and disabled. We have little idea of how our environment, with all the cumulative additives, chemicals, pollutants and toxins are truly affecting us, not to mention the potential legacy of over 3000 nuclear tests since 1945, above and below ground that could have impacted the earth and water.

The impact of technology from a neurological perspective is not yet fully understood, and while we are urged to limit screentime we are also hugely dependent on it for every aspect of modern life.

In terms of places of employment, my relatively affluent South coast university hometown has so many empty shops in the town centre, it's embarrassing. No department stores, even M&S have decamped to out of town retail parks and parking is a very expensive joke.

Call centre jobs are very hard to come by, and as others have mentioned, WFH is being phased out.

We're in a pretty pickle indeed, and I stand in solidarity with those on the lowest economic rung of the ladder, wondering where the hell the next rungs have gone.

The less money people have to spend, the more the economy will decline, and the more people will suffer.

If that's the case,you wouldn't have your money stopped surely?

Yes, my colleague takes various meds as she suffers nerve pain despite being paralysed. It’s not uncommon apparently.

She also always has sore, cracked hands, often burns herself on heaters or hot water bottles (she’s always freezing). These become infected occasionally.

Shes a trooper though.

Her wheelchair is tied into motability, which isnt being affected

She could have lost her daily living points because of not getting 4 points in 1 descriptor, which is very common.

Most claims are made of of multiple low points rather than a few high ones.

I think thats exactly why the gov have implemented this. Its invalidates alot of claims

This isn’t a quick fix. No one is pretending it is. There are plenty of people on disability benefits who can’t work. But there are also plenty who can (with the right help and support framework in place).

Agree. The government increase in Employers NI and immediate workers rights have stuffed the part time starter jobs that young people of any sort relied on, let alone those that are restricted by disabilities. There are too few jobs for too many people and that will get worse as low skilled immigration continues.

Interesting point re nuclear tests. I'd never clocked that. I think smartphones have fueled the increase in ADHD diagnoses in children. I'm an adult and I can't concentrate on a book any.more and I grew up without smartphones so goodness knows what the effect on children is.

The poor will just become poorer. There's an alternative option: tax the wealthy.

It's self defeating unfortunately for all the reasons discussed relentlessly on these threads. The solution is an economy that generates more wealth. Unfortunately Labour haven't acheived that.as yet.

My son has neuropathy too. He got it due to a side effect of been so unwell he was in intensive care for a number of weeks from complications caused by cancer.

Then once he was well enough, he started chemotherapy including one which is known to cause neuropathy so it saved his life but made his pain worse.

His left foot has improved but he still gets pain in his right foot and can't feel or move his toes at all.

Less than 4% of the benefits bills is awarded fraudulently. That’s the government’s own figures: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-2023-to-2024-estimates/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-ending-fye-2024

Ultimately theres two options.

1 - we accept that to avoid those truly in need of disability benefits not getting them, there will be a level of fraudulent claims, or:
2 - we eradicate fraudulent claims, but some genuine ones will also be turned down.

Assessing people is always going to rely to some extent on self-reporting. None of my specialists have a fucking clue how I actually live my life. They can suggest (if they've some imagination and of course many of them would not have) that for example, I'd get out of breath easily, struggle to stand for more than a few seconds, be unable to physically exert myself...

But to truly be able to describe HOW I live and cope, day to day, you need to be me.

If we move away from that, how, without throwing human rights and decency out the window, do we assess people? I don't see the government funding thousands of assessors who are all experts in multiple conditions, so...

Push them out of wheelchairs and see if they splat on the floor? Lob rocks at them to see if they lie there or get up and run away?

We're not that many steps away from lobbing folk in the village pond to see if they sink or float eh.

First of, fresh air, sunlight and meaningful activities have been proven to aid mental health recovery or at least improve symptoms.
Second, as some with physical disabilities mentioned on this thread, having something like work tasks to focus on can distract from symptoms and again give meaning.

Not saying work 9-5 straight for all these groups but how about do work 1-2 hours a day with possibilities to increase hours while still on benefits so it gradually phases out ?

Please don't ever feel you need to justify yourself to the myriad posters who are here to stir up hate.

🤣Sorry, but you have to be physically fit to look after people in care homes, reliable, able to work antisocial and long hours, and also emotionally robust. As for educational institutions - no way do educational institutions offer more flexibility than other places, certainly not for educating people aged 0-18. There is no flexibility whatsoever during term time, you have to turn up in person, not be prone to catching the multiple illnesses the children are bringing into school with them, and also be physically and emotionally robust and utterly, utterly reliable, or you become a massive drain on all your colleagues. You are caring for society’s most vulnerable, you aren’t supposed to be the vulnerable one. Local Authorities - have no money to obligingly employ lots of people with genuine disabilities. These have to be the stupidest examples of good places to employ people with disabilities that I’ve read.

What work?

What work can be done by anyone, any educational and cognitive level, for 1 to 2 hours a few days a week.

What happens if one week they're not able to do their presumably piece-meal drudge work. Sanctions? Cut their money for that week?

The mobility component isn’t being changed, it’s the daily living component. Hopefully mine won’t change. We don’t claim anything else because DH earns a very good wage, and has a military pension, so I wont be going to work. Regardless of that, I’m very angry at what the government has announced today. They are incredibly shortsighted and have forgotten that real people are at the end of this. People will die as a result, just like they did when the Tories changed DLA to PIP

Sorry these are preventing you from working??

That requires an employer who would be happy to take so one on on those terms, which is what this thread is about.

Piecemeal drudge work? I'd take any job I could do, like anyone else who needs the money.

I wish I had all the answers that's what is making this discussion actually important.
As I mentioned before, online tutoring or gardening depending on level of ability. When you sick you're getting sick pay.
Government needs to change rules around employment too in order for this to work

Because you're not disabled so you dont have any restrictions??

How is that so hard for you to understand?

Reasonable adjustments and investment in a diverse workforce are requirements of the Equality Act. The government shouldn't be bribing employers to comply with the law.

That's going to be hard as in many places they are looking to build on pretty much any green space available, including grass verges. In some parts of London it's so built on, none of the flats have any green space outside of them and open up directly onto the street. It's feels pretty suffocating. I doubt that that type of environment is doing anyone's health any good and there won't be any outdoor menial jobs due to the lack of green space.

You are right and I agree rules around employment have to be more flexible for people. I just keep thinking about tutoring that would hit two birds with one stone and solve issues.