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??

I tried again a couple of times and literally couldn’t function and had seizures. So I gave up and we decided that we would just rely on dh wages and tax credits and now his wages and UC.

As I recall this was always going to be a supported scheme.

I hope there is adequate support to get people who can and want to work back into work and productive. Those who can but won't work will lose out cos no doubt their income will be cut and honestly that is appropriate. Real medics need to lead this decision making.

If people who can work did work we might not need so many economic immigrants.

Imagine a country with reduced benefits budget, more GDP and more income via taxation - how much better will services be for all of us?

I think it's the right move. A brave move. But it cannot be at a cost to those who really need help.

I esp like the fact that they are saying long term with no expectation of getting better will not be treated like those with shorter term health conditions too.

That's not correct. In order to claim disability benefits you need medical evidence, then you have an assessment. You are put in one of two groups, one is if you have a mild disability - you're put in a back to work group - and one where you have a severe disability and you don't have to look for work.

You are regularly assessed after that. You need medical evidence of your disability.

@Jimisnotmyname

how much flexibility do you want?

seems like you are saying you want to be able to work to your own timetable according to the needs of your family - which might be ok if you can commit to certain hours

also you are not obliged to be a carer - you can insist that your family members are assessed and a care package can be provided?

So you are 29 and haven't worked since 2015?
You are exactly the kind of person this country needs to get into work!
I am much older than you and if I decided at 19 that I was 'to overwhelmed' to get a job I would have been on the streets, benefits were not generous enough to give me a bean when I was 19. The expectation was that you would suck it up and get on with it...and we did!
After 10 years languishing as an unemployed person not pushing past any anxiety you have you will now be in a viscous circle, we need to avoid this cycle for as many young people as possible. If cutting benefits means more young people push themselves to work then I'm all for it.
Edited to say my phone is on the blink and lost my quote.

100% agree. In my organisation we have quite a few employees with various disabilities. The office has been adapted and provisions made for employees, Inc wfh, reasonable adjustments etc

I work for a community organisation that has quite a few people with various disabilities, mental handicaps and physical, volunteering for us. They are taking a meaningful part in society and doing good for our community. Many charity shops are staffed by people who can't work, work (my poor turn of phrase). There are voluntary positions available for those who want and are able to contribute to society in some way.

Should they be compulsory for those who can but who choose not to? I'm not sure - this sort of thing is all good and well to debate in theory but the reality for individuals is complex. I'd MUCH prefer investment in services that actually help people to recover fully and well, where possible, and in creating a society that doesn't cause the mental health problems that ours does, currently.

The Equality Act does exist and it does cover disabilities. However, you are being extremely optimistic about what reasonable adjustments an employer is expected to put in place.

It’s a topic that is far too complex for mumsnet, to be honest.

So you have written your whole working life off aged 21? Wow.

I'm sorry to sound offensive, but there's a lot of hyperbole "huge amount" of autoimmune conditions. What does that translate to exactly? You've either got an autoimmune condition or say 2 autoimmune conditions...?

I always feel a little sceptical when I hear "MASSIVE" panic attack. "HORRIFIC" agrophobia "HUGE" spider. It just doesn't help the cause. I've never heard anyone say "I've got anxiety" it always has to be prefixed with "horrendous/horrific/massive/severe" (coming from someone who is medicated successfully for good old fashioned 'anxiety')

There is a wide spectrum of people who are currently claiming sickness benefits of some kind and we all know that some can (and do work, after all pip can be claimed in work).

the number of people claiming is riding at an astronomical rate, something needs to be done to ensure that young people are given the skills to manage their mental health (most of the rise is due to mental health) and get into the workplace. I know of two young people mid 20’s who have never worked due to mental health they say yet they are capable of socialising, going on holidays etc - the problem is real, they can’t cope with going to work so we need to teach them those coping mechanisms. I’m not claiming they don’t have issues!

So did I. I was living at my parents house at the time. When my dad passed and my mum could no longer keep up the house I ended up on antidepressants and, crucially, renting on my own. Strangely, I became able to work again. I often wonder how “unlived” my life would have been if my parents/a partner had been able to house me forever.

See there it is again "severe" . How is this being quantified?

Well nobody will make somebody employ you, so I should imagine you will have to do loads of interviews to show willing. This actually used to be exactly how unemployment pay worked - you had to evidence job searching. It was dull and pointless because if you are well qualified to be a front of house type and badly qualified to be a shelf stacker then the bigger number of shelf stacker jobs that you apply for are a bit pointless, but hey ho. After a bit you find something you don’t suck at and get a job doing that.

I've just found out I will be one of the people who no longer qualify.

I got 10 points for daily living and 10 points for mobility, so standard on both at my first assessment (no MR or tribunal) but all my daily living points are minimum 2 point awards.

I think A LOT of people genuinely unable to work will be in same position as me as the assesors give you the lowest points possible (if they award anything at all) so lots of people will only have 2 points spread across the board.

I'm not exaggerating when I say Im terrified. Ive just had a breakdown with DH and ended up hitting myself repeatedly in the face and now i have a swollen cheek. I'm not proud of that but I can't cope with changes and this is monumental. I feel like throwing myself in front of a train.

Im in the LWRCA group on UC and apparently thats being scrapped too.

I'm just fucking terrified that I'm going to lose every ounce of stability i have.

I have so much going on right now and this just feels like its going to tip me over the edge.

Careful, you’ll be accused of ableism

Within the space of 4.5 years (age 23 onwards) I developed coeliac disease and then crohns, hashimotos thyroiditis and type 1 diabetes
edited to add I also have endometriosis and adenomyosis but I don’t know if they are classed as autoimmune

By the way, zero cases of PIP fraud in 2024 according to government figures.

I was sectioned that’s how I quantify it as severe

Oh yes. Local libraries are overflowing with paid job opportunities... 🙄

There’s loads of WFH jobs. You only have to read all the threads on here with people whinging about them and the angry comments in the Daily Mail to know that it’s true 🙄 😂

Joking aside, I work for the Civil Service and work from home. Due to a reasonable adjustment (health related) I only have to attend the office twice a month. They’re very flexible and pretty much all of the other teams are like that too. I’m sure you could find something.

Gosh what sort of work were you doing? Sounds like a horrendous experience. I don’t think most work is that awful.

But is that morally right though? If you work full time and are able to earn a salary of £100k or more for example should you claim any benefits? I appreciate it is unfair that some people have a disability and others don’t and I understand the rationale for PIP but I can’t help but think it should be means tested.

Plus at the end of the day, if there are 5 candidates for the job, and you have a choice between the disabled person who requires adjustments, or the healthy abled body person….what do you think the employer will go for?

Yes and I’m 45 now. I don’t claim anything for myself we just get by on DH wages