Benefit cuts will cost the economy.

[MistressoftheDarkSide]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/29/labours-benefit-cuts-will-cost-uk-economy-billions-charity-says

Interesting article which repeats what some of us have been saying about the likely consequences of the proposed measures, including increased pressure on services.

I'm happy for you that you don't understand what it's like to survive on almost nothing for years and then see a warehouse full of huge piles of food you could never afford. But it made me feel awful. That's what constant, long lasting hunger does to you. It was very distressing.

This always happens on threads like this. Someone says they have a disability, and then get people making suggestions, or asking have they tried xyz. All unsolicited, and not always in good faith.

If there was a way I could eat enough, I'd already be doing it. Things are too expensive and I have too little money.

Presumably if I'd said I lived on sandwiches and fruit, someone would be asking me why I wasting my money on that.

RR is not competent to handle the economy. In 2025 we are down 1.4 billion pounds due to her increasing tax on Non Dom's who many have simply chose to move to a more tax friendly country. She is so stupid she seems to think she brings in a new policy to increase taxes but doesn't contemplate Non Dom's will react to avoid her increased taxes. She was warned this would happen but insisted it would bring in more money. These VAT on independent schools, RR was warned it would cause more expense for councils having to pay taxis for DC with SN to travel miles tomsttendvspecial schools but she chose to ignore this information. Now councils are forced to pay in case of my foster DC £42.5k per annum just in taxis. I've heard of another DC who has to travel further with their taxi costing LA £78k per annum. She cut WFA for pensioners but now more is paid out than she gained in PC as many more claims. Now she thinks she knows best again with cutting disability benefits. She'll never learn to listen to advice.

Wow. You’re a real empathy depot, aren’t you?

Genius, I'm stealing that.

Honestly, don't feel bad about reaching out for help, you should not have to go hungry like that.

Funny how nobody wants to address the way councils are being fleeced by landlords and companies contracted to provide "services" isn't it?

There isn't any help. I've already tried looking for it. No food bank close to me delivers.

The few times I've been well enough to go there, I can't carry what they give me so I have to leave a lot. They really don't give you very much at all in there anyway. It's three days worth of very random ingredients and I definitely can't get to a food bank every few days. You need to supplement what they give you with other ingredients, which will all be random because you'll get different bits every time. Then it needs very inventive cooking to make meals out of. I'm making all of my meals with the equivalent of hands that have just been beaten and put into thick gloves - so even though I know how to cook, the smallest thing like boiling water and pouring it is very challenging and painful. Not to mention risky because I've got no grip. I've badly burnt myself before.

I completely agree with this.

Sorry to hear of your troubles@Thronglet. I am just wondering if Adult services in your LA could help you in any way.* *It might be worth a try.

I can attest, some of what you say, is accurate.

Happy to expand.

Are you suggesting there's too many people for the number of jobs?

Just in case people are not aware, the job centre will buy interview clothing, shoes, work start clothing and fund travel to interviews and at least one month of travel to work for those job seeking.

None of those things you mention are either “aides” or “specialist equipment”.

I have asd myself as does one of my dds. Obviously we know a lot of people who also do from support groups etc. I don’t know a single one who needs “equipment”.

Also there are lots of charities that provide free clothing for interviews, etc.

Because they aren’t. Councils have an obligation to get the best deal when procuring services (including housing). If they’re not (which they often aren’t) that’s on them.

What, nobody? No coloured prescription lenses? No adaptive pens or cutlery? No specialist software for self- organisation?

I know the bigger ticket items tend to be associated with physical disability, but the above are all very popular with the younger people I know who are ND.

Legally, it's the local authority who has a duty of care towards adults with disabilities in the UK.

Unpaid carers currently save the government nearly 2 billion in care costs annually. They don't have to do it. They can down tools at any time, and step aside, leaving the local government to step in and meet the person's needs.

So if these unpaid carers suddenly can't afford to continue in their caring role (because their loved one lost PIP and they no longer get carer's allowance) then it's going to cost the local authority lots of money. Councils will be bankrupt, but then they still have to provide essential services including social care.

That's kind of the point of this thread, isn't it? If they were to help me, rather than me having enough money to place a supermarket order, which I'm perfectly capable of doing if I could afford it, the government would then be paying for social workers to look after me when it would be significantly cheaper for me to have enough to buy food to eat.

It's much cheaper for the economy if people can take care of themselves as much as possible.

Oh and there was a positive mania for dehydrators (I think that’s what I mean) a year or so ago to make fruit and vegetables crispy for sensory-limited eaters. There are lots of costs to autism for some people, not everyone.

No, none. Tbf one child I know did try coloured glasses but didn’t find them helpful. I don’t need extra money (and i don’t claim pip) for either me or my dd despite our disabilities. Most disabled people don’t imo.

People with disabilities are shirkers? Working people claiming benefits are shirkers?

Whatever you wish to call it, the fact remains that their cost is higher due to their disabilities, hth.

That’s not my experience. Although I do know a disproportionate number of home educated autists, which is probably a regional variation, and probably fuelled parental expenditure on things that help educationally. I’m very surprised to hear anyone with an autism network anywhere say no equipment at all, though.