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.

Honestly so weird that people begrudge the families of disabled children from getting some state support to help with the costs of bringing up those children

I did not know that. Learned something new today.

I hope others on this thread did too.

I think some people see free money as hitting the jackpot - not realising that being disabled and getting free money is a Faustian bargain. You lose far more than any amount of money could compensate for.

And it sounds like this one doesn’t either

I am disabled and I could claim but I choose not (yes really). Cases like that are taking the piss. If you can travel the world and do a Masters and have no physical disability, you do not need benefits - end of.

Yes, kinder is the most special, noble, generous disabled person ever because unlike the rest of us lazy scroungers, she is super disabled but chooses to valiantly struggle through and work 🦸‍♀️and this gives her the right to criticize us lazy, undeserving disabled people who clearly are not as disabled as her, and the only thing separating us is her choice not to claim and our choice to claim.

Well good for you.
You have no idea what this person’s care needs are and what they struggle with. All we know is that they have submitted evidence to the DWP (everything has to be evidenced, they don’t just take your word for it), and they have decided that this person is eligible for PIP.

They probably have other disabilities that you're unaware of

Whatever they are it sounds like they can live a totally normal life without the money

I don’t really care, the facts speak for themselves. A person who can travel the world, has no physical issues in doing so and studies for a masters, is not disabled enough to need disability benefits. And 90% of the right thinking public would agree with me

The point is, you don’t know the facts.

The facts we do know speak for themselves

Most ridiculous argument I’ve ever heard, but ok.

@Kindersurprising perhaps disabled people can do these things because they get the benefits that support them to live their lives?

The only facts we have are that the woman passed a master's degree. Stephen Hawking managed that a few times, but I think anyone would claim he wasn't disabled.

Unless you have evidence that a master's degree can cure Autism?

The person is disabled to the point they are deemed eligible for benefits. Having an education and being able to travel does not mean they are not.

You know nothing at all about this person other than they are autistic, educated, and have travelled. What gives you the right to say they are not disabled, or should not be getting benefits?

My boyfriend has two degrees and a masters. Still autistic. Maybe he should try and do another one? 😂

Just to me, I understand that PIP is to cover the costs of being disabled. So they didn't get it for a while (still dealt with university life). Now they used the lump sum for their holiday?

We all have things in life we find difficult and have to deal with? There's a limit on how much the government should step in though. This person I know also gets the maximum maintenance loan as well. Surely that's more than enough to cover the costs of study?

Well all this is going to stop, govt can’t afford it any longer so hope it has been enjoyed while it lasts

Well they can't go back in time and use the backpay for extra costs from before they were awarded their PIP. If they have been awarded it then they have been deemed eligible. That is between them and the DWP.

I dont know what a maintenance loan is or how it is relevant to disabilities. A loan will have to be paid back anyway.

The person also gets a larger maintenance loan due to the disability.

It's because they are a student.

Good for them.

I do hope people have enjoyed their lives as much as possible in the circumstances.

We're going to be having a lot more emaciated dead bodies turning up in rat infested houses after vulnerable people's benefits are cut off - but you go ahead and celebrate that. Never mind what that says about you.

I am on off a little holiday in a few weeks. It will probably be my last as I wont be able to afford to eat once all the changes happen. Life wont be worth living.
Just trying to live in the moment now and not worry about the future. Really hard to do though.