To think benefits need to be cut to fund increased spending on defence

[Viviennemary]

This is absolutely necessary. Keir Starmer shouldnt have backed down the last time. But now with the current situation with Russia drastic steps need to be taken. We simply can't afford to sustain the current benefits bill with the armed forces so depleted. The money is needed to increase defence.

I didn't say she couldn't?

Yes, I appreciate the administrative cost. And nobody wants to see people who rightfully need the money in some sort of distress.
The competence of the process and system probably needs revision. What constitutes caring etc.
And I am sure that the administrative cost can be kept to a minimum somehow. Some selected checks are better than doing none.
I am afraid if people are perceived to be abusing a process, ensuring those who really do any what people probably think of as caring obtain it, then it saves it from the clutches of those who would lower the amounts significantly.
And if people are abusing the system they are not saving the state anything at all. They are taking from it. For not doing much of the caring. And putting a much needed benefit to others at risk.

Yes but how does having ADHD affect mobility or ability to shower.

"Unbelievable that you think that disabled people have a "better standard of living " than healthy working people" iy's unbelievable because that isn't what i've written!

Hall allocation- disabled students can request ground floors, single studios/ rooms, certain locations, extra fridges for meds etc. Yes disabled uni students do get their needs taken into account very often with hall allocation.

Being on the ground floor doesn't cost money. Most students don't even want the ground floor. They might get a larger room if in a wheel chair for example but not otherwise. Do you seriously begrudge that. Never heard of "extra fridges" for meds but if a student needed a mini fridge to store insulin would you begrudge that?

why should someone not able to work have a lesser standard of living than someone who is able to work?

You’re basically saying a person born with a disability should be destined to be poor and have a low standard of living because those things are for people without disabilities, would you feel that way about your child's future if you were pregnant with a disabled child?
People only get one life and being disabled is shit enough so why should it be inevitable that a disabled person must have a shit life too because they were born less fortunate so must realise their misfortune because a good life is only for everyone else?
I thank my lucky stars I am able and have the capacity to choose what I want in life, I couldn’t imagine begrudging someone less fortunate the chance to experience life as more than crumbs to be grateful for because their body or brain doesn’t work like ours.
You’d think disability was a poor life choice reading MN

I am all for addressing wealth inequality and reducing the power and influence of the truly wealthy.

The problem is that government increasingly seems to use tax as a blunt force object. The UK's problems will not be solved by repeatedly returning to the same groups for more tax. They will be solved by stronger growth, higher productivity, more efficient public spending and policies that both protect the people of the UK and encourage investment.

We need investment that delivers both immediate benefits and sustainable long-term returns. That requires stability, confidence and incentives to encourage self reliance for as long as possible and also wealth creation, not just an ever-growing focus on how to redistribute it.

What is wrong with that?

I think the turn this discussion has taken goes some way to explain why nothing meaningful is achieved when it comes to true reform of public services and government systems.
I am saddened that it has been to some extent reduced down to talking about facilities/services for those with disabilities- I’m shocked to see what mean little lives we would be okay with seeing some of us living
We as a society can feel like our own worst enemies because we always take the view that for one group of us to prosper a different group has to suffer
Im afraid to say that savings in and reform of public spending is going to take some careful thinking and bold actions (and I don’t just mean taxing the usual suspects more)which I’m not sure the current government is capable of

Why are you even asking if i begrudge these things? Read the thread, this whole university line is because I said people with disabilities can go to uni and do get support. Why is that a bad thing? I have not at any point written that as a bad thing.

Yes mini fridges can be given for meds and often are.

Where have I written that anything is wrong with that?! Read the thread! It was me that said disabled people can goto uni and would be supported to go!!!

You sound bitter m you claim that disabled students get more help than non disabled students. The idea of DSA is to provide a level playing field and not disadvantage disabled students

Disabled students do get more support than average students, that isn't bitter that is factual. You cannot have a discussion about benefits and not discuss those benefits.

Dsa is a benefit.

Yes because as a disabled student I need that extra support

There is no reason why a non disabled student needs a note taker, text to speech software, coloured paper, a CCTV / electronic magnifying aid, etc Those were some of the things I got when I was a student. It certainly didn't put me at an advantage

I haven't said it did provide an advantage nor have I ever said that it should be removed.

I did reply to someone who made a comment about disabled people not being able to go to uni by saying they can and get support to go.....

But you appear not to approve of the extra support given. Not only that but you don’t appear to understand why it’s given - it’s so that disabled students can minimise the effects of their disability on their education. Isn’t that something to be encouraged or do you see it as unfair ? Because that’s impression you’re giving.

YABU I think.Many people need benefits and there are fewer jobs around now to choose from .Defence spending is a bottomless pit!

This same poster told me yesterday to quit my job and get a work from home job even after repeatedly telling her I already have a job

So is welfare spending a bottomless pit.

Cancel the triple lock. Lots of very rich pensioners out there. Boomer generation have been the luckiest financially.

Well they do have a lesser standard of living because of their disability. Life isn't all about money. I know to some people they look at disabled people on benefits and it feels unfair because they are having to work and struggle.

At least you have your health. I would give anything for my young adult daughter not to be constantly unwell because of her various health conditions. She will never have a relationship, have children, travel the world. She doesn't understand the concept of time or money and struggles to understand what people mean.She will never be able to go out by herself. I didn't think I would still be watching CBeebies at this age as that is her level of understanding.

Every day I worry about what will happen to her when I am not here. Yes she gets benefits but she pays a contribution to her social care package out of those.

I know that whenever benefit recipients are criticised there is sometimes the caveat that of course they don't mean the "truly disabled". There are always those that game the system whether that is in the case of benefits or tax avoidance but the dialogue on here has become so hostile to those on disability benefits that it makes me fear even more for DD's future.

You said that disabled students get more support than other students and in the next sentence said that people on benefits shouldn't have a better standard of living than those who work which strongly gives the impression that you begrudge everything they get if you don't get it too.
Also, the support you mention isn't something other students particularly want anyway. Nobody particularly wants the ground floor or have a noisy mini fridge in their room. The DSA is very limited too. It in no way levels the playing field.

In the current geopolitical climate, a strong defence network equipped for modern warfare and national protection is a necessity. Welfare spending is important, but it is secondary to national security.

The first responsibility of government is to keep the country safe. Without security, every other responsibilty becomes harder to achieve.

No, I have disagreed with a poster who said disabled people can't go back to uni by saying that they can and that they get support to do so.

In regards to education if you read the thread i've wrote that i do not agree with the proposed send reforms; i don't think they will be helpful to kids with send and tbose without, i dont agree with the set provision and only kids with the highest level of need getting specialist placement, that mainstream offer should be more varied in qualifications and setting eg forrest schools and vocational courses as well as comos and gcse's so more children/ yp can have their needs met without formally having to document and families have more options especially in regards to semh, asd and adhd. I've also wrote that people with disabilities can goto uni and will get support to do so more than the average student. None of these are bad things.

I have seen a poster write a few times that they agree with the send reforms as it'll cut the costs in terms of supporting kids outside of mainstream?! - not me though.

The fact that i've disagreed with people over other aspects of benefits is not reason to assume that i am against all benefits or all disability benefits and defititely not reason to assume i'm against education of those with send, even if some posters would like me take that stance to make it easier to take cheap shots.

This is a discussion about benefits,we're all allowed a view even if you don't agree with those views. I have seen an awful lot of people resorting to insults rather than discussion.

There was a criticism upthread somewhere about the over discussion of disability benefits, but let’s be honest - every single thread about benefits, ends up centred on what disabled people can claim, because at face value it seems generous. Until you look at how expensive it actually is to live as a disabled person, and unless you’re familiar with what those extra expenses can be.

I also think the discussion of reform of disability benefits is important because in these debates it tends to be forgotten that you can cut the support, but the need still remains. So in actual fact you’re not saving money, you’re just shifting costs around to other parts of the budget. Namely social care, which is a LOT more expensive.

As an outreach worker I saw how disabled people used DLA and then its successor, PIP. Many of them put it towards buying in care as and when needed in the form of home helps etc. Many more are able to source care from friends or relatives because the standard rate of DLA/PIP qualifies them for carers allowance.

Unpaid carers alone save the tax payer a fortune in local authority care costs, so I think those advocating for cuts need to think about the inevitable knock on effects to the already unfit for purpose care system. I say that particularly in light of the mealy mouthed discussion upthread about enforcing checks on the 35 hour care rule for carers allowance. During my career I saw many unpaid carers who were literally on their knees caring for relatives whilst trying to hold down a job. We expect 35 hours of care in return for an insulting £86 a week. Less than £3 an hour. A good indication of how the government views carers - as well as a few posters here who think it’s fine and dandy to chase them down for every last hour.