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.

No i've not said that at all. I've said that they are paid at two different rates (both components have a higher and a lower rate). If there is benefit reform and disability is looked at i'd like those on the higher rates who have been assessed as having the most need to continue to be supported.

So are you saying somebody on standard /lower has been assessed as requiring the same as somebody on enhanced/ higher? If so why do they score more points and get more money?

I'd want those who have the most need to still be supported if they start to remove benefits. Do you really believe that if say Reforn get in eventually or the Tories get back in, there won't be changes and yet you think i'm short sighted?

But you can score higher points on standard x2 than enhanced mobility x1

Daily Living Component
Standard Rate: £76.70 per week
Enhanced Rate: £114.60 per week
Mobility Component
Standard Rate: £30.30 per week
Enhanced Rate: £80.00 per week

And once again I’m asking how you intend to support those disabled people who lose the standard rate ? Just because you stop their benefits doesn’t mean their needs disappear. They just get shifted to social care at much greater expense, so what is the point ? You seem to think that the standard rates of PIP are some sort of cut off point for severe disability. They are not. Many people have high levels of need supported by standard rates of PIP. Many people with high needs miss out on the higher rates by as little as one point. It doesn’t mean their needs are any less. You’re demonstrating very clearly that you have no clue as to what disability benefits are meant to achieve. That’s not a basis on which to propose change.

Someone on the standard rate for both mobility and living may be more disabked than someone on the enhanced rate of one. Someone on standard pip mobility is only getting 29 pounds a week and there is a good chance that they are working too. Removing the benefit is not going to save much money particularly if it means less disabled people can work.

But i'm not the one who interpreted it to mean medical adjustments? I used it as in "whatever form".

Maybe read up on PIP and disability properly before spouting nonsense.

Regarding the out-of-control welfare” trope I will just note Britain’s non-pensioner benefits bill was 4.8% of GDP in 2025.. This is roughly in line with the 30-year average. Spending is forecast to stay at a similar level throughout the decade.

I get a ridiculous amount of benefits. As do my neighbours.

Mumsnet has a view that all on UC and disability benefits are destitute, many are not at all.

I have two children with disabilities.

My household income

£1200 wages
£2149 UC (£645 is the housing element)
£1005 DLA 4 weekly
£179 CB 4 weekly

A huge amount of people are on disability benefits when they really shouldn't be.

Once again you are over simplifying disability. Because you are on the standard rates doesn’t mean your need is any less than those on enhanced rates - your condition just affects you differently and doesn’t fit easily into the assessment. And many disabled people miss out on enhanced rates by as little as one point. It doesn’t mean their needs are any less, just different. If, God forbid, Reform get in, or even a Tory government, l would hope that they would consult with disabled people themselves and take their views and that of their representative organisations into account, not just bring an imaginary guillotine down at some arbitrary point, as you are suggesting.

Why do i need to support them? What i've repeatedly said is that i dont want those with the most need losing out. I want those with severe and profound needs to continue to be supported if there is reform/ changes to the benefit system. Wanting to ensure the most disabled don't lose out in benefit changes isn't villainous, we should look out for the most vulnerable in society.

I thought you were leaving?

So are you saying your children shouldn’t be?

It isnt nonesense just because you disagree with it.

Your idea on how to cut it clearly is!!

This exactly.

If you think the money is a ridiculous amount why are you claiming it?

Maybe the threshold to receive the full amount of child benefit should be reduced.

Why do we need to support them ? Have you actually heard yourself ? I’ve tried to leave but it seems every time l do, you come up with something even more outrageous. Wanting to support the most disabled people in the country isn’t villainous. But I’ll tell you what is - cutting everyone else loose with no support at all because you’ve made some ridiculous and arbitrary decision that the standard rates of benefit don’t support severe disability, so the rest can just go away and die quietly. You can abolish the benefits, but the need remains. And meeting that need is the mark of any decent, civilised country. Apparently you disagree.

Disabled people aren't all the same that's the point. Some are more disabled than others and I (me personally) don't want to see this group lose out or become unsupported. Are you really saying that some one who scores one point on either component could be more disabled than someone who maxes out both?

Oh God no, MN would have a nervous breakdown !! Won’t you think of the children !!

Pensions are the biggest drain go tell your granny to tighten her belt

You said you don't work so your not supporting anyone

Look at the criteria and you'll see this is the case - there are people on the lower rates who are more disabled than someone on the higher rates

What are you talking about?

You need to reach a threshold. And again:-

PIP is split into two completely separate parts: Daily Living and Mobility. You can be awarded one, the other, or both depending on your needs.

No i said why do i need to support them. You asked me directly how i would support them.

Being pragmatic on who requires the most support if benefits were cut isn't villainous, it's prioritising those with the most need. Again, youre misquoting me wherehave i wrote anything about anyone going away and dying?

I have wrote that ideally everyone would be supported and believe everyone should have a basic standard of living. The thread is about benefits and what/if to cut to support defence and by extension other underfunded services. Ensuring the most disabled are still supported should be a priority.