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Original poster

Tories want to cut sick peoples benefit.

133 replies

dottypotter · 25/02/2016 12:33

Surprised no thread. Our wonderful caring Tory government want to cut ESA for people on the benefit. More MPs voted for cutting then against cutting. It makes me ashamed to be British and to think we live in such an uncaring society. How low can they go?

Cutting peoples money will store up more problems and is so mean. They don't know the meaning of the word support. Its everyones business what they doing. Nobody is immune from needing government help at some time.

OP posts:
VertigoNun · 26/02/2016 10:42

Jude Law.

PhilPhilConnors · 26/02/2016 11:06

A lady I know has 2 DC with ASD, there is an assumption round here that she gets tens of thousands of pounds every year in DLA, and no matter what you say, no-one believes you.
DLA = mega bucks.

Samcro · 26/02/2016 11:18

VertigoNun yes cos ss in kent are not being hammered by the extra cost of the unaccompanied minors.

ClashCityRocker · 26/02/2016 11:18

There seems to be an assumption amongst many that people who are choosing to be on ESA rather than working.

My mum became physically disabled a few years ago; the impact the process of applying for (and keeping) ESA and PIP has had on her mental health is horrendous. Ironically, if I had a magic wand and could cure her physical problems I'm not convinced she could return to work due to the issues that have been created - the paranoia, depression and anxiety that has come as a result of the process.

Why anyone would think someone would volunteer to go through this is beyond me. Despite what the media tell us, I've yet to meet one person on ESA who didn't seem to need to be on it (in my non-medical opinion, of course).

BathtimeFunkster · 26/02/2016 11:30

A lady I know has 2 DC with ASD, there is an assumption round here that she gets tens of thousands of pounds every year in DLA

If she has two children that need DLA, then she should be getting tens of thousands of pounds of DLA.

Those children and the woman who cares for them (which I presume is harder work than most people have to do) deserve to have a nice, comfortable life.

And yes, those of us who can work due to not having those kinds of caring responsibilities should pay for that.

PhilPhilConnors · 26/02/2016 12:00

Yes, agree Bathtime.

Tfoot75 · 26/02/2016 12:22

You don't have any right to a nice comfortable life if you are unable to work for it unfortunately, and most people who are unable to in this country are actually very well provided for. Many a Western European country has people with disabilities begging on the street.

Many people on low incomes and on benefits must have voted Tory last year for them to get an overall majority. Don't know if it's ignorance or what really. I don't claim benefits except child benefit, but I do have a social conscience and voted labour. I could vote Tory if I was only interested in myself though - certainly it would suit me to pay less tax. Except healthcare and education are really important to me. So if something has to go then I'm afraid it's out of work benefits, every time. It sounds as if this policy is about getting people who could work, to work. What's wrong with that exactly?

Samcro · 26/02/2016 12:30

so disabled people should just be grateful?

BathtimeFunkster · 26/02/2016 12:30

You don't have any right to a nice comfortable life if you are unable to work for it unfortunately

Well first, caring for two disabled children is work.

Extremely important work.

Second, I don't think you really do have a social conscience if you think people who are unable to work deserve to live nasty, uncomfortable lives.

Third, what's so great about work?

There's not enough of it to go around and there's plenty of money, so why do we need everyone to be working all the time?

Samcro · 26/02/2016 12:32

what people forget is the work that disabled people create.
carers and such forth that have jobs because of them.
they are like a mini industry

SiencynArsecandle · 26/02/2016 14:43

It sounds as if this policy is about getting people who could work, to work. What's wrong with that exactly?

If the WCA were undertaken properly by appropriately qualified medical professionals, and without any targets being set of how many must be turned down for ESA, then I would completely agree with you. However, too many people have been turned down for benefits incorrectly. DH had to go through the trauma (and it is trauma) of 3 appeals to be placed in the Support Group and he still did not get it, despite letters from GP, specialists, CPNs, even the Job Centre advisor had written that work was extremely unlikely and he should be in the Support Group. These appeals didn't take place in a nice room - they were held in a court room, complete with Judge and panel sitting above us with the legal crest behind them. DH was a total mess for weeks before, he was on Diazepam just to get him through the appointments.

The reason for the essay above is to try and show how one sided and unfair these assessments can be. PIP assessments are no longer allowed to be recorded - why might that be? If anyone is still fiddling these benefits (under 1% the last time I read) then they are the ones most able to deal with the stress involved. We are currently going through a change from DLA to PIP, even though both were awarded for life. I have no problem with reassessments but my life is a complete misery at the moment with DH stressing and unable to function. GPs will not give you copies of specialists letters, the onus is on us to chase them up. They expect you to pay £25 for a private sick note if you are unable to make a back to work assessment (DH should still be in Support group and his reassessment for that is now 9 months overdue).

We are down to the bare bones just to exist, anything of value (coffee machine, dog guard) has been sold to buy DC basic Christmas and birthday presents. Now they want to remove another £30 per week? I have nowhere else to go. I really live in fear of what the next 4 years under this government holds for us. If DH survives that long.

Owllady · 26/02/2016 14:54

I've had two letters in consecutive days stating the funding has been cut to two charities that provided support to my family (a severely disabled teenage daughter). The support to sibling carers has been cut to nothing.
So it's not even just benefits. Everything is being cut that was there to support people who are already vulnerable.
It might be a society some people want to live in, but I for one am not that selfish

I love that we're all in it together Hmm and the daily mail sad face families who have never worked are still getting their benefits and know exactly how to play the system still (and they're in a minority) It's not affecting them. These idealistic Tory policies stink.

Owllady · 26/02/2016 14:57

We are currently changing from dla to pip too, despite a lifetime award.

Original poster
dottypotter · 26/02/2016 15:22

The government have waged all out war on the sick and sisabled and their wages have just gone up its awful.

Cutting money will not get people into work its lies to cover up their horrible acts.

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 26/02/2016 15:26

I didn't vote Tory. But I would imagine people who did vote Tory supported benefit reform.

Original poster
dottypotter · 26/02/2016 15:32

what are they going to do then if they need government help.

I wouldn't call this reform its inhumane and cruel.

OP posts:
Owllady · 26/02/2016 15:42

They don't think they'll ever need the help, to be honest, I never thought I would either

LoisWilkersonsLastNerve · 26/02/2016 15:49

They did see it. They saw it and they wanted it

Sadly I think you are correct. I only know a handful of tory supporters and they were the type who think most disabled people are putting on because they went to work on a broken leg..... No concept of long term illness, mental illness etc

Original poster
dottypotter · 26/02/2016 15:55

its all the sanctions as well. They are allowed on a whim to stop peoples money and make them appeal to get it back, We are innocent until proven guilty in this country. How can it ever be allowed to stop all of someones money on a whim.

Prisoners get better treatment.

OP posts:
Tfoot75 · 26/02/2016 18:13

I don't mean at all that people deserve any sort of harsh treatment. Only that there is no right to it, we live in a democracy and if it's not what the majority want as a public spending priority, then you won't get what you want. Not that you should be grateful for what you get exactly (although in most of the countries of the world, you wouldn't get anything like as good, so in that sense we are still extremely lucky!).

PurpleHairAndPearls · 26/02/2016 18:27

"You don't have any right to a nice comfortable life if you are unable to work for it unfortunately,"

Fucking hell

I used to work very very hard, paid my taxes, brought up DC with SN to be good, hard working people etc. I didn't choose to then become ill and left disabled, lose my career and my independence and pretty much everything. It's really fucking hurtful to read that people think I haven't the right to a comfortable life now just because as I physically can't get out of my house unaided. I suppose you'll be pleased to know that I'm very very far from comfortable now.

I await your back-pedalling and "I didn't mean" etc etc but can I ask you think a bit more deeply about what you write? It will be beneficial for you too as you won't come across so much a fuckwit.

Owllady · 26/02/2016 18:44

The majority didn't vote for them
Though your lack of insight and empathy astounds me tfoot. I can't even be bothered to explain

Tfoot75 · 26/02/2016 19:03

I can't either really. Comments don't come across that well online I know. You don't have a right to it doesn't mean I don't think you should get it! Personally I do think we should have these benefits, that's why I always vote to the left. what I'm saying is that there isn't a right to it, most countries don't have it as good as we do. Just trying to explain public policy in a democracy where spending must be cut really. Out of work benefits are an obvious target.

BathtimeFunkster · 26/02/2016 19:10

Just trying to explain public policy in a democracy where spending must be cut really.

If you accept that "spending must really be cut" by a government that is happy to accept 4% tax from Google, then you are ideologically committed to fucking over the people who most need public support.

daisygreendaisylilac · 26/02/2016 20:11

To be fair Owllady, that's true of any elected government. If a law was passed stating everybody had to vote or risk a heavy fine, it doesn't stand to reason the conservatives would be driven out and in labour would come.