EDCM Campaign against cuts to benefits paid to parents of disabled children

[KateMumsnet]

Hello

Today Every Disabled Child Matters, with whom we worked on our Respite Care Campaign, is calling on the government to rethink its decision to cut support for up to 170,000 families who have disabled children.

The Welfare Reform Bill proposes to cut benefits paid to low income or out of work families with disabled children by 50%. This amounts to a drop of £1400 per year - although these families often face higher basic costs than others, and may also find it harder to get employment which allows them to continue caring for their children.

If you'd like to write to the PM and ask him to reconsider, EDCM have made it easy to do so via this link. And don't forget to let us know what you think here on the thread.

Thanks

MNHQ

oathkeeper
Love that. Thank you.

I would like to draw your attention to Pat's Petition. This is a petition placed on the government's own website. It calls for the government to "Stop and review the cuts to benefits and services which are falling disproportionately on disabled people, their carers and families". The link is here
epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20968

This petition has come from a group of ordinary volunteers, who are carers and / or disabled who are alarmed by the number of changes taking place and their effect on society's most vulnerable. We judge our society, and our government, by the care and support they offer to those who need it.

The petition is gaining support from charities - Mind, RNIB and Scope are three of the largest to offer their support. A full list is available here
carerwatch.com/reform/

The petition needs to reach 100, 000 votes in order to generate debate in parliament. It will only do this if a broad range of organisations from across the country work together, passing the link to their members and encouraging people to vote and share.

Please sign this petition and ask family, friends and colleagues to sign too!

Thank you I have linked to Pat's petition on Facebook together with Oathkeeper's quote which actually brought tears to my eyes.

It is the fact that noone knows whether they will become disabled tomorrow that escapes so many people. Any of us could be affected tomorrow. I'm on long term sick not knowing whether I'll get back to work and DS has probably got AS. I never ever ever thought we'd be in this position.

Even when/if I'm better I will now always campaign...and that is down to Mumsnet. Thank you ladies for educating me and supporting me.

bump again with link to petition mentioned by KnowYourRights

Please please please please please sign it, I'm begging you. There but for the grace of god, and all that.

Today it's us. Tomorrow it could be you. Anyone can become disabled. Anyone can need help.

done, hecate, I am signing any that are linked.

signed by me & my husband and shared on fb

Signed. It's got a long way to go.

the government have announced yet another crap scheme costing millions. yet we are supposed to be so broke we have to take money from the disabled.

signed

bump

signed

I work with young people with severe and complex needs making the transition from school to whatever there is for them after school. Because of cuts there are few meaningful options available. Cutting DLA etc will only make things worse for the parents and carers of these very vulnerable young people.
DS2 was born with severe health issues which now have (in the short term) stabilised. I have the utmost respect for the parents and carers of these young people and I'm so sad that they have to fight for everything.

2100hrs bump :)

All three signed. It really is just a two minute job but took me longer because I had a bit of a rant.

Thank you to the people who keep bumping this thread. I am lucky enough not to be directly affected by this and so wasn't really aware of quite how low our esteemed leaders are sinking. I'm sure there are many others in the same boat who will pick up on it eventually.

And fwiw I'm considerably more concerned about the government's plans for the portion of my taxes not earmarked for benefits than I am about "working hard to support" vulnerable people.

I can see the thread is slowly going into oblivion . Bump again.

Bumpety Bump.

Hello all - popping in quickly to update.

At Wednesday's PMQs, in response to a question from Anne McGuire MP (Shadow Minister for Disabled People), David Cameron denied that the govt would be cutting benefits for disabled children.

EDCM have noted that this contradicts the govt's previously stated policy, and are calling for urgent clarification. You can see their full statement here

I doubt it means they've changed their mind at all, technically the change to tax credits isn't a change to benefits for disabled children, DLA is the only benefit awarded to children, everything else is awarded to the parent.

It was a slimy politician answer that didn't actually address the question.

BUMP

Well in that case DC has out and out lied then hasn't he?

I'm appalled the media are ignoring this.

It's a deliberate misunderstanding, but that doesn't make it any less of a lie in my eyes. arsehole

But what is surprising is that EDCM seem to have been taken in by it

Tax Credit isn't labelled as a benefit so he squirmed out of that one simply on a technicality and he knew damn well what he was saying, and I am shocked that not one person stood up to say oi Dave, you are lying!

I think the problem is as well that the cuts at a local authority level are aimed at those with disabled children as well and their services have been cut first too and no-one seems to give a flying fig about it! :(