Meeting Ian Duncan Smith

[SallyBear]

I have an opportunity to meet IDS. What would you say to him, bearing in mind he is Secretary of State for Department of Work & Pensions? Cuts to Child Benefit, DLA?

I would like you to ask why I, as a sahm, will lose my CB (dh earns just over the limit) when other families who earn almost double dh will still get it?

I would like to know why his govt is punishing parents like me (mostly women) for staying at home and caring for their children (my elder son has sen).

I would like to know if he regrets his assertion that "sahp contribute nothing to society".

And them tell him he is a wanker, from me, ok? Thanks sally

Bec! Your life mirrors mine. I can't ever go back to work due DS3's ASD. What employer is going to take me in when I can't guarantee that I will work agreed hours as my child may decide that he doesn't want to go to school, or my daughter may be recovering after gruelling plastic surgery. £250 is a lot of money to lose each month. Caters Allowance prevents you from working anyway as you would be earning a pittance to not lose CA. DLA possibly being cut. I have voted Tory all my life, but I really think that as mothers we are penalised.

I am a lifelong labour voter but I agree with your last sentance completely...as mothers we are not only penalised but marginalised.

I really thought IDS was ok til he came out with that stupid comment...

I am sure his parents (and the parents of all the othe MPs) found their CB really useful!

...AND the money the govt will "save" by cutting CB is a drop in the ocean wrt the deficit.

How about getting all the fatcats (from all parties) to actually pay the TAX THEY OWE?????

Grr.........

I would like to know why they make it so hard to get DLA, as it adds such a stress to so many careers. Surely if you have 3 letter of support from professionals they might know better than a pencil pusher at a desk.

Ooh there's a lot I'd like to say to IDS. With many swear words thrown in.

But the most burning question is why his govt has the stated aim of reducing the DLA budget by 20%. By the govt's own figures re DLA fraud that will mean 19.5% will be taken off genuine claimants. Wtf?!

And why the fuck is he targeting disabled children and their carers at all? I was a lifelong Tory voter but never ever again. What happened to protecting the vulnerable as being a sign of compassion and decency in a civilised society?

I know he would trot out his only imaginable defence 'we have to reduce the deficit' but god almighty should the disabled be the absolute last to suffer? While the super wealthy and rich pensioners (who still get free travel and fuel payments) are left alone.

It's so disgusting there are simply no words

Oops shouldn't the disabled be the last to suffer

we judge society on how it looks after its most vulnerable... well fck me we dont look very good at the moment do we.

Ask him if choosing to cut those with the quietest voice in society & who in many cases cannot stand up for themselves is just an easy target.

Can you ask him how without DLA i am going to afford to take a day of unpaid leave each week from work & drive the 60 mile round trip to take my ds2 to his NHS sensory therapy.. oh no sorry the nhs cutbacks will likely see an end to that too, even though its making a real difference & helping him become more independant & cost less in terms of educational support needs & long term social care needs..... Bit of a false economy really!
I also wont be able to pay my HUGE water, gas & electric bill incured due to ds2's (at least) twice daily baths for his physio.
The extra bedding & clothes
The extra stuff i buy for school as they ahve no budget to provide all the SN stuff that the physio, OT , salt ETC RECOMMEND...

Of course I wont be able to, so ds2 will suffer, we will suffer our other son will suffer.
His needs will increase dh & i will have to pack up work to be full time carers & guess what.. WE WILL COST THE GOVERNMENT MORE!

FALSE ECONOMY!

All this genuine anger just gives me more ammunition with which to approach him. The Child Benefit cuts will cripple us, let alone the cuts to DLA. I won't be able to go back to work anyway regardless of benefits as DS3's needs far outweigh a job. It's all shit. Thank you everyone. I am meeting him next week, and I intend to tackle him on these issues.

Yep, child benefit and dla changes. Also the bill to destroy modernise the NHS.

Cb should be done via a household income and not a wage income, who had such a stupid idea and why are they allowed to make important decisions when they clearly are idiots!!

Why does he suggest the disabled can do without their DLA and also work for free! Seriously? Why not cut the benefits of those that aren't willing to work unless they work for free? Why not look at the rich people who live in huge houses but do little to help.
Why cut those who need it most? Because seriously if people lose DLA and careers does he not think that it might cost more in social care and NHS? Because carers cannot live in bread an water and save them a huge amount of money every day.

Just print off these answers to your thread OP

Tories = making the poor/diadvantages poorer/more disadvantaged and making the rich richer. It has ever been thus.

My ONE hope is that the cuts to CB/NHS/DLA will be the coalitions Poll Tax.

The proposals for conditionality under his plan for Universal Credit will have terrifying consequences for carers and the disabled.

Losing CB is bad enough but having to do workfare for 24 hours a week when you have a disabled child (or more) is shocking.

Here is a post from the UC thread: Full Thread

Glitterknickaz Sat 18-Feb-12 18:47:12
Can I just draw people back to the hastily glossed over issue with carers?

I mean.... there's been reference to "apart from disability".... but this ignores the fact that actually YES carers are expected to do Workfare.....

So how are we supposed to do that? Are we supposed to leave our disabled kids at home setting the house on fire/poisoning themselves etc as SNc childcare doesn't exist and we can't afford it anyway?