Only as sick as the Conservatives want you to be

The Government is considering making it mandatory for those in the Support Group of Employment and Support Allowance to take part in Work Related Activity. Currently such claimants are considered too disabled or unwell to be required to do these activities, they can do them voluntarily. Work related activity can include, not limited to, regular interviews, work experience, job club, training or education.

I don't agree with this proposal anymore than I do those on the Work Related Activity rate doing them. Sick people are no longer allowed to be sick, the Government no longer wants them to exist, they want to change the law so that they don't.

This proposal endangers the well being of those too ill to work. Forcing people to take part in activities decided by someone else to be suitable, won't help people get back to work. Instead it will add to their stress and uncrease their symptoms. Many will attempt to participate for fear of losing benefits if they don't. Disabled people have already had benefits sanctioned in the WRAG for  not attending interviews or activities and among all claimants for not attending assessments with good reason including being in hospital, being too ill, or dealing with family emergency. Some people who have already died have received letters threaning4 their benefits. These propsals will further the serious harm, including thousands of deaths, already done to sick, disabled and vulnerable since the Conservatives turned welfare into open warfare.

Source Evolve Politics

Action not reflection needed

As civil servants faced the UN Committee on the Rights of Disabled People and faced criticism, the Government have pledged to reflect on its failure to engage with disabled people and their organisations.  It is nowhere near enough, and lack of engagement is not the only serious failing

After tens of thousands of deaths, and many more disabled and vulnerable people seriously harmed urgent action is needed to stop further welfare related deaths.

The Govenment has a record of hiding death rates and other information that hides the truth of the dangers of this regime. It is currently pursuing court action to hide a Work Capability Assessment outcome report in order to protect commercisl.inrerests. Those who facilitate this regime should not be protected, those subject to the risks of it must be.

Many of those subject to the punitive regime had genuine reasons for not complying. Some were in hospital seriously ill, even close to death, or they had already died before being sanctioned. Some had appointments cancelled or rearranged by contractors but still face sanctions for not attending the original assessment. Othera had genuine disability related reasons such as mental health that affected their ability to comply, not being able to read letters, or not being able to access assistance with claims. This is meant to allowed for instead many were sactioned. Not having money to pay rent or buy food puts people at serious risk. Many have lost their homes or been malnourished, some starved to death.

A court decison found those needing assistance because of psychological distress should qualify for PIP, or get increased payments. The government response was to change criteria to exclude those claiments from PIP. Other such changes have been made when Government decided too many people qualified under equipment provisions.

Many Government policies involving cuts  have been aimed at disabled and vulnerable people and despite many demands the Govern refused to carry out a culmative risk assessment.

There were concerns about the effects of the WCA expressed, and known to the Government they were ignored, many claimaints paid the ultimate price.

David Gauke, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, lied in parliament only recently that PIP appeals were low, on the day they reached record levels. Around 2/3 are successful. They clearly want to hide the fact the system is failing, and more so that challenges to it are mainly successful.

The time for reflection is over, there must be speedy and definite action to correct a system that causes serious harm to those it is designed to support. The welfare system itself is not fit for work. This must stop, there must be no more deaths.

Source Disability News Service