Brown envelope fear factor

Brown envelope 'terror' turned out to be no more than a benefit increase that actually wasn't. Tory welfare policy has many of us scared of opening our post.

Disability rights myths, or what the Conservatives tell you

Myth Disability Living Allowance is self assessed by claimants with no checks.
Fact Decisionmakers decided all claims advised by healthcare workers. DMs chose whatever evidence they need to decide. This could be a report from a professional involved in the claimants care or a medical by a DWP appointed professional.

Myth Personal Independence Payment is targeted at those who need most help.
Fact Based on a points system it cherry picks the needs it includes. Changes in the rules mean many with significant needs, lose out because they don't have the right needs. Many get less help than under DLA.

Myths Relatively few claims for PIP are appealed.
Fact Appeals are  at record levels. Currently around two thirds of appeals succeed. This seriously  calls into question the claim decision making process.

Myth Disability and sickness benefits were changed to combat fraud.
Fact Fraud for these benefit is around 0.5 %. Much higher  for Housing Benefits and Working Tax Credit. DWP inflate stats often for benefit fraud by including official error. This idcwhere claimants gave the correct information and DWP paid the wrong amount.

Myth Disabled and elderly people get free social care.
Fact There are savings and income limits before any help with cost is given. Care needs are assessed and only eligible needs met. Means tests are carried out, most people contribute to the cost.

Myth Disabled people get free cars.
Fact People on the  higher rate mobility component of DLA/PIP or the forces equivelant can lease a car using their benefit. Its either the car or the money. Cars have advance payments that must be paid, and any adaptions must  be paid for.

Myth Disabled people don't pay rent or council tax.
Fact Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance rarely meets the full cost, and not everyone qualifies. Most people under 65 now have to pay some council Tax, if they get any help.

Myth Disability related equipment is free. Fact Whats on offer if you qualify is limited and there are long waits. Most people have to buy to get what meets their needs. We often pay luxury prices for essential items.

Myth DLA/PIP meets the extra costs of disability.
Fact It comes nowhere near for many. Transport a big cost for many, special clothing, footwear, prepared food if you can't cook, or special diets. Equipment that you can't have free, contributing to care. Meeting the cost of activities you have to have someone with you, LAs won't usually cover that, and more. The money runs out long before the list does.

Myth Disabled people have their bills paid. Fact Anything we owe, and its pretty much the same as anyone else plus disability costs comes out of our income. Benefits if we qualify, vary on circustances, most struggle to make ends meet.

I take my rights

As The British Survey of Social Attitudes shows more people think disabled people need more support I ask if they understand that we need not passive protection but our rights back? We don't need looking after but to be empowered.

The Government want disabled people to be full participants of society. I agree I want that too. I want to take an active part in society, to be able to choose to study or volunteer, if I want to. I want to have a social life, I want to be able to pay my bills without worrying. I want those who can work to be able to do so, not by force but by being given real choices that empower them I want disabled pople to able to choose where and how they live in the same way as anyone else does. I am not asking to be given these things as a favour, I'm claiming rights I have in law, the right everyone has to live life on their own terms. These are human rights and disabled people are human beings too.

To be able to use these rights disabled people need support and that has been stolen from us by The Government. Cuts that have taken our benefits have reduced our imcome so that many people can no longer make real financial choices. These changes are not because as the Govenment wants you to believe, we aren't as disabled as we claim, or so they can support those more in need. It is just because they can. Its not even because there isn't the money. The government find money to support the rich, we pay the price. It isn't possible to participate in society if keeping your home or buying food is a challenge you cannot meet. It costs more to live with a disability than to be  non disabled and the income aimed at meeting those needs often doesn't and many are being denied this at all under new rules. Cuts take away our rights.

Many disabled people need support to do daily activities, from the basic getting up and eating, to going out and being part of our community. The law says we have the right to this but the government have taken it away. The reality is that many have no support at all or so little they have to choose between eating and peeing. Without support we cannot have the lifestyle of choice other people we are denied that right.

Rights theft thats what the Government are doing. Whatever they say its nothing more or less. Its not targeting support, its not stopping fraud, disability benefit fraud is less than 1%, some other benefits are significantly higher. They are not tackling equality, giving us rights or helping us be part of society. Their actions do the exact opposite on all counts. They claim they want to support us, I don't want what passes for support on their terms, I don't even want to be given my rights that will have Tory conditions attached, not the same as rights in law. I want to be empowered to live as I choose. I take my rights, they are mine to take, not theirs to give.

Blog based on a conversation with Neil Crowther via Twitter.

Human catastrophe is having an effect on how disabled people are treated

The UN has said the Tory Government has committed a human catastrophe with their treatment of those with disabilities. Cuts to services and benefits, a welfare system geared to refusing help unless challanged repeately that has a culture of fear that causes harm to many just at the thought of having to engage with it. Those things don't help but add in the rhetoric that names us as scroungers, suggests that can't work is actually won't work and lie that those in need are being supported and you have a timebomb. 

The UN are concerned that treating people in this way will lead to people being seriously harmed by others. I am not, I am concerned that that is how we are treated and that said harm has already been done and continues. Tens of thousands have died, many many more injured and being an object of hate, hate incidents  and hate crime are  a fact of life to varying degrees, for many disabled people. Dsabled people now exist in a culture of fear for their safety and total dread at whatcpunitive action the Goverent will take next.

I don't want words met by complete disregard by our Government who agreed to only reflect on their actions. I want action to  protect and stop the regime of fears

Nobody cares if it costs too much

A pensioner is distressed because his care costs too much. His daughter claims he is being asked to pay £30 towards carers that he can't afford. He is so upset he plans to refuse in the hope he goes to prison so will be properly looked after.

Most people receiving social care are expected to pay towards it, but the charge must take into account income and outgoings and the income left  after certain expenditure must not be below a certain level.  Not having capital or money for a funeral is not usually a consideration. Each local authority sets their own rules within a national framework. If this is as stated and he can't afford to live, he should get advice and challenge it.

The mark of a civilised society is how they treat their weakest members, this  makes me ashamed of our country. The Conservatives have done nothing to support those in need instead they attack those who should be protected.

Can't work is not won't work

Some people on Employment & Support allowance  are sqnctioned for up to 6 months if they don't or can't take part in work related activities deemed suitable by Job Centre staff or their appointed providers. ESA is paid to those unable to work due to disability or illness with those in the work related group, WRAG, assessed as able to take part in certain activities and deemed likely to return to work within 6 months In reality its anyone who does not score 15 points in any one section of the Work Capability Assessment, regardless of how many points they get above 15 over the whole assessment. These are still often significantly disabled people.

These activities can be anything that the worker decides is appropriate, it may be work schemes, education, training or anything else judged relevant to your situation. Your benefits can be sanctioned if you do not participate.  In short people already too ill to work are punished if they do not do activities similar to those demanded of unemployed people. This on  top of changes that mean that from  earlier this year  new ESA claimants  in the WRAG now get the same amount of benefit as Jobseekers Allowance clainmants,  a cut of £30 per week.

I have long thought that the Conservative Government saw those that can't work in the same  light as those that won't. Certainly this appears to be proof that they view those with heath conditions as simply unemployed. Whilst in reality the effects of significant and/or longstanding medical conditions mean that finding and keeping work is a major challenge for many people if they are able to work at all. Forcing people to do activities they do not feel, or are not capable of, puts them at risk, both from the effects of the activity, and from the fear of what will happen if they do nor comply. 

Many thousands have already died or been seriously harmed by Conservatives welfare policies, this regime also puts people at serious risk. The government must now be held accountable for its actions and failure to keep its pledge that those unable to work would be supported.

Note Those in the Support Group of ESA receive higher benefit payments and do not have to participate in work related activity.

Mental health care needs treatment not prevention

Mental health is in the news again as its announced young people will get help to manage exam stress.Thats great, if they follow through and if its real help not a tick box exercise. I suspect sadly that it will go the way the rest of the Conservative mental health promises have, great big obvious U turns, full of nothing but excuses.

There were going to be more nurses and psychologists so that people got care quickly, they failed. More beds so that people don't end up in police cells, but they still do. Access to services earlier, great but they meant first level for those with milder conditions, there still isn't enough help for those needing more. Too many people have to wait for a crisis before they get care, if they are lucky!

There is a mental health crisis in this country that the government pretend to tackle by tinkering and making promises they don't keep. Any preventative measure is welcome but not at the expense of those needing treatment now, and not getting it because the Government don't deliver.

PIP petition please support the Labour Campaign

Please sign and share the petition to ensure disabled people get the support tbey need. The Conservatives are trying to overturn a court ruling so that they can stop 160K getting the level of PIP or personal.Independance Payment they are entitled to.