More Stupidity

The Coalition Government plans to scrap DLA in favour of a new objective benefit called Personal Independence Payments and will include a medical assessment in order for a claimant to prove entitlement according to a public consultation paper into DLA reform.

So the attack on sick and disabled people is set to continue! Please share this frightening information with as many people and groups as possible so that a proper campaign against scrapping DLA can be coordinated. I can see these changes bringing out a huge number of people onto the streets in protest to show the government that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!

The full consultation can viewed and downloaded here;

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dla-reform-consultation.pdf

The following comes from that said report;

THE GOVERNMENTS APPROACH TO DISABILITY BENEFIT REFORM

We propose to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with a new cash benefit – Personal Independence Payment – which will contribute to the extra costs of overcoming the barriers faced by disabled people to lead full and active lives.

The benefit will reflect changes in society, such as legislation. Disabled people are rightly not prepared to accept being restricted from playing an active part in society. We need a benefit that helps contribute to the extra costs of living independently, in a way that is right for each individual.

The benefit will continue to take account of the social model of disability. The assessment will be objective, reflect the impact of the barriers disabled people may experience, and make sure they are treated as individuals.

Central to Personal Independence Payment will be a new, fairer, objective assessment, which will allow us to identify those who face the greatest need, in a more consistent and transparent manner. We are developing the new assessment in collaboration with a group of independent specialists in health, social care and disability, including disabled people.

Personal Independence Payment will be based on need not income and will be a more active benefit, recognising changes to individuals’ situations and taking account of the support that disabled people can access to help them live independently. Where possible, we will signpost individuals to support that may help them manage their condition. We will ensure that the award continues to reflect the individual’s changing needs over time by building in periodic reviews.

The new benefit will be introduced in 2013/14, so there will be further opportunities to feed in views on how we might deliver it. We are already involving disabled people in developing the new benefit and will continue to do so.

We will introduce a Bill that will set out the high-level legal framework underpinning the new benefit, with the detailed requirements set out in secondary legislation.

Responses to this consultation will be used to inform secondary legislation on this detailed design, including the new assessment process. Where possible, and in particular on the new assessment, we will be publishing draft regulations during the passage of the Bill.

WHAT WILL STAY THE SAME

We want to be clear about what we propose will remain the same under the new system. We recognise that there are a number of features of DLA which many disabled people value, in particular the ability to spend the money in a range of ways to meet their personal circumstances. That is why Personal Independence Payment will remain an extra-costs benefit, providing cash support and allowing disabled people to spend the benefit in the way which best meets their individual needs.

The new benefit will not be means-tested or taxable, and payment will not depend on having paid National Insurance contributions. It will continue to be available to those who are in work, as well as those who are out of work.

Support will continue to be provided to children and adults up to the age of 65. Individuals who receive the benefit before reaching 65 may continue to receive Personal Independence Payment if their needs continue. We will keep the upper age limit for receiving the new benefit under review, given the changes being made to the State Pension age.

We will continue to support those in the most difficult circumstances by
maintaining special rules for people who are terminally ill. Claims submitted under these rules will be fast tracked to provide financial support as quickly as possible.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

I can not stress the importance of getting this information to as many people as possible. If you run a group which has interests in protecting disabled people please copy this message and forward it on to others.

If you are a member of such a group or organisation please forward this message onto whoever runs the group or organisation or anyone else who may be interested.

This shocking treatment of disabled people can not be permitted to continue!

This I took from the facebook page Welfare Rights. With thanks to Steven Preece.

7 years

It was 7 years ago today when I first took ill. It was a normal day woke up it was my day off work so I had a lie in. Did my house work and was feeling fine. Had planned to go to the pub for a drink with my friend Billy. I went to meet her out of Burger King where she worked. I went into the restaurant and she noticed I wasn't looking to good. She made me go to the bathroom. I collapsed on the floor and ended up in hospital.

While I was there they found out I had a brain hemorrhage. They managed to make me stable and I was air lifted to Nottingham Queens Medical Centre. I died twice in the helicopter. I have been told by my boss at the time that she came to see me in hospital and I told her I wouldn't be in work the next day.

After about 3 months in Nottingham I was brought back to Leicester. I spent several months in a normal ward then was transferred to the Leicester Younger Disabled Unit. I was in a wheel chair at this time and was unable to walk. Whilst at the YDU I learnt to walk again and had to visit different specialists such as the Psychologist and Speech Therapist.

The Neurologist said that it is ghley higly unlikley that I would ever work again. I was only 24 24 at time. Now I am trying to get my story across and try to help other people as well as myself. The Department of Works and Pensions have said despite the fact I have 2 tumours on the brain due to my Neurofibromatosis I am not disabled enough to get the higher rates. Because of my health problems no company would be able to employ me. This government would rather I lived in poverty so they can save some money. I have had comments like I am lazy and greedy. This comes from a person who grew up on benefits. .

I attended Headway Leicester for while after leaving hospital. They helped me to settle in a place of my home and send me on a couple of college course. They also helped me to get my benefits.

I try to do some volunteer work once a week at Christchurch in Leicester this is a lunch club for pensioners. This tires me out doing just 3-4 hours roughly. I wouldn't be able to manage a full time job. I also have had comments like I have the net and a phone I don't need them. As a disabled person a phone is essential to me in case I take ill and the net is the way I communicate with people and make new friends. What other people see as luxuries to the disabled person it is a necessity.

I am again seeking legal adivce about my benefits. I have been told by several people including my own MP Sir Peter Soulsby, that they think that I should be on the higher rates. The DWP have said I am not able to work yet they are saying im not disabled enough to get the higher rates. I now have the support of my local councilor Ross Grant.

I dont choose to be disabled I dont think that anybody would. I would love to be able to go out and work again. That way I wouldnt get comments like im being greedy or lazy.

Most of my family go out and work and it seems that I am the only one not able to. I have to watch every single penny I get coming in. Sometimes my account gets overdrawn and my accoun accours charges.

The government are now going to cut benefits for people yet again. Will we be going back to Victorian times and having poor houses. Pick Pocketing is susposed to be illegal yet with the government cutting peoples money surely thats what they are doing? More people will be turning to crime to be able to live. Then again I suspose that people would be better off in prison. They would get 3 meals a day, no bills to pay and more human rights.

Update

Again I reapplied for Disability Living Allowance at the middle rates. Again I have been turned down. In basic terms because I have coping methods it makes me less disabled. They don't take into account I can never work again.

I have also lost some of my housing and council tax benefit. They seem to let Asylum seekers have no trouble having money, yet people who have lived in the country all their lives get shafted. In London an asylum seeker gets paid £2000 a week in housing benefit, after being moved from a house only costing £800 a week housing benefit because she didn't like the area. I am not a racist but they need to think about the people in this country who need help first before helping others.

There is people who get high rate disability for having an addiction or just being depressed. If they have an addiction surely giving them more money gives them more money to spend on it. If someone is depressed, they should go out and get a job perhaps that would stop them feeling so depressed.

I have been told by people to stop complaining and be grateful for for what I get. If I could work I would are they or anybody out there, willing to find me a job that I can do for 3 hours a week for a full weeks wages then I would work.

I read in a news paper about a war hero who lost a leg. He has been told hes not entitled to some benefits. This is completely wrong. He was fighting for our freedom he deserves all the help he can get.

This government and the last seem to think if you can cope your not entitled to help. It needs sorting!

Helping Other People

If a person has got something to offer no matter what the age of the person then they should do so. We can all learn new things from each other. I have been reading a 14 year old girls blog about her life with Neurofibromatosis.

Her blog is refreshing to have a younger persons view on the condition. I like to share information with as many people as possible. That's why I started this blog. If one persons views are changed by it then I'm happy. You can learn just as much from a young person than an adult.


I have been getting negative opinions about my disabilities. The people in question seem to make comments without doing any research of their own. If I make statements or say something I always research it first to make sure I have my facts right.

It is dangerous just to assume something is right in your eyes. If someone is going to comment on someones way of life, they should make sure they have the facts first. You can do more damage just speaking without thinking than just taking a moment to think before you speak.

Benefit Changes

Following recent releases from the Government and the DWP it has become clear that they intend on making it far more difficult to successfully claim Income Related Benefit's.

This will be partly done by forcing sick and disabled people back into work by working out exactly what they believe those people would be capable of doing. Many Welfare and Disabled charities have shown contempt and dread at these prospect's pointing out that sick and disabled people in the work place poses a real risk of injury to both themselves and others. Not to mention the probability that forcing such people back to work to early, or when they are clearly unable, will only aggravate their conditions causing them to go back onto sick and disabled benefit's; if they can get them.

So what happen's if they can't? It's simple really; they will simply plunge even further into poverty, possibly losing their homes and maybe even loved one's because of the mental and financial stress it would put on the family structure. Either that, or they will have to work, making their health even worse and possibly end up in an early grave. I could be critical and say that the Government would welcome this because of saving's to the NHS and the Welfare System, but then that could get me in trouble, lol. But this is how it comes across. A kind of discreet Social Genocide, and if any Government personal are reading this don't bother suing because I ain't got nothing, lol. Unfortunately it looks as if it won't matter which party is in power after the election as both major parties look set to cut welfare and reduce the number of people claiming them.

Britain has the highest rate of Sick and Disabled benefit claimant's in Europe but maybe they should start looking at the reason's behind this. It is not necessarily down to people being "work shy", but more to do with the poor quality of living standard's in many communities like overcrowding or housing that poses a health hazard to their occupant's. This is the link to crime too! Instead of throwing money at constant welfare research and reform they should pump it into improving the quality of living for so many of Britain's citizens. Only this can improve people's health, where applicable, and will eventually bare fruit in the form of less people off work sick and improved life for all. Those saving's could then be put into improving the lives of disabled people by providing better services and standard of care as well as making the job of carer's much easier.

The problem is those in a position of power have mostly lived a financially stable life and have never had to learn how to live on nothing. Program's life "Tower Block of Commons" on channel 4 have tried to address this matter and in my own personal opinion, very successfully. Politicians who have volunteered to participate in the program have finally seen just how difficult it is to live of state benefit's and are also beginning to realise that the majority of those people DO NOT do so through laziness or simply to get some "free" cash. Of course there are those who choose not to work but they are in the minority and at a time when unemployed people out number available job's by as much as 10 to 1, it is both irresponsible and unfair to label unemployed people in such a manner. If you haven't yet seen this program on channel 4 I would definitely recommend it. You can view the episodes here;

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/tower-block-of-commons/4od#series-1

So let's see where some of that wasted money is going. The following research probably cost the tax payer more than your average sick or disabled person per year, and show's how the Government and the DWP see falling number's in those claiming Income Related benefit's. One of the most frightening of which is the one on Pension Credit. If they think our mature citizens will not be claiming the money on which they depend, just where exactly will it be coming from. You surely can't expect these people to work,....can you?!

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/projections-of-entitlement-to-incomerelatedbenefitsjune2008.pdf

With thanks to Steven Preece for sending this to me.

New Blog

I'm going to start this blog of with a poem from Rudyard Kipling

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

What I think Kipling is trying to say is that if you try your hardest then you should be proud of your self.

I was thinking the other day about all these servicemen and women who go to war for us and come back injured. They do not complain, yet they do not get treated with the respect they deserve.

A lot of these people will never be able to work again but they still keep smiling. I read in a newspaper about one serviceman. This man had lost both legs in a mortar attack. He now has prosthetic legs. The gentleman wants to go back to the front line. This we all should be proud of.

I feel guilty because of the fact that I cannot work. I complain about not getting enough help from the government when ex servicemen hardly get any help at all.

There should be equallity for all. Everyone has the right to be treated with a bit of dignity.

More Prejudice

One of my previous posts has been taken from my blog and disected. I have copied it below and will add the link so you can see its not edited. I will give my comments to it afterwards.

moaning bully

i read something today that my internet bully wrote an i found it very funny to read how he moaning about being disabled .. here is what he said ..











"I visited the job centre today. I had a look at the available jobs. There is nothing suitable what so ever for me. When you apply for a job legally you have to tell them of any risks that you would be to the company.

Companies cannot refuse you employment because you are disabled. But with my health there are not many jobs I can do.



I would need to be happy in a job that I did. What is the point of doing a job if it makes you unhappy? If I wasn't happy in the job, surely that would make me even more ill. "

now i do fine what he said very funny .. cause he is not really wanting a job.... if he did he would try harder for a job.. an if i was in debt of £360 something with the conical i would take any job i could get.. to get out of that deft ...if you are that stressed i would suggest that u take anything u can get an stop complain about what u are not getting



"I am already starting to get stressed about money. Yes I have the net but that is not a luxury to me its a necessary. A lot of people with disabilities find the net is good for them to communicate with the outside world. "

well let me say this about the net an you .. if u are that stressed are u worried about being caught out being a bully what u get off on bullying 2 woman in over 2 years .. dose that give u a hard on simon north .. it must cause if your that horny why not talk to your mate dave.. he know all the porn an dating sites.. he can hook u up with a woman ...

if u can sit on a chat site for hour at a time or on the pc bullying i think u can get a job sitting down...

"I recently went for a night out. This was my first in about 8 months and I had to save for that. Most people of my age are out nearly every weekend if they don't have families. "

well simon north .. u truly do have a lot of crap u say ... now this is out right lie cause u went out on not to long ago .. as u have bragged about it ....

"I know the content of my blogs is random but when I have things running through my head I just need to put them down"






well simon north all i can say to u is wake up u was found fit your doctor an the medcail... stop moaning about how u are not being treated right .. there is many thing u can do out there .. stop being picky an take what u can get.....

an u plast all over the internet " why work when the govement pay me not to "

Here is the link.



This person and others see that if a person looks normal on the outside they are lazy and fit to work.

If she spent one afteroon in a Headway she would see this is not the case. I have to concetrate really hard to do normal things and it makes me very tired. She said that I should stop being picky would she rather i did job that would make me even more ill? She doesnt work herself yet she feels she has the right to preach about other peoples situations.

incensed

I had to post this today as I am extremely pissed off. I have received a letter saying that I owe £396 back payment of rent. The government have decided that even though they are giving me less money to live on I can afford to pay £18.50 a week rent.

This is on top of all my other bills as stated in previous blogs.

In there eyes I'm not disabled enough to get financial help. Yet I am not fit to work. Where is the logic in that.

As I have said before I have 2 brain tumours. What part of being fit to work is that? If I came of the boat not speaking a word of English I would have more rights. I would love to be able to go out and work but i'm physically not able to.

There are cases out there of people claiming money that they are not entitled to and get away with it. This government needs to sort them out first before penalising the rest of us.

When I was in hospital they thought I wouldn't live that long. I'm still here now but each day is a struggle. Some days I have good days, some are bad. Because I have learnt to adapt so I can manage in life. In the DWP I am less disabled.

The person in a wheel chair who still has all their faculties IE its only a problem with their legs, They can still work in an office yes. But there are people like me who have internal problems who get neglected.

The conservatives want to get people on incapacity off the sick and on to income support to save the government money if they get in would that include people like me?

Disability

Just because a person looks "normal" on the out side doesn't mean they are normal on the inside.I appear normal on the outside but on the inside is where the problems lie.

People with certain conditions get a raw deal. The government would rather get everyone into work to save money. They do not think about the long term. If like the government preferred, everyone worked it would cost them billions in hospital costs.

When I was fit and able to work the manager employed someone on a trial with downs syndrome. The company I worked at had n problem employing disabled people. I have been told by someone I can sit on my computer so henceforth I can get a job. If I worked now I would find it very hard. I do a bit of volunteer work now and I struggle after 3 hours. People say im just lazy but I have to work twice as hard as most people. That's what makes me tired.

I already feel useless that I have nothing to contribute, but when people snipe about it that hurts more. I would love to be able to make a difference to at least one persons life but I cant. I did want to try and do a degree just to prove to people I may be disabled but im not thick.

People think having a brain injury means that you have mental health problems. That is not always true. It sometimes means you have to try a lot harder to do basic things.