News

Some of you might remember that I wrote a lengthy blog post when the cuts were announced.  Last week, when the Work and Pensions committee announced their inquiry, I sent it to them via email.  I didn't think they would read it as there has been no call for evidence from them.  However I did get an email back yesterday saying it would be shared with the committee.   Whether that means it will actually be read or not is another thing, but it's better than the committee ignoring it completely. 

What consultation, the government is going full steam ahead and preparing regardless to make disabled people work?

Even if I could get a ticket, I am not fit enough to attend.

For a Prime Minister who was a Human Rights lawyer, it is unfathomable why he is taking this attitude and brutal approach towards lowering the welfare bill cost. When you put money before people then sadly it is disabled people who will lose out. By the very name of PIP, it is our lifeline but we need to fight back. My local Labour MP supports the decision, she even smiled on TV when she said it but I will be making an appointment to see her. I noticed in the poll from the public that their comments support people with physical disabilities and that's fine but there was no mention of mental health. The Govt are saying that they won't accept GP evidence and only a psychiatrist, it is impossible to get an appointment to see one in my area, my GP has tried for over a year. 

Here's the whole of my post

B&W have done a good thing setting up an independent survey, see:

Apparently no public consultation in Northern Ireland. Thanks Labour. 

I think the fact all the Petitions against the cuts are struggling to get even 100 Thousand Votes, sadly shows that the general public don't care  :o(  In the age of social media one would have hoped for millions of votes.

Concern raised today in the media (thanks to another poster for flagging these from the Guardian):

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/08/ill-disabled-people-uk-benefit-cuts-policy-in-practice

Keir Starmer has said that disability claimants might change their way of thinking and their attitude towards work faced with losing their benefits and interesting comment

Somebody please ask them why they don't have the balls to tax the rich.

Due to the secrecy, of these events, the way in which they are strategically planning them, it does strike me that they are becoming a little bit scared.  GOOD!

I just got my ticket to the Cardiff in person event on 3rd June. It said 'a few left'. I'll post any more information as I get it if it might be helpful. 

Seem to be some tickets available now. Just booked for Cardiff.

A couple of articles today worth reading, in the guardian and the mirror. We’re not alone in this fight, and that’s something. Things are being said where it matters…let’s hope it yields results.

I understand you are holding an inquiry into the disproportionate impact of poverty and inequality on disabled people, which will inform discussions around the upcoming green paper on disability benefit reform. I would like to share my personal experience.

Hidden discrimination

My ** year old husband has an inherited neurological condition which affects him in various significant ways and has, since his thirties, hindered his ability to secure employment. He has had a strong sense that he has been bypassed for jobs due to interview panels sensing ‘something is not quite right with him’, which could be due to how his neurological condition affects his voice, his speech, his facial expressions and causes him to stumble.

Blatant discrimination

The discrimination was blatant when he attended a particular interview. He was well qualified for the position and the interview went well, until he showed his medical driving licence as ID, and a ‘look’ was passed between the two panel members. He did not get the job. When another similar vacancy with the same organisation came up he enquired about this and was quite obviously purposely dissuaded from applying, although the reason given was flimsy.

Due to having a visible disability and a medical driving licence, we believe that my husband has experienced discrimination in his efforts to secure employment, which has at times meant that our family’s income has fallen well below the national average and we have not been able to afford the basics, let alone the extra medications or eye treatments my husband needs which are not available on prescription.

Inequality of work opportunities such as working from home

My husband’s condition has now deteriorated to the point that he is able to work only occasionally, and as such has only secured employment as a *******.  He is only able to do this occasionally due to the fatigue he experiences both at work and the next day. He cannot work from home in this role and in any case no employer would take him on to work as occasionally as he does. In fact, working from home opportunities would be very few for someone in low-paid work such as he is able to do.

Inequality of household expenses and standard of living compared with a non-disabled household

Our household expenses are much higher than those of a non-disabled household. Currently, my husband receives health benefits such as PIP and UC LCWRA, which enables us to run a car so that I can work part-time (around my caring responsibilities), so we can buy his expensive eye medications, particular foods that he needs and any special clothing or footwear. We are also able to gradually make small adaptations in our house as his mobility worsens. Without these benefits my husband would be more isolated, he would become more unwell at a quicker pace, and I would have to give up work completely to care for him, which would reduce our income still further. We could not have anything like the same standard of living as a non-disabled household.

Impact of poverty on children

Our two daughters are adversely affected by our circumstances and this would be significantly worse if the proposed welfare reforms are passed. It goes without saying that at the ages of ** and **  they can do nothing to improve their situation.

Access to credit and ability to save for emergencies

We do not have the same access to credit as many non-disabled households due to our unavoidable reliance on benefits. We are also unable to save more than £6000 without it affecting the benefits we receive, and I understand that this threshold has not changed for a very long time. If we had to replace our roof or if I had a long hospital stay, we would quickly experience a financial crisis.

I hope my evidence is useful to your inquiry. Please contact me if you would like any more information related to this.

Yours sincerely,

Well,as an agoraphobic that rules me out,I'm nearest to Manchester but couldn't get that far

Shouldnt these events be televised just in case something fishy is going on. Just a thought.

This afternoon, Starmer bemoaning that the impact assessment doesn't take into account "changes in behaviour" that the cuts will bring.  In other words, he thinks we just needed a kick up the backside to realise we can actually work after all. 

Mafia!