Threat to axe disability benefits! Discussion Thread

zzzLazyDaisy · 5 August 2009 at 9:42AM

I have received this e-mail this morning from Benefits and Work (an organisation that helps disabled people to claim benefits and campaigns on their behalf). I haven't copied the full text as it is quite long, but you can find out more from the website. The gist of it is that the government is considering stopping some disability benefits and using the money to fund local social services instead, and is already in discussions to set up a new 'National Care Service' to replace these benefits.

'A government green paper has revealed proposals to stop paying ‘disability benefits, for example, attendance allowance’’ and hand the cash over to social services instead. Under the plan, current claimants would have their disability benefits converted to a ‘personal budget’ administered by local authorities and used to pay for services – not to spend as they wish.

Once the green paper consultation period ends in 100 days time, if an almighty row has not been raised, it is likely that both major political parties will see the lack of outrage as a green light to end both DLA and AA. We’re looking for a minimum of 1,000 claimants, carers and support workers to join our campaign to save these benefits from being abolished.

Find out how you can take part from this link:

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/disability-living-allowance-(dla)/dla-aa-cuts

36 meetings have already been organised around the country for people working in government and the caring professions to meet to be told about the setting up of a new National Care Service which would oversee the system. In addition, a stakeholders panel of more than 50 voluntary sector organisations, trades unions and academics has been established to offer advice to the government.'

The theory seems to be that the money will be used to pay for care for the disabled person - but many disabled people use the money to cover increased household bills such as extra heating, the cost of food for special diets, paying for someone to help with things around the house and garden that they can't manage, paying the delivery cost for internet shopping because they can't get out to the shops, etc etc

ladybelle · 5 August 2009 at 10:29AM

We crossed posted this at the same time !!

lolababy · 5 August 2009 at 12:10PM

Hi please everyone sign your name to the petition. Benefits and work are a site run by people with legal backgrounds and they keep pace with current changes in the law
Im sure most people in receipt of dla or AA. could not afford for this benefit to be lost. Goverment always target those least able to fight backand unless you stand up they will trample all over disabled people.

mumoftwins · 5 August 2009 at 2:43PM

I've just received the same email and am absolutely horrified!!

As lazydaisy says how can they determine what we spend our money on?? In my case amongst other things, it is used for extra help around the house ie: a cleaner once a week, someone to keep my garden in check, extra petrol because I have to drive everywhere as I can't walk more than a few yards without being in tremendous pain, internet food shopping delivery weekly. I have to pay for someone to do so much of what I used to be able to do and if the money wasn't there for these things then what are we to do - live in squalor with overgrown gardens?????????

I have signed this petition and hope that many more will do so too - do you think its worth alerting the Benefits and Work site to this thread, maybe they can use this too as ammunition?

septemberblues · 5 August 2009 at 3:01PM

Don't know if you have already, but I think the OP should be on the benefits board as well, it is very well used and you probably will get more people to sign the petition - and every little helps!

mumoftwins · 5 August 2009 at 3:06PM

Hi, I have put lazydaisy's post on the Benefits board so hopefully there will be more signatures to be gained.

Hope you didn't mind daisy??

krisskross · 5 August 2009 at 3:13PM

I doubt very much if there would be any more provision for social care if these benefits are stopped. I went away recently leaving my husband home alone. It proved impossible to get anyone in to put on and remove his compression stocking each day. It couldn't be just anyone to do it as his skin is extremely fragile secondary to taking sreroids and poor circulation. Plus he is an insulin dependent diabetic so any damage to his skin could be dangerous.

No this is just to save money,never mind how the recipients are affected.

zzzLazyDaisy · 5 August 2009 at 3:33PM

mumoftwins wrote: »

Hi, I have put lazydaisy's post on the Benefits board so hopefully there will be more signatures to be gained.

Hope you didn't mind daisy??

Thanks! I debated where to put the post. I put it here because I figured it would be seen by carers and relatives of disabled people, and people like me who are already established on benefits who don't tend to visit the benefits board.

I didn't know if I could post twice, so thanks for doing that

This is such an important issue, I wonder if Martin would consider sending it out in the weekly newsletter? I know it isn't as catchy as cheap flights and tesco loopholes, but if this goes through it is going to hit the pockets of some of the most vulnerable members of the MSE community (not to mention our independence and dignity)

spikeysoul · 5 August 2009 at 3:38PM

I just wanted to point out it's not a petition, it's a commitment to campaigning. Although they need all the people they can get please do not sign unless you can make that commitment to campaign - it itm may only mean writing a letter and posting once a week on a message board. However for some people this will be too much for their condition.

zzzLazyDaisy · 5 August 2009 at 4:01PM

This is why it is important to get this out to as many supportive non-disabled people (for want of a better word

) as possible.

I have signed up because I feel that I want to register my concern.

But like many people with chronic disabling conditions, I get exhausted very quickly and some days I'm better than others, so I may or may not be able to rise to the occasion when the chips are down (though I'll give it my best shot).

But I have also forwarded the e-mail to friends and family who are not disabled, but who are aware of how important these benefits are, not just to the disabled person, but to their family and carers.

mumoftwins · 5 August 2009 at 4:04PM

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

This is why it is important to get this out to as many supportive non-disabled people (for want of a better word ) as possible.

I have signed up because I feel that I want to register my concern.

But like many people with chronic disabling conditions, I get exhausted very quickly and some days I'm better than others, so I may or may not be able to rise to the occasion when the chips are down (though I'll give it my best shot).

But I have also forwarded the e-mail to friends and family who are not disabled, but who are aware of how important these benefits are, not just to the disabled person, but to their family and carers.

Me too, have sent it on to 31 friends and family - let's hope they can give commitment to this

.

By the way spikeysoul has also started a thread on the benefits board, so keep an eye on that too.

Threat to axe disability benefits! Discussion Thread

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