MSE News: Half a million could lose disability benefits

princessdon

Editing because I felt I was harsh on a poster and apologise. I still feel the govt needs to look at those who run businesses that dont make money and tax credits, but also realise or some this may be their only way to earn. Playhouse I do apologise - think you got the brunt of a high horse moment and that was unfair. its the policy I have issues with not those that follow it.

bigadaj

clemmatis wrote: »

My point wasn't about "working", but about the likelihood of dropping down dead next week.

Cancer's being an umbrella term for different conditions, of varying severity, is only relevant if we think all people diagnosed with cancer get benefits because of the diagnosis. They don't, and nobody here is suggesting they should.

But carry on dealing in straw men... .

THe whole debate at that time was that anyone who was diagnosed with cancer should be entitled to benefits, and some of us disagreed.

clemmatis

bigadaj wrote: »

THe whole debate at that time was that anyone who was diagnosed with cancer should be entitled to benefits, and some of us disagreed.

Yes I know people thought that was said. I thought that was a misunderstanding, as I can't find a post that says it.

Dunroamin

clemmatis wrote: »

That isn't entirely true, as -- as the piece says... -- the poorer survival rates in the UK are thought to be linked to later diagnosis.

There was a fair amount about all this in the media during the New Labour years. The money they threw at the NHS, and the targets they introduced, did help a lot. I'm not optimistic about the improvement continuing, though.
.

It's not as simple as this really but I do agree that previous governments have put more money into diagnosis rather than care because it makes the figures look better for less money.

Anyway, too far OT.

Dunroamin

Playhouse wrote: »

At the moment people can do "hobby" businesses earn say £200 a month, place their children in childcare and claim tax credits, childcare and other benefits to the tune of those earning £30K a year (tax aside, comparing take home pay).

Well as somebody who runs a so called hobby business this comment upsets me greatly. I am self employed and work as much as I can given that I have three young children and the particular job I do, like a lot of things is not gurunteed income. My husband is the wage earner and with out the £200 a month I earn through self employment, we would not get through every month. I do not have child care paid for me. However Im seperating from my husband and have looked into whats available when I do because even with any maintenance he pays, its still not enough to live on, my rent alone will be £650 a month.
However, I have a brain injury caused by a stroke, I was lucky to survive and was left permanently disabled, I had a good career which I was unable to return to. My self employment has given me a sense of worth because employment wise Im every employers worst nightmare, I walk with a stick, lose my balance and fall over and I cant remember what I did five minutes ago. I receive LRC and LRM and Im more than happy to be assessed. I would have given anything not to have had a stroke and missed the first few months of my daughters life.

I think that your situation is rather different from what was actually meant.

There are many peopl who, as a means of avoiding the Work Programme and other schemes, do a bit of selling on Ebay, pretend it takes 24 or 30 hours a week and live off the tax credits.

I'm sure you would agree that this isn't a desirable situation.

~Chameleon~

Ellejmorgan wrote: »

I get so annoyed by those that say they have a bad back when they don't..
I really do and am facing my 3rd operation on my back and i'm only 33, when it's bad I can't walk, also affects my neck badly..my life is a misery at times..

But it's like everything else, it has various degrees in how it affects you and what might put one person on their back (no pun intended) would have someone else carrying on regardless. There's a lady who goes to my gym and if you didn't know her you'd think she was fit and healthy (and would no doubt have half the people on this forum reporting her for benefit fraud) but she has just had her third lot of spinal surgery yet she still comes to the gym (obviously we don't see her on her bad days) and recently completed a 12hr spinning challenge for charity. Never judge a book by it's cover

ineed

Ellejmorgan wrote: »

I get so annoyed by those that say they have a bad back when they don't..
I really do and am facing my 3rd operation on my back and i'm only 33, when it's bad I can't walk, also affects my neck badly..my life is a misery at times..
!
But then I have to get on with it, and knowing there are those worse puts it into perspective..
!
Maintainance would be lovely, I wish I could get some unfortunatly the ex is a jobhopper who thinks £10 per week for 2 kids is acceptable, I do get your point though...
!
I aggree with assessment but the process needs to be made simpler, I shouldn't be made to travel 50 miles round trip and forced to keep my kids off school for a day so I can be assessed and pay £100 in cab fares for the privelage..
Even though as a lone parent with a baby I'm not forced to work anyway..
It isn't logical and I think they should focus on evidence from the medical profession before assessment..

Sorry you have to go through all that. That's the problem; for so long now a few benefits have been extremely difficult to claim while more have been far to easy, and now all benefits are becoming almost impossible to claim and the whole process is leaving genuine claimants feeling victimised.

krisskross

Ellejmorgan wrote: »

I aggree with assessment but the process needs to be made simpler, I shouldn't be made to travel 50 miles round trip and forced to keep my kids off school for a day so I can be assessed and pay £100 in cab fares for the privelage..
Even though as a lone parent with a baby I'm not forced to work anyway..

So why do you put yourself through the assessments, stress, travel etc as you can claim benefits with no questions asked as you have a baby? I don't think I would.

sunnyone

krisskross wrote: »

So why do you put yourself through the assessments, stress, travel etc as you can claim benefits with no questions asked as you have a baby? I don't think I would.

She has answered that one before, the single parents benefits are less that the sickness, quite a bit less in fact so she claims ESA instead.

Ellejmorgan

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

But it's like everything else, it has various degrees in how it affects you and what might put one person on their back (no pun intended) would have someone else carrying on regardless. There's a lady who goes to my gym and if you didn't know her you'd think she was fit and healthy (and would no doubt have half the people on this forum reporting her for benefit fraud) but she has just had her third lot of spinal surgery yet she still comes to the gym (obviously we don't see her on her bad days) and recently completed a 12hr spinning challenge for charity. Never judge a book by it's cover

Very true..thinking of it no one sees me on a bad day either....