MSE News: Summer Budget 2015: Millions to face benefit cuts

GirlFromMars_2

missbiggles1 wrote: »

My father was disabled (registered disabled,as it was in those days) and he worked, full time, as a postman for over 40 years. You didn't have much option in the days before generous benefits were paid.

(Which doesn't mean I'm unsympathetc to your current situation, by the way.)

I'm not saying your father didn't work exceptionally hard. But unless his employer made some drastic changes to his work environment I don't see how anyone working 40 hours a week as a postie could be compared to someone on ESA or in receipt of PIP going by today's descriptors of disabled.

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

missbiggles1 wrote: »

My father was disabled (registered disabled,as it was in those days) and he worked, full time, as a postman for over 40 years. You didn't have much option in the days before generous benefits were paid.

(Which doesn't mean I'm unsympathetc to your current situation, by the way.)

Did he deliver the mail by pushing himself round in his wheelchair then?

System

missbiggles1 wrote: »

My father was disabled (registered disabled,as it was in those days) and he worked, full time, as a postman for over 40 years. You didn't have much option in the days before generous benefits were paid.

(Which doesn't mean I'm unsympathetc to your current situation, by the way.)

And years and years ago, a lot of people with my health condition would have spent their miserable existence in an asylum.

So i think being able to work, albeit part time is at least a step forward no?

Sometimes i've actually wished i had a physical disability. A missing limb maybe? At least then people can see why you might have difficulties. (i've actually gone to the lengths of trying to break bones just so the pain would be visible) And it would be accepted. But being mentally ill there is no visible disability. Despite the fact i have effectively got a faulty brain. And the brain happens to be kind of important to functioning. People with MH issues have always existed, long before benefits were ever introduced. The difference is back then they were shut away. Now we speak, and ask for it to be taken seriously. Which this government sure as hell aren't doing.

System

Londonsu wrote: »

He certainly did when he had to give up work at age 84 - dodgy hip, dicky ticker

Well at least he got to 84 before he had health problems

rogerblack

marie-20 wrote: »

Sorry to be a pain but I thought that people on DLA and ESA (Support Group) were excluded from UC or has that changed now?

They were excluded from the initial roll-out.
In some pilot areas, and some people who have become disabled subsequently, or formed relationships with someone on UC, that may not be true.
As time goes on, eventually people with a disabled partner will be migrated on to UC as well.
(Currently ESA-conts is seperate from ESA, which complicates things)

mejaa

have pmd u ice queen.

Becles

Single parent working full time. I'm only required to work 16 hours a week. However I chose to work full time since my youngest was 5 and started full time school, despite having Crohns disease (a life long auto immune condition), as I thought that was the right thing to do.

By working more hours than required, I've "saved" the country by not claiming maximum working tax credits, I don't get any council tax benefit, I don't claim housing benefit as I'm paying a mortgage, never had free school meals or free school transport and so on.

And my reward for struggling on and trying to do as much as I can to provide for my family? According to the calculators, I'm going to be £1700 worse off by the changes to child tax credits.

I've played with the calculators. If I wasn't working at all, there would be no changes to the child tax credits. If I earned £40,000 I'd be £80 a year better off.

I fail to see how it was supposed to be a budget to encourage people into working, when they are penalising people who already working so heavily. After putting so much effort in to help myself, I feel properly kicked in the teeth by this

Chesh375

Can someone help as I am getting conflicting answers in different calculators

Earnings are 23000 with other halfs 3100 carers she doesn't work

Children is 3 with two disabled 1 one who is severe

1irishninja

One calculator says I am almost £1800 worse off, the BBC says £900 per year, either way I am worse off. Not sure how housing benefit will factor into that though, surly it should rise as income is reduced?

But another issue that will occur is the rise in minimum wage will also shaft us. Last night we had the BBC camera's in a local supermarket, I live in Northern Ireland where we have the lowest wages in the UK, My town has the lowest wages in Northern Ireland, the supermarket owner said he will struggle with the pay rise and to recoup costs will have to raise prices or lay staff off. The thought of profits taking a hit is not on the menu with this rise, and I have heard the same story all over the news yesterday. So prices will rise leaving things more expensive so any rise in minimum wage will be wiped out.

Icequeen99

marie-20 wrote: »

Sorry to be a pain but I thought that people on DLA and ESA (Support Group) were excluded from UC or has that changed now?

Trying to do the calcs but none seem to work for me.

We have 4 children and pay £45 a week childcare.

I earn £5700 + £3500 Carers (approx figures)
Hubby gets ESA inc Support Group (approx £216 per fortnight) & High rate care & mobility DLA.

Any ideas how the cuts are going to affect us?

Is the ESA income based or contribution based?

IQ