Disabled service user describes cuts to welfare as 'immoral'

Well, they certainly sprung that one on us… and I am sick with anxiety, incandescent with rage and practically bedridden with dread – as are a lot of people at the moment. 

The proposed welfare ‘reforms’ by this government are nothing short of heinously eugenic. Anyone who thinks personal independence payment (PIP) is easy to get has clearly never been through the hideous assessment process delivered by private companies and incompetent assessors who are not specialists in specific disabilities at all.

They have never experienced having their in-depth medical evidence disregarded or lied about repeatedly by decision-makers. 

They have never had to face a tribunal – which is like being dragged through court like a criminal. 

And let’s get one thing clear right now. PIP is not an out-of-work benefit and many disabled people use it in order to stay in work – to pay for the aids and adaptations they need around the house or at work. Many visually impaired people, for example, use it to get taxis on dangerous and inaccessible bus routes.

You cannot starve people into work but you can starve people…

How do the government think that already overstretched foodbanks, the NHS, broken mental health services, social services and charities are going to cope with a barrage of extra hungry, cold, homeless and suicidal people who have lost everything? 

I’m sure I’m not the only person who’s incredulous that these so-called reforms are coming from a Labour government.

You cannot get blood from a stone, but our blood will be on their hands. I would love to see any of the MPs who intend to vote for these reforms manage within an inaccessible, discriminatory, exhausting ableist workplace like I have done in the past. 

Very few people want to employ someone who is neurodiverse, mentally ill, has stomach problems, asthma, chronic fatigue, who is in physical pain and who is severely sight impaired. Can you think of many? 

They are also suggesting that no one under the age of 22 will be able to receive the health (lower capacity for work related activity) element of universal credit – so, no one under the age of 22 is allowed to be disabled then?

They want to scrap the Work Capacity Assessment and remove ‘perverse incentives’ for people not to work.

But if you also don’t pass a PIP assessment then you won’t get help with prescriptions, carers allowance or anything! PIP is a gateway benefit that helps many disabled people access other support and services.

They are putting about £1 billion into so-called tailored work support at job centres yet trying to save close to £5 billion. These immoral cuts do not even make fiscal sense as they are taking with one hand but will have to give much more with the other when it comes to paying for those in acute crisis, the homeless, suicidal, hungry and let’s consider all of the other socio-economic impacts the cuts will have on children, carers, schools and the services that help them. It will drive some people into sex work, the black market and other criminal activity, I am certain. 

The proposed reforms, which funnily enough come at the same time as a 2.5 per cent rise in the defence budget, are totally unworkable. 

I urge you to write to your MP to challenge this appalling assault on the most vulnerable in society from a government that basically lied in order to get into power.

#welfarenotwarfare

#taxtherich