There is no doubt that the system of disability benefits is broken – but not in the ways the government suggests (editorial, 18 March). The current system is angry, ineffective and difficult to navigate-often worsening the physical and mental health of the claimants, through the analysis of energy and appealing to the processes of appeal, illumination and clash to see.
The government suggests that the way to get people with work disabilities is to invest more from work coaches – as if a disabled community lacks confidence to hunt jobs. In fact, these are employers who have no confidence to bring us. To find one that can offer a little time (for someone with a long covid) or give many days sick a month (for regular hospital visit) is almost impossible.
If the government is serious about improving access to work for a disabled community, This where investment needs to happen. We need something like the apprenticeship scheme, where employers will receive financial support to use people with limited work capacity – giving us a fair wage to living at reduced time. This can unlock the talents of the educated and brilliant disabled community.
Name and Address provided
Suggested changes in the personal payment of freedom (PIP) should be opposed. I feel so much anxiety every time I get a letter from the department for work and pension. Living with epilepsy, an unpredictable, condition that limits life, affects every aspect of my life. My DWP Daily Living Score reflects it; I receive 13 points and qualify for the improved PIP rate. Under the suggested “four points in a category” system, I will lose the entire PIP.
Almost 90% of the time, I work well, but for the other 10%, I don’t know who or where I am, and deeply weak. This reform ignores disabilities such as mine which, to stay safe, I need help throughout the board, at all times. I support welfare reform, but not at the expense of the disabled. These measures will have devastating effects on their lives.
Jo Mackenzie
Ventnor, isle of wight
Why is the government paying a vindictive vendetta against the disabled? I claim Universal Credit and Pip. Without Pip I would be homeless. Is it appropriate for a 62-year-old taxpayer for over 40 years and has a body now disfigured by working on developing sites? I had to wait more than 18 months to receive PIP and go through hell with the DWP, which refused many times to accept that I had a long -term disability. I hope to find an appropriate job when I have not done, and will end up receiving a low fee, unaccompanied job. If I hadn’t, all of my benefits would stop.
Rachel Reeves, Treasury and Liz Kendall should ask themselves why this Labor government will find £ 200bn for nuclear weapons, with more than £ 14BN in addition to defense expenditure, but more concerned about those with disabilities with half a decent life with Pip payment.
Mark Sayers
Keighley, West Yorkshire
The government’s proposal to tighten the health element of the universal credit for the adults under 22 will have a devastating effect on young leaver care. They are more likely than other young people to have health or disabilities due to early trauma and a system of care that are not given the support they need. Many have no families turn to financial or emotional help.
This cut will reduce their limited income by about £ 5,000 a year. Without this lifeline, more young yeasts of care would struggle to provide essentials such as food, rent and transportation, increasing their risk of homelessness, mental health crises and long -term unemployment. Instead of helping them form a future, this policy will further drive them to the margins of society.
We invite the ministers to re -consider before causing long -term harm to some of the most disabled youths in our communities.
Katharine sacks-jones
Chief executive, becoming charity
I am writing this as a disabled person in his late 30s. I have been job-hunting for 13 months since I approached the family, previously worked in a part-time office job. The last few years have been difficult because of my conditions to deteriorate. This means I’m now using a wheelchair, when I’m walking.
Pip is not a way to not work. Being disabled is exhausting and it is about the constant juggling of our finite energy sources that want to be part of society. Usually this simply means to work only part-time, which does not provide enough income.
PIP is a benefit to support the excess cost of being disabled, so we may have some quality of life. My wheelchair-accessing vehicle is expensive to run because it is a van with specialized heavy adaptation. Accessible sports are often miles away and not easily accessible to public transportation. I need help cutting my nails – it costs at least £ 30 per session. I need a care worker to support me every day – it costs a minimum of £ 80 a week.
This is just a small snapshot of excessive cost of being disabled. Freezing and cutting PIP means we will return on time and ignore all the law’s law -abiding rights efforts in recent years. This year is the 30th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act – yet there is a reason to celebrate?
David Slater
Saffron Walden, Cambridgeshire
It will be remembered in the same way as the poll tax for Margaret Thatcher and tuition fees for Nick Clegg. The causes of excitement. This is not, but people with disabilities will not be forgiven.
James Unvala
Ramsgate, Kent
