Email from Labour MP

stay_positive

I hope it takes years , I am 60 in September and haven't worked since I was 25 due to agoraphobia , now with other health issues I wouldn't be any use to any employer .

lizptsd

The MP mentioned getting down the NHS waiting lists and better help for mental health in schools. This being a way to get the disabled and sick including those with mental health into work and back to work.

Any guess how long that would take? Not to mention those with incurable chronic conditions that can't be cured and just managed.

My MRI scans on my lumbar spine were sat on until intervention from my GP due to my incontinence and loss of feeling. Good luck with getting down the lists.

I read that they wanted GPs and hospitals be available for evening and weekend appointments to help.

I see strikes ahead by over stretched medical professionals if that went ahead.

michael57

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/895194#Comment_895194

ah charlie and william will save us with there offshore turbines and the next royal town they are planning have faith

Catherine21

I recieved response from my MP I don't know how to show on here

Nightcity

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/895242#Comment_895242

Copy and paste will probably work best 😊

Catherine21

Ong I'm clueless sent it to scope email was all talk of people can try jobs without reassessment if doesn't work out and how they will work with employers unions to help disabled back into work hopefully albus will share I've emailed Stephen timms 3 times I best stop but i did directly say why mentioning work work what if you can't work what they think wave magic wand and all be so good and amazing

Catherine21

A whole year of this roller coaster remember everyone saying don't worry tories won't get in labour will it will all be OK oh god got 3 month wait and I'm not holding my breath oh yh they want to change it alright

Nightcity

Sounds to me what the response is saying is basically the lines we all keep hearing regularly.

I didn't vote labour myself because It's not the same labour I was a member of and I had a nasty feeling they'd keeo going on and on at us.

Being able to try work and go back to how you are if it fails is great but ONLY if it's voluntary. It's vital those who aren't well enough are left alone.

Catherine21

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/895254#Comment_895254

They make it sound good on paper but reality is harsh barbarians at DWP it's the unknown and also I don't want to hear it as it makes it real then I think we have all lost hope cruel to drag out as I'm convinced they know exactly what's happening all preplanned I hope charities call them out

lizptsd

I agree and it's strange that the non disabled able bodied non sick economically inactive aren't getting a mention in the press again we are just being made scapegoats.

I hope that untrained job centre work coaches are not involved in bullying the disabled into jobs like they did to my husband leading to a futile lengthy tribunal that found him LCWRA.

Nightcity

I'm confident they'll have a very hard time from charities,unions, disability laws, activists, health experts etc.

They won't be able to just do what they like just because they have a majority. There's also many in the house of lords who have our backs and will make things awkward for the commons.

Catherine21

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/895262#Comment_895262

Ah that's great to hear I'm so clueless about it all thanks

Catherine21

So stressful for you I'm going on to UC dreading but what can I do million of us I have emailed Stephen timms 3 times I get passionate and say everything I'm feeling thinking not the best at grammar I'm glad your husband got lwcra in the end as my dad says worrying won't add an extra year to your life day by day x

lizptsd

I think we just need to focus on looking after ourselves and not worry too much no matter how hard that seems. I just can't bear reading the heart wrenching posts of people thinking they will be out on the streets. I'm thinking hard about my response if any to our upbeat Labour MP.

I fail to think it will make any difference.

Catherine21

This is true yes last year when sunak said sick note Britain I went down took me so much strenght to get back up the fear was terrifying but I'm still here I was on the streets bags packed in my head so day by day this group amazing

lizptsd

Good for you listen to the group that's what we are here for and have each others back. I cannot express the distain I have for the press for the extreme fear they are causing.

It's terrifying for all of us but as it's been said we have so much support.

Catherine21

Honestly all through covid and other bad times I never engaged with news politics totally clueless started watching news last year and bam my daughter was so worried that I'd do something so it is literally the media feeding all of my MH issues and millions of us break free engage in thing we like instead of letting thier cruel manipulation techniques and have hope knowing as you said there's good people charities fighting our corner and we are warriors to live a life pain mental anguish day in day out let's dig deep and bring that strength back up x

lizptsd

It's hard living life day to day with the challenges we have but we are strong and we can do it and know we are not alone.

I think we have to have trust that there is some compassion somewhere.

The dreadful state of the economy should not be blamed on us!

Jimm_Scope

Hey everyone, I was given permission to post this by @Catherine21 on their behalf. It is a response from their MP.

Dear [real name removed], 

 

Thank you for contacting me about social security and support for disabled people and their families. The cost-of-living crisis has had a disproportionate impact on people with disabilities. As well as dealing with rising energy bills and food prices, disabled people often face additional costs for medication and specialist equipment. I recently raised this issue in parliament, which you can see here; https://x.com/TanDhesi/status/1765428553707868531

I have also met with the disability and equality charity Scope to discuss this very issue, which you can see here; https://x.com/TanDhesi/status/1603722942877253635

With regard to energy prices, it is regrettable that the last Government backed away from its commitment to undertake a consultation on the idea of a social energy tariff, as well as ending the one-off cost of living payments for vulnerable people. 

I am concerned that there has been a lack of progress when it comes to improving the lives of disabled people in the United Kingdom. For example, I note that the last Government's National Strategy for disabled people was delayed by two years and was criticised by disabled people’s organisations who feel that they were not sufficiently consulted during its development. 

On the specific points you raised; I have long been raising awareness of the disability employment gap, the disability pay gap, as well as the need to improve the working lives of disabled people. You can see examples of there here; https://x.com/TanDhesi/status/1740334279857713375

and here; https://x.com/TanDhesi/status/1557698355588870144

Labour is committed to reforming the Disability Assessment System to enable people to try paid work without the need for reassessments, and will work with employers, trade unions and other stakeholders to help break down the barriers disabled people continue to face in everyday life. 

Thank you again for writing to me about this important issue. 

 

Yours sincerely, 

Tan Dhesi MP 

lizptsd

Hi that's basically a carbon copy of the one I received from Mr Bonavia.

As my Husband and I discussed this morning where are all these jobs coming from? If like my ex boss many employers are disablist and the jobs in our area are few and far between I can't see how local authorities will make this work.

Again there is a skirting mention of the extra costs we have but they have no idea. We have to have Podiatry every 6 weeks which we have to pay for as the NHS here only offer it every 6 months which is no good for a Type 1 Diabetic like my Husband and I have painful corns and callouses due to my deformed feet. We have to go to a Podiatrist that has a Diabetic specialist so it's not cheap. There are countless extra costs that are different for all of us and that's just one of ours.

The energy costs are ridiculous despite our trying to find the cheapest and what we can afford to pay is barely bringing down our balance.

If what they are proposing with the Pensioners winter fuel payments is anything to go by it's not looking great.

Because of my falls the Adult Disability Service came in May and recommended two extra rails in our wet room to be put in by the Council.

I had another fall this morning in the wet room and have had to chase them again. We know the next step will have to be our Councillor and then the MP. In our view it's a serious safety issue.

It's a shame all of us have to fight for anything we need.