Email from Labour MP

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.

Catherine21

Oh ffs I should have know just gaslight us oh sorry about your fall how are you now ? I've emailed Stephen timms twice god things I wrote I write send the email then read after ooopsss included everything elderly disabled single mums everyone called sunak thief the lot won't do no difference

Catherine21

Maybe thier open workhouse or work us like shein works people awful

lizptsd

I'm ok thank you for asking but very sore and my back is killing me I landed on my injured knee and ankle so I did it properly!

Notified Council and they are chasing it plus the lovely lady from Adult Disability phoned them too.

The locum Doctor wanted to discharge me from the falls clinic but I refused to let her. Plus despite my walking in with a stick supported by my husband her report said she saw me walk in independently without an aid so I accused her of being overworked as she had clearly mixed me up with another patient so she sent a corrected one.

On it goes! Good one contacting MrTimms! Keep us updated if he ever gets back to you. It's summer recess and they are supposed to be catching up on letters around their trips to Med! I've not got back to Mr Bonavia yet but feel duty bound on behalf of us all to do so soon.

Catherine21

Ah yes thier good at making up lies I write straight from my mind so goodluck if they understand sure thier understand part where i said your feeding us to the lions putting us in the arena asked why we are so discriminated against said The government been doing that for years also said all good you keep using word work work work what about if you can't in an ideal world everybody could work but it's far from ideal so I said thier unrealistic halt the migration the job centre staff over worked under qualified for our needs what about people who can't go online say phone a number that a million other people phoning at same time I asked why they do this is it to keep us so low we have no fight left I said DWP are liers murders I said you all now the true facts of how many people who unlive themselves and the ones who survived your going after I said if Jeremy was leader it be so different from us and much more let's see what BS get back

lizptsd

Well done you you really let him have it. They will probably pick up what they want like selective hearing!

My main worry and what I want mine to know is the damage the press are doing to already vulnerable people giving them extreme anxiety and fearing they will be out on the streets or put to work when they can't.

The other point is that of reviews for PIP if you have lifelong chronic and degenerative conditions. The reviews are stressful and if you get the wrong assessor you can lose your award or have it kept the same despite you needing extra help as your conditions get worse especially with age.

If they want to reform PIP get assessors who actually have some knowledge of conditions or take the time to research a claimants condition so they have an idea of how they might be affected.

That I suspect would be too expensive!

Catherine21

I agree !! Yes last year I was feeding into all of media stories up all night couldn't sleep eat was horrific have to protect mental health at all times the world is going mad all over

lizptsd

I'll probably get onto it over the weekend but I'm not looking forward to it 😔

But it has to be done or they will not understand how negative or harsh Labour are coming across regarding the disabled community in the press.

Not to mention the damage it is having to everyone's mental health.

kc1978

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

Maybe we should stop sending millions in foreign aid to countries who have space programmes, or start charging tax to billionaires and companies who clever accountants mean they pay 0.

I paid tax since 16. Disabled at 42. I hope with rehab one day to get into work again. But I been told at least 2 years for a inpatient specialist rehab bed, once waiting lists reopen. They are closed. Oh and if my CCG agree to fund as only 5 in UK non near me.

Maybe if could get treatment more would be in work.

Frustrating 😡

lizptsd

I totally agree the problems are at home. That's awful about the wait for your rehab. I'm with you even at 63 I'd love to work from home so I can monitor my symptoms, my Husband and cope with the incontinence and falls but can't see where the jobs are.

Your funding struggles too what a nightmare! We suspect I'm not a candidate for surgery on my back because of money.

The Council today were sorry about my fall and would speed up the extra grab rails but we don't hold out much hope.

😡

stay_positive

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/895221#Comment_895221

Turbines are ugly and ruin landscapes .

michael57

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/896429#Comment_896429

ah well the royals hold the rights for 12 nautical miles for offshore energy so it will happen and wont be visible on a foggy day

stay_positive

I have a great suggestion , instead of taking £300 winter fuel off pensioners , all MP's should stop receiving unlimited allowances for gas/electric/water/diesel /petrol, that would save money . They are the highest paid .

Cantilip

And please remember 'economically inactive' isn't aimed purely at disabled people.

@Albus_Scope Albus, as I understand it, the following: the 'economically inactive' are those not looking for work in 4 main categories, early retirees, the disabled, carers of all kinds including simply parents of young children and students. Assuming those who retired early simply because they wanted to have sufficient dosh to do so and that may be true equally of what the Americans call 'stay-at-home moms', assuming parents are not to be dragged from their children and students are not to be dragged from their lectures, 56-year-old dragged from their gardens and thrown onto the production-line, that leaves the disabled as the only group over whom the DWP has serious leverage so it does look ass if we're targeted. When they've finished going on about the economically inactive, the disabled are only about 25% and there'd still be over 6 million of them if all disabled people worked.

lizptsd

Quite right! It looks like it's going to backfire anyway as the pension credit claims will rise by those who didn't know they were eligible for it!

We got our extra grab rails and loo lever last week that has made me feel safer. I don't think it would have happened unless I'd had that last fall and the Disability services officer getting involved.

Cantilip

@Catherine21 and others re availability of jobs. I was talking to someone yesterday with her own small business on rocky ground. She's in an urban area and she'd love a part-time job to help make ends meet. She's a perfectly competent reliable skilled lady and there aren't any. I do tend to think a lot of what comes from politicians of all kinds just implodes on this. Yeah, sure, we'll get people to work - what work?

lizptsd

My ex boss that dismissed me due to my disabilities had mentioned that I should medically retire on many occasions what does that even mean! At 63 and I tried to stay in a job despite my conditions I'm so fed up with fighting and need to concentrate on my health and that of my husband that I care for. The bickering and misinformation is draining and we all need some peace.

kc1978

@lizptsd

So firstly if they felt you should have medically retired, it's absolutely shocking they did not tell you process but instead dismissed you! Sounds like a company that not very caring.

I took medical retirement at 45 this year. It allows you to access pensions - private only that you have paid into.

However it also depends on the company your private pension is held with.

Some like NEST , Royal London allow you to access your pension from 55 and therefore make you follow that process rather than the medical route.

Probably worth discussing with pension wise which is a free advisory service, as any withdrawal will effect amounts you get. however at 63 I am not sure it would make massive difference, but check.

medical Retirement does not allow you to access state pension.

Also check as if on benefits any pension money you take may effect the amount of benefit you get. Again get advice.

Having gone through very recently hope this helps.

GrantABC

I was able to drawn down a lump sum from my pension following medical retirement at 54, I had to provide medical evidence and have my GP fill out a form to assist the process, bear in mind they will tax the money at about 15%. I'm with People's Pension formerly B and CE( construction industry).