Official thread: ‘Get Britain Working’ White Paper released Tuesday 26th November
Comments
-
Well my conditions could have been prevented such as sleep apnoea type 2 diabetes and endometrial cancer all caused by untreated and undiagnosed sleep apnoea being ignored by my GP.
My mental health couldn't be prevented , it was caused by ptsd autism , abuse etc and now I found out i have been profoundly deaf from birth on some frequencies , which never helped my development in childhood and adulthood, I would love to have been able to prevent all of my conditions but it wasn't to be.
I'm 61 next year , have agoraphobia and many health issues two of which were side effects from robotic surgery for endometrial cancer . Chronic pain sitting or standing from internal scar tissue .
What job can I do , I cannot look people in the face , wear dark glasses in public and need my husband/carer with me everywhere I go .
0 -
I know how you feel , I too was diagnosed with endometrial cancer last year and had a total hysterectomy , the fear of it returning is there all the time as it was a grade 3 tumour. It's there everyday , so I know how you feel , and I too got the all clear last week , but live with chronic pain from the robotic surgery, I am 60 and have other health issues , it is cruel the way they treat us .
0 -
I have autism, dyslexia, joint hypermobility syndrome which effects my legs, knees neck, shoulders back , feet wrists fingers and causes digestive problems, bad fatigue where I have to sleep , easy bruising, . Copd , where my symptoms have got worse over a year. On steroids inhaler s, constantly chest infections. The weather throughout the year effects me, fatigue with this . I cannot work. So volunteering may work
0 -
They have to train the jobcentre staff to be human and treat us better.
3 -
Hi all,
Back now and got my digital highlighter
I’m 8 pages in and finding that I’m highlighting a lot
I’m now using an app which allows me to save self highlighted pdf - would readers of this thread be open minded to me posting that instead of screenshots if I end up highlighting too many pages? I’ll see where I am at the end but I can use different coloured highlights to show the really interesting nuggets etc…
5 -
I am happy if they are going to do their own consultation in the spring over disability stuff, because if it's as horrible as the previous, maybe we'll get a chance to comment and the organisations and charities will also be able to put their points across for us too.
I want them to do more about retaining disabled employees, though. My job is local government, many disabled people work in local government, they're talking about LG cuts…my job is temporary and I may well lose it come the spring. I've managed to get work despite being autistic and thus in the lowest employed demographic % of any disabled group…and despite having no support to get it. But with all this going on, I need them to be more aware of people already in employment that may not be secure. What about us? What do we do?
So much focus has been on people being not in work, that I feel like we're being forgotten and there's no point in getting x y z people into work if the same number are losing their jobs through natural wastage and current insecurity.
2 -
They did mention that to be fair, they said all coach will bent sent some sort of coaching thing, that will enable them to support people better, and try and support people with more complex needs
0 -
The youth guarentee idea is potentially good, alongside reforming jobcentres. However, as with anything neoliberals say, the devil is in the detail.
The consultation in the spring is one example of this. Don't even bother responding and instead prepare for in-person protests. Consultations are worse than nothing at this point as politicians will just ignore the responses.
0 -
okay, I’ve finished highlighting the white paper pdf and as I feared I highlighted too many pages to screenshot so I’m posting the completed highlighted version below
I did try to colour code but my head got overwhelmed a third through so it’s a bit all over the place 😝 - yellow is kind of general tibbits, red are the parts that I think Kendall and co may want to take a second look at (made me feel a little uneasy, or slightly dodgy area/language or needs a rethink before being a realistic ‘bucket list’ item on Kendall’s checklist) and blue & orange are parts that stood out more than the yellow in a somewhat positive way
(And the other colours 🤷♀️………I’m autistic and like a colour code even if it’s not entirely obvious even to myself)
I also didn’t highlight the youth chapter as I wasn’t sure how many scope readers were in the 16-24 age group - I gave the start of that chapter a unique hot pink/purple highlight if you want to quickly locate that part
Now in the coming days I’m sure I’ll have a very vocal opinion and several takeaways that I’ll share with the forum (well the one or two of you that don’t think I’m off my rocker)
I do have 2 immediate takeaways that I think are valid:
> This is very much labours ‘part 1 of 2’ plan to reduce the welfare bill & get people into work (part 2 of 2 is not due till spring 2025). Having read through the whole white paper (though I’ll need to reread some parts a few more times) for the most part it was pretty positive - there were some good ideas and some very ambitious ones (a 10-15yr plan that labour will need at least 2 to 3 terms if they are to reap the major rewards). There were some parts I had to question the realism but if they were sincere about working directly with disabled ppl & organisations then I think these could be adjusted to be more ‘achievable’
> back in June many disabled wanted the tories out so badly that they were willing to make it happen at all costs (and didn’t listen to the risk of labour having a huge majority and almost blind in hope that labour were going to be this big saviour party for them). Some still don’t see how the rapid welfare bill is a huge problem for the uk economy and any responsible party in charge had no choice but to address it - there was always going to be hard times incoming for this community but it would be tougher under some parties than others.In 3 to 4 years time we will be on the eve of the next general election and as things stand labour have upset a lot of ppl since July and a kemikaze/stride Tory gov or a farage reform party (or a coalition of both) are very likely to get the protest vote and win - and I’m 100% sure that disabled people well-being would be in significantly more danger than anything labour can come up with (think dystopian and eugenics)
Every disabled person needs to ask themselves what price they are willing to pay in 42+ months time in order to continue keeping the tories & reform out of power?
Once you’ve answered that you need to ask yourself if you are going to refuse to jump any hoops labour may come back with - or if you are open to reasonable compromise (such as the hoops being lowered) and at least be open to try and jump them (part of the compromise being Labour acknowledging if you do try but don’t have the ‘ability’ to clear and recognising each individuals personal limitations). If you don’t try you’ll never know and if it doesn’t work then you’ve enforced your ‘long term sick status’ in theory
liz Kendall last week at the dwp committee said something along the lines of disabled are more likely to find and stay in work in a job they find enjoyable and that’s so true and I hope Kendall truly feels that way as I think that could be a key to labour’s white paper finding success - my advice would be to think about the things you enjoy doing/hobbies so if you need to see a work coach down the line (and their mentality does change under labour) you have an idea what you’d be open to try and prehaps by then work coach’s may actually be able to help you find the ‘right’ way forward health and well-being wise for you that also ticks dwp boxes
Sorry went on a bit of a rant
I really hope Kendall and her team make themselves more accessible and give disabled ppl more opportunities to be able to chat and share ideas & viewpoints going forward (focus groups prehaps, visiting local charities, etc….)
6 -
Thanks for your hard work as always, apple, I will be coming back to read over your highlighted version tomorrow most likely :)
I agree with you about the election and the political situation. I didn't vote Labour in the last GE but I decided a long time ago to not vote for the Tories until they recognised disabled people as people.
My concern with the white paper is still the problem of people in work being able to stay in work. Kendall is right about the need for a job that's fulfilling and enjoyable. I love my job, but it has no security and getting it was enough of a stress and struggle. I don't really know how to get that across to central government - that keeping disabled people in existing jobs is as important as getting other disabled people into jobs.I lost my job during the last "get disabled people into work" drive under Cameron and that was a permanent position, they just closed the service. I am not massively optimistic whether I will be employed next election unless some serious work is done to ensure disabled people in current employment have opportunities to remain in post.
2 -
I’m sorry but this is an extremely damaging viewpoint that isn’t strictly true (prehaps a scope moderator can back me on this)
The wca consultation had only just over 1k responses and still managed to achieve some concessions (tories were planning to go much worse then they actually did)
The pip consultation had over 15k? and in the dwp committee party Kendall had clearly been affected by some of the responses
consultations are a massively important way to get our voice heard and it would be in the disabled community interest to respond in our 10’s of thousandsAnd when was the the last time an in person achieved anything (apart from getting the right to protest laws tightened)
I hope no scope member reading takes your advice on that one if I’m being honest
7 -
I think there's space to answer the consultation and protest if you have the means to do it. As an autistic person who can't navigate and who doesn't do well in noisy crowded spaces, in person protest is not possible for me. Answering a consultation is my only way to get my voice heard. But there's genuinely no reason why not to respond to the survey and protest peacefully against any changes that are to our detriment, if you are able :)
1 -
I need to find Kendall’s exact quote on the dwp committee meeting as I think if I did remember it correctly then I think it would win her some currency amongst the disabled
and you comment on supporting those disabled already in work to stay in work is an excellent point and why Kendall should be making an effect to talk directly to as many disabled ppl as possible as labours ‘success’ in this is in our best interest as well as hers and I truly believe a healthy collaboration and compromise is possible (or at least more so then it was with the tories who didn’t seem to care about individuals at all)
I actually found the transcript from that dwp committee from last week (which I think is the best Kendall has ever come off) - well worth a read:https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/14995/pdf/
Edit: after reading Kendall’s quote prehaps I took some liberties memory wise painting a more sugar coated quote……..I remember her sound compassionate when saying this on the video link though
1 -
I live in Doncaster, South Yorkshire and I'm really concerned that one of these new pilot schemes is going to be aimed at me. Not the youth ones (I'm 36) but there are others planned to test out the plans to tackle inactivity and South Yorkshire is one of them. The blueprint for these ideas I believe was carried out in Barnsley, not far from me.
I understand it has to be tested out somewhere but I'm dreading getting swept up in some guineapig pilot that makes me much more ill (my conditions are related to mental health).
My main question would be is from the very beginning, even if its a pilot scheme, is this voluntary? Do I need to brace for sudden increased conditionality.
My heart goes out to you all who are reading this thread and have similar worries about **** is going on with these reforms.
I think really only time will tell.
0 -
Do you remember Covid prevention? I'm scared if other diseases are prevented in a similar way.
I see that one monkey passed a grenade to another monkey. Either way, the grenade will explode.
0 -
It's so hard to believe here's hoping
0 -
I think its for new claimants first
0 -
So can I ask they say 2025 but surly that would have to go through parliament first thankyou for breakdown
0 -
I completely agree with what you say. The need for a re-election? How many years have we waited for this? Yet who are these people who think that this will be a "quick fix" If so what would you change first? The NHS?, migration issues? WCA? Out of Work payments? Support of UN payments to poverty countries? UC payments at no loss? Disabled Payment rights to be inline with the Basic Living Wage? Pension Rights and payments for all? including paying out of pensions for women (WASPI) No tax on Pensions?
The list is endless. Everyone has a "pet hate" that affects them or a loved one. But hoiw many have access to be able to fix or at least have a voice to be heard?
SCOPE have the ability to get a voice for all. As they are already represented in the Senedd and in Parliament. Questions or Querry's about things that affect you can be posed and will get a better result as to a direction or go to person because they are already doing it.
Support Admin, to get our voice heard in the right places, and not spend time trying to take a government down who you believe are not doing things fast enough, or in the order you think they need to be done.
1 -
I understand that something needs and needed to be done but what I don't understand is there's no mention if you can't work or maybe I've missed that part I find it disturbing when they say worming with more severe mentally ill thanks for post you put up
2
Categories
- All Categories
- 14.1K Start here and say hello!
- 6.7K Coffee lounge
- 59 Games den
- 1.6K People power
- 84 Community noticeboard
- 21.7K Talk about life
- 4.9K Everyday life
- 45 Current affairs
- 2.2K Families and carers
- 818 Education and skills
- 1.7K Work
- 421 Money and bills
- 3.3K Housing and independent living
- 874 Transport and travel
- 649 Relationships
- 60 Sex and intimacy
- 1.3K Mental health and wellbeing
- 2.3K Talk about your impairment
- 843 Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions
- 889 Neurological impairments and pain
- 1.9K Cerebral Palsy Network
- 1.1K Autism and neurodiversity
- 35.2K Talk about your benefits
- 5.6K Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 18.3K PIP, DLA, and AA
- 6.3K Universal Credit (UC)
- 5K Benefits and income