Upcoming changes to benefits

Same. I was paying NI from 16 and put myself thru Uni by working as a domestic at nights. ****. I was an academic lecturer/ researcher and funder for Scottish Enterprise for decades, cared for Ma and Pa before their deaths( no carers allowance claimed).. as I still did a bit of work. I’m done in now.. autoimmune, Lupus, mental health but still fighting. I mean.. How Dare They!

I’ve a good pal in New Zealand who has EDS( joint hyper mobility)plus severe mental health issues.. she has worked in her life. She struggles. There is no assessment as we recognise it for disability. A govt body contacts her doctor directly and she is left alone. It is not the done thing to demonise people who are disabled.

Yesterday in a quiet moment at work I read through the Buckland report on autistic employment opportunities and most of what it said resonated with me as an autistic person in work. I recognised all of the problems and challenges and agreed with the solutions proposed. What I don't see in current govt policy, at least in that which has been leaked, is any interest in applying these.

Buckland says many times that overcoming misinformation and stigma around ND conditions is central, meanwhile this past week the Daily Mail has claimed that dyslexia and adhd don't exist and even the Evening Standard claimed everyone is self-diagnosing online.

This is not accidental, these articles are happening to shift public opinion in favour of welfare cuts by occluding real lived experiences of disabled people. Obviously I can only speak for autism and neurodivergence because it's my lived experience but I am sure it is the same for others in other disability groups.

I wrote to the DWP a while back complaining about the govt cuts threatening my job and got a generic letter back today which did not even mention the Buckland Report in all their "we're going to make work better wooh!" commentary.

Removing PIP from anyone will not incentivise a single person into work as PIP is not a work related benefit, but I have read many stories from people for whom losing PIP will cost them their job. This isn't me at present, but in the future it might be depending whether it impacts my travel support or other aspects.

The suggestion of more frequent assessments is also not going to help anyone ND or with a MH diagnosis. More assessments means more triggers means less function means less likely to be able to work. But at the same time they've said permanent disabilities may not need to be reassessed? I know this is all speculation right now but that's such a contradiction given their assault on neurodiversity in general. It's as if they think autism and ADHD will go away o.O.

And there are several MH diagnoses which are also permanent, even if some others are not.

I reflected this morning that at no point in my whole life do I feel like I live in a democracy. Everyone else has to speak for me, and people like me. When we try to speak, we're shut down or ignored. Sad, isn't it?