New Green Paper Discussion - now includes accessible formats and consultation event sign up links!

Thank you, I really appreciate your kindness. It is good to know that there are people like you and loulou82 out there. Thank you once again.

Thank you again, @MW123.

I was actually having a tough day when I read your post. I’d just spoken to a friend from work who was feeling really low about the future-especially around PIP and all the uncertainty. I tried my best to reassure her, but I’ll be honest—some of the speculation we’ve all seen recently started to get to me too. For a moment, I found myself thinking, what’s the point?

And then I came across your post.

It genuinely shifted something in me. Since then, I’ve felt so much more hopeful, and I even shared the essence of your post with a few friends who were teetering on the edge of a mental health crisis. So yes, I meant every single word of my original reply.

Standing up together for our rights, against this government  is always better than hiding away in fear.

As you said—let’s keep shining that light. 😊

In solidarity,✊

I see you like my term @noonebelieves 🤗

If only WE COULD "put the world to rights" 🌍🙄 I'm sure we could make a much better job of it than the terrifying trio in Downing Street 👹🧛👺and the tangerine tyrant in the White House.🍊 😆 Oh, and we can't forget creepy turncoat Stephen Timms.🕷️

Seriously though, I know exactly what you mean about brain fog. Unless I stay ultra organised and have frequent reminders from my partner, I don't think that I would remember when any APPOINTMENT is! 🤔 I'm sorry that yours has been put off for a week. As if you need that when you're already in so much of pain anyway.😕

Wouldn't it be great if we could become someone else for a day. It would be The only way to escape from all those things that bedevil our lives, I'm afraid . 😢

I believe that we cope so well with the lives we've got because, well, we are used to it all. It's a simple as that.

We have had such a gut wrenching, all encompassing shock with the proposed cuts recently but they weren't a complete bolt out of the blue, were they? 🤔

It's very sadly become part of our lives to struggle with health conditions, limited income and horrendous treatment from government. We have to be sanguine and accepting of our situation or we wouldn't be able to carry on, to be blunt. I'm sorry to sound so downbeat but I'm sure that you'll understand what I'm saying. 😔

No wonder non disabled people are so horrified at what we have to go through. No wonder too that we can be so proud of all we are and achieve. 💪👌✊

With my Dad, it was long before Covid, in 2011. Your Dad's death is more recent than my Dad's was. My Mum died only three years ago at 89 of pneumonia, and I still get a milder version of that feeling of finality.

I find myself wishing I had her to talk to about the cuts. Then I immediately think, that she is at peace and I then feel glad that she will never have to know anything about it. She would have been absolutely horrified, that we have come to this in this supposedly democratic country. 😢

That really makes me realise just how bad this situation really is, not only for us but for our loved ones too. 😞

Those statistics that you shared with me, show the reality of our situation is at complete odds with the properganda circulated about us to deflect the blame from them to us to trick both disabled people and the public into accepting the cuts.

The truth is the greatest weapon we have to fight them. It's more powerful than even legal challenges are. It's a uphill struggle against gaslighting governmental goons though. As you say though, silence is not an option for us.

That means that we MUST keep going. We are probably changing much more than we know. ✊

I've thought to myself that even if they did a U turn on all their proposals, we would all never truly recover from this catastrophic act of cruelty. We would still have to help people to cope with the long term consequences of having to cope with this time, even if nothing came of the cuts. It is very sobering indeed to think about that. You're right, it is a form of violence, psychological violence.😞

That is interesting, what you've said about the Access to Work Scheme, inaccessible housing the NHS backlog and the other public services that have been neglected and cut to the bone.

It is done on purpose to show us that they think that our health and quality of life are not worth bothering about. This then feeds into the larger narrative that is meant to completely demoralise us, making us feel too worthless to speak up about it, whilst they give the impression that they are too powerful to challenge.

We must not fall for any of this. They are not as omnipitant as they make themselves appear and they are the ineffective ones who defraud public money and "take the mickey," 😒 not us. It's very upsetting but I truly is best NOT TO TAKE IT PERSONALLY.

You're right there, it is a matter of life and death. An unavoidable fight to survive. We make the jokes and have the tendancy to go over the same ground again and again because doing those things too is a way to cope. To survive.

Absolutely, I am enraged and I'm glad that my "fire" 🔥is so obvious. I think that anger can be very constructive if it is channeled in the right way. 😡 Much better than despairing which can cause you to give up the fight.

The urgency is there too. This consultantion, which is a sham and rotten to the core is being rushed, the government hoping that they can make it law before the truth gets out about what's REALLY being done to us. We must work so much harder to get the truth out there before it's too late!💪

Don't worry, I shall continue to be here, doing all I can to help. The way these cuts will affect my partner and I is serious but won't ruin our lives in the way that it will for so many disabled people. I cannot let them down, we must all have each other's backs. ✊ We DO deserve so much better, immeasurably so.

Thank again too for all you do for us, me included. 🙏👏

Do take care of yourself.

In solidarity. ✊

Juls 😊

Hi @WhatThe,

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts 

“And speaking of sparks-I’ve got to shout out @MW123.That post you shared about how people’s voices have actually overturned decisions, even forced U-turns? That was a shot of pure motivation. You helped switch that light back on for many of us. Thank you for that jolt of truth and hope."

Sorry, @whatthe - I think you may have misunderstood the reason why I wholeheartedly thanked @MW123. I just wanted to clarify that my message to @MW123 wasn’t about the LCW/ESA changes specifically. It was about the hope her post inspired-hope that our collective voices as disabled people still matter, especially in a climate where many of us feel silenced by the government’s current Pathways to Work Green Paper proposals. When inaccessible public consultations and confusing, non-inclusive proposals seem designed to shut out those most affected, messages like @MW123’s reminds us and gives us all hope that change is possible when we come together.

Moreover,I was on the verge of giving up, and @mw123 post rekindled a spark of hope and strength in our collective voice to benefit all of us (see my recent reply to @MW123).My appreciation was rooted in how the post reignited something in me and others—a sense that we’re not powerless. It had nothing to do with revisiting past ESA policies, but rather with how unified action and people power can still make an impact now. The way the government has handled the recent Pathways to Work proposals-by closing consultations on key issues many of us wanted to discuss, failing to engage with large parts of the disabled community(in every stage of the proposal), and limiting opportunities to respond in the public consultation —has been appalling,hurting, insulting,deeply concerning and discriminatory to disabled people. So yes, I truly and passionately  meant it when I said @Mw123 words were a spark of hope in these dark times.

“You too are using social media when you comment here, BTW, noonebelieves.”

Regarding your point about social media-yes, you’re absolutely right. This is also a social media platform for our disability communities to openly share their views and support each other, without fear of being silenced or judged. But I want to stress that I try to use my voice here responsibly. I rely on information from  trusted disability rights organisations and reputable sources to guide my understanding, and I always aim to share accurate and constructive information which has merit to my/our cause. I avoid sensationalism and do my best not to spread fear or confusion. I’ve often advised others to be cautious and avoid speculative information from the internet, especially as we’re all in a highly volatile situation caused by the difficult circumstances the government has placed us in. You can review all my previous posts . However, if anything I’ve posted has unintentionally caused harm or concern, I sincerely apologise and I’d be more than happy to ask the moderators to review and remove it. 

We may not always see things the same way, but I believe we’re all here because we all care deeply about justice and dignity for disabled people. Right now, the government is threatening our rights, but we must remember that our collective voices matter. We can stand up against injustice-we live in a democratic country, and we are protected under the Equality Act 2010. That’s the common ground I want to stand on-with respect, clarity, and solidarity.

Best wishes

You’re welcome @Martinp.

Please look after yourself and remember we are here with you. We cannot be silenced-we wil fight for our rights and stand against these benefit cuts by the government with all our voices together, no matter what comes our way.

Together, we will be brave and stand firm in opposing these unjust proposals.

In solidarity ✊