Get your MP to act against cuts

Hi folks I hope you have all had a good weekend . I have not really had a good day for a long time my stress and anxiety levels have been very high ever since I started to get lots of letters from DWP which I don't really understand telling me that ESA was ending and I would be going over to Universal Credit. I have been on ESA [Support Group] for around 18 years I also get high rate PIP for Mobility and the Care . I am a disabled wheelchair user , with mental health problems , bi polar , personality disorder , stress , anxiety , waiting for a knee replacement and a ankle fusion . I also have type two diabetes and a small brain tumour which might have to be taken out if gets bigger. I have a lot on my plate and I am finding it hard to cope , I have Carer's who come in every day for three hours. I just want to be able to relax and enjoy my years which I have left . I have no idea what my new payments are going to be I am waiting for an email on the 2nd of May . Is anybody else waiting for a email on that date telling them their new payments ? This is my first post on this site , I feel I belong to something . All the best ,Philip.

PLEASE LOBBY YOUR MP TO ATTEND

Good morning everybody I hope that you all slept well , not easy with all the uncertainly about benefits at the moment .My gas & electric has gone up by £48 per month , now where is that money going to come from ? My Carer is going to do my weekly shop today which is normally £65 a week , I can remember a time when a few years back my shopping would come to £45 a week. This cost of living is terrible and our benefits are just not covering everything now . I am going to sit out in my garden and enjoy the sunshine , which is free ! Have a good day folks , Phil.

Thanks for your insight, @WhatThe. Let’s now use all that background knowledge to amplify our lived experiences and voices, and stand in solidarity against the catastrophic impacts this current brutal green paper would have on our disabled communities.

Hi @jul1aorways,

As always, Thank you so much for your lovely post-your knowledge, passion and fighting spirit truly shine through. I couldn’t agree more with everything you’ve said. Every time I read posts like yours and others on this forum, it strengthens my understanding of just how flawed, misleading, and frankly and extremely brutal this Green Paper is. It fuels me even more to keep going.🔥

It’s brilliant to hear you’ve had a response from your (boo! haha 😉) Tory MP – that alone gives me a bit of hope that through our collective efforts, we can make them or anyone listen. After all, their comfy seats aren’t looking quite so comfy these days! 🤔I’m absolutely sure that if we keep at it, the consequences of ignoring disabled voices will come back to haunt them long into the future.

I think it’s a fantastic idea for you to share the contents of your MP’s email on this forum . It will help spark discussion and build a stronger collective response. Also, if you’re happy to, please do share it with Scope’s campaign team via email as they’re gathering examples of MP replies to strengthen the cause and supporting our collective efforts .

I’ve also kept it very respectfully transparent with my MP that I’m a proud Scope member and that I’m working together with DPOs like Scope, DPAC, Disability Rebellion, Inclusion London, and others. Strength in numbers, after all!

On that note – if anyone’s on X (Twitter), Disability Rebellion are organising an online protest on 1st May and are inviting disabled people, carers, and allies to join in. I’ve asked them whether people who aren’t on social media can still take part via email, and I’ll share their response once I hear back. I’ll also pop a post on the Green Paper thread with their banner, so everyone can see how to get involved if they want to. Last I heard, their group had over 900 members (I’m one of them-couldn’t resist jumping in!).

As you rightly said, the beauty of our community, and the wider disabled and non-disabled community, is that we are not alone in this – we have so many people, DPOs, and wider organisations fighting alongside us, as well as disabled people like you and others who are generously sharing their political knowledge and giving so many of us HOPE. Even though you and your partner thankfully won’t be likely affected by these proposed changes in the future , you’re standing shoulder to shoulder with us, fighting our corner. Honestly, that’s nothing short of noble. If I had a hat on, I’d be tipping it to you right now!

Your support, and the support of others, means the world -especially when, for many of our disabled communities and families , this is truly a life and death situation. And we mustn’t forget, there’s also so much work happening behind the scenes too from Scope and other DPO’s, doing everything they can to amplify our voices.

Thank you once again, from the bottom of my heart.❤️ 🤗🙏🏽

In solidarity, always ✊

new petition from the DPAC website. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/723991

I've just had a reply back from my Conservative MP. I am going to challenge him on the points he's made below 👇(more diplomatically than I've done here! 😁)

I would also like to ask for your thoughts on this reply. Your opinions may show me a few things that I've not thought of which means I can give him the best possible reply, with your help. 😊

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Government’s recent announcements on welfare reform. I greatly appreciate the time you have taken in composing your email – normally I recieve campaign emails which follow the standard template. Yours was certainly not that and so again thank you.

These announcements have been published in what is known as a ‘green paper’. This is a discussion document that covers major themes but lacks much of the detail that will become legislation. We do not yet know when the government will publish its final proposals.

It is true to say that the benefits bill has grown very significantly since the pandemic and the system needs reform. I support reforms that help those people who can work into work, whilst acknowledging that sometimes this will require targeted support. I also want the benefits system to ensure that those who genuinely cannot work are provided with the support that they need.

I firmly believe that much more is needed to be done to reform our welfare system and get people back into work, however, this has to happen in a thought out, consulted and open way. Not simply targeting the most vulnerable groups to make up for economic mistakes elsewhere.

I also expect a full legal challenge to the proposals if and when they come into force – along many of the legal arguments you made.

At the moment my colleagues and I are awaiting the draft proposals whilst also raising concerns as to the effectiveness of what is being proposed. It is also fair to say that the Government is experiencing some challenges from within its own ranks as well which might well lead to changes in what has been announced.

I can assure you that I will take on board your comments when scrutinising the details of the Government’s proposals.

I was glad that he was pleased with the detailed email which I had carefully researched and made personal with our story (my partner is disabled too). It meant that we actually got a reply and a decent reply at that! 😳

However, although reasonably upbeat I thought that it was rather condensending and seemed deliberately vague about the content of the Green Paper and when it was likely to become law. (Let's hope it never does).

I do wonder where he's getting his figures for the " very significant" growth in the benefits bill. I'm sure that he knows that the word "reform" actually means "cuts." Also that "targeted support" means "sanctions."

Weasel words too when he says that he wants the benefits system to "ensure that those who genuinely cannot work are provided with the support that they need"

Yeah right. 😒 The Tory government really showed us all the right way to do that. NOT! 😡

There is also more to life than just the obsession with "getting people back into work" How about giving a proper level of financial support to truly help disabled people thrive, whether they can work or not. We aren't just economically productive units, we are people with lives.

He also says that "reforms" should happen in a thought out, consulted and open way. 🤔 Like that ever happened when they were in government, considering their own green paper proposals were ruled unlawful by the high court because they also made big claims of "getting disabled people back to work" when it was proved they were only interested in cuts.

I don't know about you but I don't like to be referred to as "vulnerable" as if I'm a victim. We certainly know we're not that! 💪I also think that the (so called) Labour government aren't the only ones who make "economic mistakes!"

The last three paragraphs seem pretty good but I wonder how genuine it is and it isn't lacking in hypocrisy stakes.

However, we do know that in government there are "challenges from within it's own ranks as well which might well lead to changes in what has been announced." That is the best part of the letter as far as I'm concerned. 🤗

Hi @Manonfire747,

Just wanted to say a warm welcome to Scope. I’m really sorry to hear about everything you’re dealing with. It’s a lot to carry and you’ve every right to feel how you do.

I'm disabled too, with different health issues, and I'm also deeply worried about these benefit cuts, like you and everyone here.You’re definitely not alone here. This thread on where you’ve posted is about how we can Get in touch with our  MPs and ask them to stand against the cuts when the green paper proposal gets to parliamentary voting in June. There are also other discussions going on-about the Spring Statement and the current Pathways to work-Green Paper -if you ever want to join in. You might find it useful to read the discussions between members on these threads.

If you’d rather start your own thread, you can just click the + sign(on Scope’s homepage). It really helped me when I first joined to post my own personal queries .The house rules and “Using the Community” guide were very helpful when I was new. If you have a bit of time, the “Category” link is handy too(to know where to post your specific query)-it also shows all the different sections where lots of questions and discussions are already happening. I have found the search tool (in the right hand corner)handy as well when looking for something specific. 

I hear you, and I can feel your pain and concerns with all the uncertainty around benefits. But there’s still so much HOPE that our collective voices and actions could make a real difference — either by stopping this Green Paper from becoming law or by getting it watered down. Please don’t lose hope -every voice, including yours truly matters.

I read in your post that you’re waiting for some email on 2 May. It might help to start your own thread, separate from this one. You could then explain it in detail and add further context-even share a screenshot (making sure to cover any personal details like your name, email, or phone number) — and other members who are in a similar position might be able to share their experiences.

You’ve made a great start by posting. We’re all here for you. Your voice matters.Stay strong my friend!

Take care,

Hi jul1 thanks for your kind words of encouragement and positive reply . At the last election I voted for the Labour party thinking that they would be the party who would help the disabled and poor . How wrong I was ! The seem to be even worse than the Tory's , treating the disabled like a problem that they would like to disappear . What an awful situation , we have no party who understands our daily problems and issues. There are some local elections in my area soon and I have read the campaign letters from each party and the disabled are not mentioned anywhere. It's time for the disabled to start their own party , okay we may not get any seats but at least we would be noticed. What do you all think ?