About the PM's (Sunak's) speech: Stop demonising us

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Comments

  • ThundyUK
    ThundyUK Online Community Member Posts: 24 Connected
    Thanks for sharing @rubin16, sounds like your MP is quite understanding :)
    Sounds like it, but there's a clear message in there too by what is not said, and that's a commitment to step back from the current government commitment to carpet bombing PIP et al.
  • Amaya_Ringo
    Amaya_Ringo Online Community Member Posts: 299 Pioneering
    I would still rather take a chance on a government that wants to engage with disability organisations over one who wants to spread disability misinformation in the media and who clearly has no interest in what disabled people experience.


  • judie
    judie Online Community Member Posts: 309 Empowering
    I filled in form here in response yet had to give all my personal details may name where I lived which is really daunting I thought it would be anyomous but by time I filled it in and pressed submit it was too late. Last thing I wanted was to express my views and them know who exactly I am. It's not like they don't punish you enough without knowing exactly who you are. So yet another thing to feel sick and anxious about just when I thought it couldn't  feel worse. 
    I'm sure I read that all answers are anonymised  so try not to worry
  • luvpink
    luvpink Online Community Member Posts: 1,943 Championing
    judie said:
    I filled in form here in response yet had to give all my personal details may name where I lived which is really daunting I thought it would be anyomous but by time I filled it in and pressed submit it was too late. Last thing I wanted was to express my views and them know who exactly I am. It's not like they don't punish you enough without knowing exactly who you are. So yet another thing to feel sick and anxious about just when I thought it couldn't  feel worse. 
    I'm sure I read that all answers are anonymised  so try not to worry
    Your answers are anonymous but you had to submit your name and address to your MP to prove that you are a constituent.

  • ThundyUK
    ThundyUK Online Community Member Posts: 24 Connected
    Thank you both for responding that has given me some peace of mind in a whirlpool of constant anxiety. I had no idea when become disabled with MH how difficult it would be and its been quite the journey. I thought reaching out for financial help and mh services would improve my well being not put me in a constant state of anxiety. It's got so bad I think about it nearly all time now. The bombarded assessments the attitude of DWP and its assessors and general public I feel like I've got a target on my back. I feel like some big time criminal and a burden. I dont know if that's my mental health or realty  but listening to latest news from PM I'm starting to feel it's is reality and I haven't been imaging the hostility over these last few years. Worst is lossing my independence not just with disabilities but dealing with threats all time in the system and realising they are against us and stuff. I thought I was reaching out for help but all they have done is made all my symptoms milluonbtimes worse. So that's why I'm like so paranoid now with drawing attention to myself. I filled in the consultantion as best I could but judging by the types of questions and they way they are put I get feeling they have already made up their minds unless a backlash so just been raising awareness by signing petition and passing it on to others to put on Facebook to sign hoping the signatures will go up more .

    I suspect you're right, and that all decisions have been made already. It'll be a case of making the data fit the changes - ie, everyone is going to lose almost all of everything.
  • ThundyUK
    ThundyUK Online Community Member Posts: 24 Connected
    ThundyUK said:
    Thank you both for responding that has given me some peace of mind in a whirlpool of constant anxiety. I had no idea when become disabled with MH how difficult it would be and its been quite the journey. I thought reaching out for financial help and mh services would improve my well being not put me in a constant state of anxiety. It's got so bad I think about it nearly all time now. The bombarded assessments the attitude of DWP and its assessors and general public I feel like I've got a target on my back. I feel like some big time criminal and a burden. I dont know if that's my mental health or realty  but listening to latest news from PM I'm starting to feel it's is reality and I haven't been imaging the hostility over these last few years. Worst is lossing my independence not just with disabilities but dealing with threats all time in the system and realising they are against us and stuff. I thought I was reaching out for help but all they have done is made all my symptoms milluonbtimes worse. So that's why I'm like so paranoid now with drawing attention to myself. I filled in the consultantion as best I could but judging by the types of questions and they way they are put I get feeling they have already made up their minds unless a backlash so just been raising awareness by signing petition and passing it on to others to put on Facebook to sign hoping the signatures will go up more .

    I suspect you're right, and that all decisions have been made already. It'll be a case of making the data fit the changes - ie, everyone is going to lose almost all of everything.
    I really hope it isn't case but the wording sounded to me like they have decided and just figuring out the finer details of what to put in its place I.e vouchers catalogs treatment etc etc . I explained that cash is empowering which is what those with disabilities  need the most to determine their own healthcare options and vouchers are diempowering and also there is no such thing as one off costs. You don't pay for services help one off .It's ongoing and also they were opening themselves up for legal liabilities putting themselves in place of medical experts when they clearly are not. The main issue I have was they were talking about only having a pip assessment and abolishing LWCRA on UC but if you fail pip you could also lose the healthcare element of UC which is why I think the push to get others on legacy benefits to go on UC. I'm really hoping this isn't a slippery slop in stopping any financial help in future like they say it will not affect  those already on it but what about re assessments. I know at moment it's all just consultations and we don't know outcome but isn't that the issue long drawn out consultations and not ever knowing outcomes its like mental torture . I said on it this may be an intellectual excerise for you and cost cutting but for us this is our livelihoods you are constantly messing with, and I thought its bad doing re assessments and not knowing but this this one takes the biscuit. 
    I agree entirely. The thing that is telling to me is that whilst the incumbent Conversation government is heading this up, the highly likely successive Labour government isn't taking any opportunity to take the government to task over it. So, my reading on that is, no matter what happens cuts are going to go ahead. Massive cuts.
  • ThundyUK
    ThundyUK Online Community Member Posts: 24 Connected
    Conversation  = Conservative (silly auto correct)
  • Andi66
    Andi66 Online Community Member Posts: 905 Championing
    I also put vouchers are demeaning 
    I don't understand the government attacking the disabled.  They wasted money on hs2, the pep contracts during covid. Giving Ukraine 500 million,  expenses on hotels.
    But no, pick on those who are suffering for no fault of there own.

  • Jimm_Alumni
    Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,717 Championing
    The WCA was agreed to be abolished a few years ago. Meant to happen around 2027 I believe?

    My personal thoughts are this is likely just early election campaigning, much like the Rwanda plan and others. It's demeaning people who are in need just to "look tough" and to try and make a scapegoat out of people who don't have as much of a voice. 

    I hope we can prove that wrong anyhow! 
  • ice24
    ice24 Scope Member Posts: 9 Contributor
    To be honest I don't believe petitions are going to help us. Pensioners and disabled people are some of the most vulnerable in society.  I have been on Nicky Campbell's show on radio and TV and said that we are being dehumanised.  We are not treated as humans but always the first to lose out. Politicians have no intention of helping us and many disabled people are going to be forced into unsuitable jobs which,  won't last and then be unable to go back on disability benefits of any kind. 
  • ThundyUK
    ThundyUK Online Community Member Posts: 24 Connected
    ice24 said:
    To be honest I don't believe petitions are going to help us. Pensioners and disabled people are some of the most vulnerable in society.  I have been on Nicky Campbell's show on radio and TV and said that we are being dehumanised.  We are not treated as humans but always the first to lose out. Politicians have no intention of helping us and many disabled people are going to be forced into unsuitable jobs which,  won't last and then be unable to go back on disability benefits of any kind. 
    Honestly, I think it will be worse than just being forced into trying to do a job that's not suitable, I'm expecting a societal purge akin to pre WW2 levels or persecution. 
  • ice24
    ice24 Scope Member Posts: 9 Contributor
    That might be a little strong. However,  we are continually ignored about out opinions. Has anyone else noticed that even at election time disabled are not mentioned to receive help? It's the same during the budget. We are invisible but also voters.
  • ThundyUK
    ThundyUK Online Community Member Posts: 24 Connected
    ice24 said:
    That might be a little strong. However,  we are continually ignored about out opinions. Has anyone else noticed that even at election time disabled are not mentioned to receive help? It's the same during the budget. We are invisible but also voters.
    Perhaps I am being somewhat hyperbolic, and whilst I doubt we'll be getting involuntary showers there is going to be a huge uptick in those who would otherwise live unfortunately dying. And that's what will be called a "budget cut" by some.
  • ice24
    ice24 Scope Member Posts: 9 Contributor
    We are invisible unless they decide to punish us for being disabled.  Since Covid things have become worse and those disabled people who don't have long covid ate in the way. Are we supposed to make way for new disabled people?
  • luvpink
    luvpink Online Community Member Posts: 1,943 Championing
    It does appear to be going ahead regardless of the so called 'consultation' of the green paper proposals.
    They have already paid millions to outside contractors to 'assess claimants' instead of our gp's.
    Very worrying times indeed and as far as I am aware Labour have not opposed it.
  • mrsBB
    mrsBB Online Community Member Posts: 120 Empowering
    Hi all

    I have received a reply from my MP, ( have to say she is a nice person who has helped me in the past ) I have forwarded the letter to SCOPE to edit any bits that need editing and have said they can post it if they would like to.

     It’s way too long to type out for me. Reading the reply it doesn’t seem to address the issues I raised eg vouchers etc. I can only hope that Labour are playing their cards close to their chests but we will see in the not too distant future. I do intend to keep up correspondence with her as things progress. Anyway thought I would just update re the reply. Take care everyone x
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,464 Championing
    Wow, this thread has been busy since I last logged in! Thank you all for your thoughtful comments. 

    I'll pass your feedback upwards @Meg24 @esther71 :)
    Andi66 said:
    I have just ploughed though that green paper. Good grief. 
    I have to fill it out, do I email it. What evidence do you put .
    You can complete the online form, or email consultation.modernisingsupport@DWP.GOV.UK if you'd like to respond by email. 

    My understanding is that you don't have to answer every question, so you can just focus on the ones that are most relevant to you. And that you can talk about your own personal experiences, and how you'd be affected.
  • mrsBB
    mrsBB Online Community Member Posts: 120 Empowering
    @Tori_Scope hi hope you are well. Any idea yet if a decision has been made to upload my MP response letter to the forum please ? Thank you ☺️ 
  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,464 Championing
    We forward MP replies to our public affairs team, who manage Scope's relationships with MPs @mrsBB. They won't post it on the forum, but they may follow up with your MP if they'd like to talk to them about anything they've mentioned further. Does that answer your question? :) Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
  • mrsBB
    mrsBB Online Community Member Posts: 120 Empowering
    Hi Tori, thank you for the reply. When I posted that I had received a reply on the forum I know some members were keen to read it. I was a little worried though about making it public so that’s why I did ask first re posting it. Yes I am happy it’s been sent to the relevant department. Thanks Tori ☺️