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

Thanks, Poppy. Another purely practical obstacle re both disabled and able-bodied returning to work is the jobs have to exist. So much is hot air that doesn't translate to real life. OK, say there are 50 vacancies in Skegness and 50 people looking for work in Southend. Even if the Southenders were willing to move, which they might well not be because they couldn't find anywhere to live in Skegness, they have elderly parents to care for in Southend, their children are about to take exams and so on, the people in Southend have to be able to do the jobs in Skegness or have to train first,

What worries me is that nobody is talking about the cuts that already happened, not even the Greens. The bedroom tax, the cuts to council tax benefit, and worst of all the removal of disability premiums from ESA to UC. These leave us thousands of pounds worse off yet no-one is saying a word about them. I just can't manage to lose any more money, I have lost so much already including also the warm home discount I no longer get either after getting it for years. I don't know how I'll manage when all my TP has eroded, it's just impossible.

I wouldn't expect there to have been any mention of disability premiums because in the UC regulations they don't exist. Yes, I too receive SDP with my ESA. I also receive carers allowance so will eventually be even worse off.

No, no one expects that at all. You're panicking and not helping yourself because you're constantly keep reading various things on the internet. My advice to you would be to please stop reading things. When you are invited to apply there will be help and support out there for you.

Hopefully if Labour does simpfly UC they change not getting extra like you do on ESA.

I honestly don't think things will actually change re: getting people into work, because they're not looking enough at the system that is keeping disabled people out. It isn't just about giving extra time in an interview or even talking about adjustments after appointment, but changing the recruitment process to be more inclusive from the get-go.

Even stupid small things like closing an application early or insisting on an interview to judge candidates on points rather than looking at experience and qualifications or offering trial periods can be barriers. Most employers, even those who mean well, don't really understand what accessible means even in the workplace. And then, if you ask for help with something, somehow it ends up being made to feel like you are causing a nuisance, rather than just wanting to be able to do your job.

I am not sure what government will be able to do about this without massive funding, which the country does not have. And I don't expect much from LAs, since my LA is a part of the problem in my case, as their messing with local bus transport has cost me multiple opportunities even to apply :/

That's not correct either. When you migrate to UC if you're in the Support Group for ESA then your UC will include the LCWRA element from the start of your claim. So it would include standard allowance, LCWRA element, housing element (if you claim for help with the rent) and also Transitional Protection (if entitled) so you won't be worse off when you migrate across.

I already advised in a previous comment what your UC will include once you migrate across. UC is one benefit made up of many different elements. LCWRA element is part of UC and this year this amount is £416.19/month. Standard allowance for single person 25+ is £393.45, then housing element, if you claim for help with the rent. Transitional protection will then be included if your UC entitlement is less than what you were receiving on ESA.

I do agree with you entirely but when you have members giving misleading and incorrect information, it needs to be corrected. Catherine has asked questions about managed migration over several threads to which I have answered.