Rachael Reeves Early benefits statement
Iv'e just found out this morning that Reeves plans to give an early statement about benefits changes this Wednesday. I'm sure I'm not alone in how it's affecting my mental health with the stress of worrying what she wants to inflict on us. In one way I suppose it's good we'll know a bit more about her plans before easter, but it doesn't make things better as I'm now panicking sooner.
I don't sleep or eat well as it is, I know it will make me worse on Tuesday night before she announces her horrible plans. The way she spoke to the sun on Sunday was a disgrace, and very scary, implying that the current financial mess was due to folk not being in work, and on sickness benefits, nothing to do with the tories messing up the economy then? She wants tax payers to think we are the problem they are paying higher taxes now, all so she can try get away with cuts to benefits and god knows what else. I'm sorry to sound so negative but it really worries me as the language they are using around benefits, sick/disabled is always hostile, nasty, and not based on any real truths at all.
I hope I'm wrong and that she announces some new positive changes that genuinely help those on long term sickness benefits get the help they need, but it sounds like just another cost cutting exercise at the expense of sick, disabled, and mentally ill claimants. Lets all try and stay positive, we have people on our side like Scope, Mind, Elllen Clifford, and others to oppose any harmful or illegal changes, and wouild be taken to court again and probably lose (again).
Comments
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Hi @charlie72,
I'm so sorry to hear how much this situation is affecting you. It's completely understandable to feel stressed given the uncertainty around such announcements, especially when the language being used is so damaging.
While we can’t control what’s announced on Wednesday, there will be organisations and other individuals actively watching these developments who will challenge challenge any harmful or unlawful changes.
In the meantime, it might help to focus on self-care as best you can before Wednesday. Even small things, like keeping a comforting routine, reaching out to supportive friends, or limiting how much news you consume, could ease some of the immediate stress. Mind’s Infoline (0300 123 3393) or Samaritans (116 123) are there if you need someone to talk to.
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I can sympathise with you as I’m mentally ill, always have been, always will be. I have a horrible feeling she’s going to remove the health element from people like me and I’ll be left in the poverty which I grew up in, not enough to eat, no heating or hot water causing mould and unable to function for being depressed. I still won’t be able to work.
She either doesn’t know or doesn’t care what effect she’s having on those too sick to work, all she cares about is growth and she sounds like Liz truss.
I’ve been trying to stay positive but my mental health is well and truly in the gutter now after this announcement.1 -
I have started taking magnesium supplements for my anxiety about other topics and I've never been so chilled out.
I started them to help with issues absorbing the vitamin D The doctor prescribed. Then Felt relaxed (I NEVER relax) so looked up the magnesium as that's the only change
I'm not giving medical advice I'm just stating what has helped me calm down about my personal panics.
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I've seen someone on here post that it's probably a good thing that Rachael Reeves is making that statement tomorrow. At least we'll know what their plans are and it'll end the wild speculation and theories on here. It can't be doing vulnerable people any good to see those threads.
Keep in mind that tomorrow is only a statement. I know she said that she wants to fast track the reforms, but it's not in a way that she'd like. Reeves and the DWP will still have to go through the proper channels, which can take a long time.
Try to find something to take your mind off it,like your favourite hobby,or something.
Look after yourself.
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absolutely well said, this is what I've been trying to help people do for months, it's vital to keep occupied.
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Hi Nightcity, I found that interesting re magnesium how its helping you. I'm still trying to recover from double pneumonia since Xmas. Was found to have low magnesium and low potassium, my hearts been all over the place (up to 140 bpm on worse days). On prescribed magnesium supplements now, still too low, regular blood tests but main point being, GP prescribed me Indapamide (diuretics) to help BP early Dec which have completely mucked up my electrolytes. I asked 4 different doctors if it could be too much for my heart/kidneys..... "no, you need it" 🤨😬Pharmacist yesterday stopped the Indapamide immediately and put me back on beta blockers for BP. Cannot believe the difference, heart at 60-70 now. Now just got to deal with the low oxygen 🙄🤣 .
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Hi Morgan , surely if scope and other charities have been meeting with government ministers regarding the welfare changes they should have some idea of what’s in store for us . On the forum when scope have mentioned these meetings they’ve seemed positive but anyone listening to Kendall , Reeves and Starmer can tell they have no empathy for the sick and disabled.
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I had dangerously low vitamin D and Folic Acid last April, I'm still on the course, however the symptoms are back (Parkinson's type tremors, spasms, cramps, confusion) this seems overtime because my magnesium dropped and without magnesium the vitamin D is useless so hit the floor again.
the Added benefit of it being calming is lovely though, vitamins are little beasts that can cause serious problems.
my potassium is also at risk during my latest prednisolone course so I eat 2 bananas every morning, hope you're not having cramps etc.
It's baffling why you were given something that'll make you lose even more potassium and faster.
hope things improve soon for you.
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@Nightcity I'm pretty hacked off with it all tbh. Tbf, the GP prescribed Indapamide 12th Dec and said you shouldn't have been on Bisoprolol (beta blocker) for 2yrs if you've not got heart failure so she stopped the Bisoprolol immediately. Said I should have had a meds review way before now (she'd done one herself last June 🙄🤨 i didn't say anything as she gets in a right strop with me). Then got unwell heart all over the place hospital at Xmas diagnosed with double pneumonia they found potassium and magnesium low gave supplements for magnesium but disagreed with me that it was the Indapamide causing it 🙄🙄🙄🙄. The pharmacist at GP surgery told me this week it absolutely is the Indapamide, stopped that and put me back on Bisoprolol, said you can have that even if no heart failure. Still on mag supplements and back for blood test tomorrow but BP a joke 120/112 so it's working as hard when it's resting as it is when pumping, near enough. It's dropping to 85/58 so dizzy which I think is cos of the half life of Indapamide still in system whilst now back on Bisoprolol as well as my usual high dose of losartan. Sorry very tedious long winded explanation there. And I've seen/spoke to 4 gps and and advanced nurse practitioner in last 7 weeks who all knew magnesium and potassium low FGS. I am just touching wood that my heart arrhythmias stabilise very soon. Was on prednisalone last week too so that wouldn't have helped potassium etc. And i have constant daily bowel issues which will lose electrolytes. And oxygen low. It's very frightening tbh. Witless some people (not me!!). The irony, my dad died from a potassium overdose in 2000 GP and pharmacy mucked up but so too can too low be dangerous. Got another chest xray 8th Feb, one GP said that's too long to wait, another said no its fine, in the meantime I'm struggling to breathe if I move. I don't even think it's pneumonia but what do I know. Sorry for rant.
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@Nightcity oh just did LONG reply/explanation then lost it 😪😪😪. Yes, 4 drs and an anp all ignored my point...could it be Indapamide causing the low electrolytes. (Abd was on Prednisalone last week). No they said. Pharmacist is the one on Monday who said it definitely is. Caused me a lot of harm for 7 wks now. Hopefully keeping fingers crossed, well I would if i could cross them 😉 🤣 that my heart will stabilise very soon and especially BP.
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I'm on bispropolol and amlidopine for Blood pressure there's absolutely nothing wrong with my heart and I have a great GP.
I would advise seeing another GP if you can. I saw 6 on this subject too as my proper GP was off.
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@Nightcity thanks yes two of them have been ok in the last week one had liaised with the pharmacist on Monday and got to the right outcome at long last. I was on Ramipril in 2014 but permanent continous cough. Then amlodipine, tgat I gad a reaction to pulse 140 was admitted as emergency. Then losartan potassium 50mg then 100mg, then added bisoprolol was mostly OK with it till it started spiking high (courtesy of DWP and my NHS boss) so it's only really been the last 2 months with the meds changes but I will be keeping my very own beady eyes on ANY proposed changes going forward. I don't trust any of them to do the right thing.
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Well that last bit was horrific
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@Nightcity
Uh lost my post again. Aaargh. Yes a couple were OK last week one liaised with pharmacist on Monday to get to right outcome, well hopefully it is. I don't trust any of them to do the right thing I'll be keeping my beady eyes on ANY suggested changes in future. And it's not like I don't understand meds (was nurse for 10 yrs). Bit of a different kettle of fish though when you're too unwell to think straight, very vulnerable position.
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Keeping your health on track is More important than changes that are years away and probably will fall or change anyway.
take care
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What's she done now?
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It wasn't her it was the concenvatives basically digging their heels in about the benefits cuts.saying that Rachel Reeves said she wouldn't do this and wouldn't do that but she has but can she commit and say she WOULD commit basically ( in so many words) to savings from welfare which was a conservative idea in the first place.So obviously THEY are all for it and are going to agree to the bill
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@Nightcity thank you, yes you're correct I must just focus on my health and not what happens in 2 years. You taje care too i need to sleep but am trying to wait for Reeves 🤔
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it's not that simple, because of laws and protections, I really wouldn't worry, it's not unexpected that they all spit the same poison.
As the old saying goes "I want doesn't get"
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Well she's up next
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