The state benefits system mega-thread.

[Kursk]

Citing a specific example to illustrate an opinion is of course not indicative of the overall state of the benefits system. We all know that for every genuine story of hardship there may be a corresponding number of questionable benefits claimants.

Your friend decided that his responsibility should pass to the state full time; the state supported him and his son for years not least no doubt to maintain the bond between father and son in a home of their own but apparently this wasn't enough.

The benefits system is under review to achieve a more efficient management of the available funds for the benefit of those who need it and to ensure the right resouces go to qualifying claimants.

I don't think anyone would term such a review as seeking cheap or simple solutions but it would be irresponsible not to manage every penny of taxpayers contributions effectively and of course within what the state can afford.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Taf

I know several disabled people who use their DLA to pay the extra costs involved with finding and staying in full employment.

Whilst their wages (AFAIK) have been frozen for years, their DLA has increased very slightly, but not enough to absorb all the extra costs involved with transport especially.

Taxation of DLA might make it financially impossible for them to stay in work.

Absolutely, I alluded to this earlier. Apart from the human costs associated with the disabled having to give up employment eg independence, loneliness, pride etc; it would cost the state much more in support if they had to give up work.

Don't forget that the Government has cut support for the Access To Work Scheme too. This provided sign language interpreters, for example, to enable the hearing impaired to go out to work.

Originally Posted by Osem

Carers don't only give up their time to those they care for full time, they often give up their chances of a decent job or any sort of career and therefore sacrifice their own security and ability to support themselves when they either lose their role for whatever reason.

A good friend of ours spent quite a few years looking after his profoundly disabled son 24/7 whilst living in a grotty HA flat on an appalling estate. Last year, having come to the end of his tether, he finally made the difficult decision to put his own life/sanity first, get a job and put his son into full time care. Whatever the state spent supporting him and his son over the years pales into insignificance compared to what it's now going to cost for the foreseeable future. There are no cheap or simple solutions to this problem.

Again, I absolutely agree. Anybody who thinks that being a carer is a form of "freeloading" is welcome to give up their job in return for £61.35 for 35+ hours a week. Caring often includes talking to mentally ill people to try and persuade them not to commit suicide (mentally exhausting), lifting hoists to get them into bed, pushing wheelchairs around (physically exhausting) as well as feeding, toileting etc.

Anybody who resents or is jealous of the limited support that disabled people and their carers receive is an idiot.

What disability do you have Kursk?.

[Kursk]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Anybody who resents or is jealous of the limited support that disabled people and their carers receive is an idiot.

A strangely defensive comment. Don't you think benefits should be managed responsibly by the Government? Incidentally, is a 'carer' a vocational career or could the term 'parent' be substituted?

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

What disability do you have Kursk?.

What's that got to do with the price of bread?

If you have no disability then why would you bother to really find out how the intricate alterations have a disproportionate affect and if you don't have a disability your unlikely to really understand what it is like to live with it and the stress of the changes, quite important aspects I'd have thought when discussing disability benefits.

[RichardCoulter]

Just to add that they are also considering scrapping Industrial Injuries Benefit.

In addition, people who have paid National Insurance Contributions may also lose their entitlement to Jobseekers Allowance and Employment Support Allowance.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Just to add that they are also considering scrapping Industrial Injuries Benefit.

In addition, people who have paid National Insurance Contributions may also lose their entitlement to Jobseekers Allowance and Employment Support Allowance.

But there are two types of JSA. Contribution and Income based. If you have enough contribution you get put on that first for 6 months, then moved to the income based one. Its only income based that also entitles you to free dental care as well.

I find that daft. You are out of work but they think as you had a job recently you may have savings or other money so can still pay dental fees.

[Kursk]

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

If you have no disability then why would you bother to really find out how the intricate alterations have a disproportionate affect

So that I can make informed comment in the debate....

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

if you don't have a disability your unlikely to really understand what it is like to live with it and the stress of the changes, quite important aspects I'd have thought when discussing disability benefits.

I disagree. Disability is only one of life's stressful aspects; we all have experience of difficulties and those presented by disability are extensively documented. Why should anything preclude anyone from discussion?

If your not living in the system Kursk you really don't understand how bad things have got and the constant worry of forthcoming changes let alone how these 12 billion in further cuts could affect.

[Kabaal]

Originally Posted by Kursk

The benefits system is under review to achieve a more efficient management of the available funds for the benefit of those who need it and to ensure the right resouces go to qualifying claimants.

Except that is not what's happening. Blanket cuts are being made and most of them to the people who do need it the most.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

If your not living in the system Kursk you really don't understand how bad things have got

Because he or I, are not "living in the system" does not prevent him from having an opinion on how his taxes are spent by the government on welfare, or make his opinions any less valid than somebody " living in the system"

By that yard stick you would preclude anyone from having an opinion on anything that they haven't got direct experience of, which is nonsense.

[denphone]

There is nothing wrong with people having a opinion as long as its a educated opinion and not one prejudiced by what certain politicians and certain sections of the media espouse to people.

l am supportive of welfare reform but there comes a time when enough is enough and that time is near as if we continue to go down this road for the next five years then those because of no fault of their own because of the disabilities and illnesses who need it the most are sadly going to be left with no help at all and no one can tell me that's right.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by denphone

l am supportive of welfare reform but there comes a time when enough is enough and that time is near as if we continue to go down this road for the next five years then those because of no fault of their own because of the disabilities and illnesses who need it the most are sadly going to be left with no help at all

Is that an educated opinion? Or is that an opinion prejudiced by certain politicians and sections of the media?

[denphone]

l look at the facts and info and the many experiences l have before me before l come out with a opinion unlike some who views and opinions are based only by what they read from certain prejudiced sections of the media or by listening to certain politicians.

[Pierre]

What facts have been put forward that suggest those with disabilities and illnesses will have no benefits whatsoever within five years?