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007paul007

Incapacity benefit proposed reforms

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I have just been watching the news where the minister for the state was talking about the proposed reforms for incapacity benefit, while I know that there are people unfornately in this world that do play the system, I think these reforms are a bit of a joke.

Yes I would love to see my son go out to work and that is what I have done all my life but despite my greatest wishes I don't think there is a job out there for my son.

He is at the severe end of the Autism spectrum, with no speech, no sense of danger of pain, very vunerable, does not like interacting very much, cannot do many of the tasks people take for granted. In fact I think they woudl get great responces from the questions they might have for him, that if he takes any notice and does not freak out, add to that the epilepsy and the Irratable Bowel syndrome, I think he has enough to keep him occupied. It would not be so bad if the money they are trying to save was being spent to improve respite care. Also I loved what the minister said how work gets these people involved socially, a majority of people with autism cannot socialise but the thing is when you walk down the street with a child who has a disability of some kind and I am talking from experiences with my son , how people have stared or said something, because they do not understand, perhaps people should be educated by the government in some way or another.

Also I disagree with the help that the one parent families are given , i mean what is out there for one parent families who are carers but would love to return to work ?

I just think this is stupid and should be made more clearer, any way rant over i think its time to call my MP.

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Quick response Paul but I really want to see what NAS are going to say and do about this?

 

Carole

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You know my thoughts on this one paul,im the same as you, i would love kieran to be able to go out to work and earn is own living and get out there in the big wide world but i cannot see this happening in the near future, and yes i do go out to work only because my sons are still at home and can leave kieran with one of them,the task usually falls on my youngest as he s in 6th form and only does certain hours certain days otherwise it would be impossible for me to do so as my dh works

 

lynn

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Well I am going to see my MP at her surgery a week on saturday, you know when she stood during the last General Election I kept asking her what the government were doing for carers and she kept saying read the manifesto, I just replied if it was important to you as education or health you would of read up on it, the press were there and everything, I had her tied in knots, so I think she knows what she is in store for !

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It would not be so bad if the money they are trying to save was being spent to improve respite care.

 

Not just respite either. Think of what could be achieved in education with some of this money as well - services across the board come to that. Alas I doubt that is where the 'savings' will end up. As Carole said it will be interesing to hear what the NAS has to say regarding this. A focus of one disscussion I was half listenting to whilst writting (or trying to) an essay this afternoon was the fact, according to the interviewer (on Sky News I think), that 'mental health related claims ahve increased out of proportion to others'. The spokesperson from 'MIND' didn't put up any form of counter argument regarding increased awareness, and dx of, mental health issues in recent years (and I'm not just thinking ASDs here).

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I agree with you 100% Phasmid, also when the minister was reading out his proposed changes he said we have to see pass the disability and look at the skill, surely people should be looking passed the disability anyway and looking and talking to the person inside , not just looking pass the disability to get them off the benefit !

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Well I am off to see my MP tommorrow regarding the proposed changes to the Incapacity benefit, also this was recommended by NAS as well, so wish me luck !

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I have just gor back from seeing my MP and after explaining about my son, I asked her several questions which she took on board.

Questions like the vulnerable people that are told to go into work , will the work place be police checked, who decides who should not be on the benefit and should be ?

She did say that more money will be going into helping disabled people but could not confirm that it would be the savings made from these proposals.

Yes she amitted that there are probarbly gonna be some mistakes but this is only the first proposal, and also suggested that people without disabilities should be educated better as this would help if people with disabilities go to work, I explained how people stare or say something when I am walking down the road with my son, and basically how hard it could be for some people to be working in an environment with others that do not understand.

She has taken all points of view and concern down and is contacting the minister and then I should hear from them soon.

I also told her that NAS recommended that anyone with concerns over this matter should lobby their MP.

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hi paul

Sounds like she noted your concerns but do you think she really understands that it isnt going to be as black as white as it seems.Didnt the DDA have a bit in it about provision for Disable workers.I have a friend who as MS and she is a wheelchair user and cannot walk at all.How could she work in some where like say with stairs without a lift to get her there,and also a disabled Persons Toilet.I look around and see all the places that are still inaccessable to wheelchair users evenafter the DDA came into force.And some buildings by design are unable to be adapted in any shape or form.Back to the original topic there is no way that my son would be able to go out to work,he doesnt leave the house and gets anxious outside and doesnt communicate well,he would have to be accompanied and if that was the same in a lot of cases but surely if this had to be added to the provision of the support ,it will then become very costly all around .Also as someone previously said somewhere with the level of unemployment as it is and the lack of jobs,surely all they means is that thy will take people off Incapacity and transfer them to Jobseekers Allowance instead.Will be an interesting one to watch,but at least if it gets the fraudsters of Incapacity they have achieved something

 

Lynn

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Yes Lyn I understand but I will least give the Mp the benefit of the doubt, I do know the MP personally anyway, so hopefully this might help, trust me I will be back to see her if it doesn't. This is the first proposal and it will most probarbly be changed again and agian and then of course the bill has to be passed, I will post the details of the reply on here and let you know what i am going to do next .

Are you planning to see your MP at all ?

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Yes Lyn I understand but I will least give the Mp the benefit of the doubt, I do know the MP personally anyway, so hopefully this might help, trust me I will be back to see her if it doesn't. This is the first proposal and it will most probarbly be changed again and agian and then of course the bill has to be passed, I will post the details of the reply on here and let you know what i am going to do next .

Are you planning to see your MP at all ?

 

Yes i think i might just

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Just a quick update on this I recieved a letter today from my MP saying that she has written to the MP Rt Hon Jon Hutton with my concerns and will let me know of any replies or that i might get a reply myself from thsi MP, so the moment I hear any more I will let you know.

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