Our wonderful UK government, a chimera of a beast, born of an alliance between the Nazty Party of Great Britain (aka 'the Conservatives'), and what appears to be a pretty spineless version of the Liberal Democrats, in these times of financial crisis, have declared that 'We're all in it together', and that changes & cut-backs they make are 'Fair'. Well they're not. The ConDems are a bunch of lying, deceitful little shysters, with a particular penchant for kicking disabled people. And in this they are proudly assisted by the Daily Mail, the Express & the Sun (aka The Hate Mail, The Vexpress & The Scum), regularly featuring made-up stories (aka 'lies) about disabled people. The Daily Fascist/Hate Mail in particular, has published a number of stories, designed to paint a picture of disabled people as benefit scroungers, and as benefit frauds. There have even been claims of fraud running at a level of 75%, whereas the true figure from the Dept. of Work & Pensions is one of less than 0.5%, with a high in 2009 of 1.3%.

This bunch of bastards (aka 'government), who promised to protect the vulnerable, have already cut the Independent Living Fund - it no longer exists. This was a benefit paid to the most disabled people in our society, to enable them to live as near a normal life as possible. It's gone. Next for the ConDem axe is the Disability Living Allowance. Ministers are appalled that the numbers claiming it are rising. Well, no shit, Sherlock, we're getting new disabled people every fucking day! Given that it has no relation to work (it's not an unemployment benefit), people who retire still get it, and children get it, and given that most disabling conditions are for life, once they start getting, most keep getting it. God hasn't started curing amputees yet, and Afghanistan is ensuring a steady supply of new ones. And this benefit is tested, strictly, and regularly retested unless you get a lifetime award (see amputees for example).

Well, now the government want to cut DLA & introduce something called Personal Independence Payments. These are set to exclude 20% of those receiving DLA. Not because those people don't need those payments, but seemingly because 'we're all in it together'. Part of DLA includes Mobility Allowance, paid only to those who really struggle to get about. Criteria are strict, and if you can walk, with sticks or Zimmer frame, more than 50 metres, you don't qualify. Well, the ConDems want to cut this allowance for anyone in residential care. Which will mean these people will no longer have the money to take them home to visit family, or to go shopping, or simply to get out & about. But it's fair & we're all in this together. Bastards! And to add to this, the ConDems are making changes to the Tax Credit system that will cost families of disavbled children some £1400 a year. But that's fair, 'cos that nice Mr Cameron says so, and that nice Mr Clegg hasn't demurred.

And we're to get cuts to disabled people's housing benefits. Young people are expected to live in 'multi-occupancy accomodation', and will be penalised for having a spare bedroom. Leave aside the facts that many will have a need to store equipment (ventilators, wheelchairs and the like, or be unable to share a bed with a partner, so needing that spare room, if you're disabled, you can't get payments if your house is too big. The National Housing Federation reckon some 108,000 disabled people could be forced out of their homes. But that's fair, and they're all in it together. Er ...

To the shame of the Labour Party, the last government brought in a new Employment and Support Allowance to replace Incapacity Benefit. It introduced a Work Capability Assessment, and the contract went to a private company called ATOS. I know some people who've had the misfortune of attending an ATOS assessment. No disabled parking & the centre wasn't wheelchair-accessible (which is illegal for public service buildings). Of the ATOS rulings that reduce benefits, 1 in 8 are overturned on appeal. The rest get moved on to Job Seekers Allowance, yet in many cases the Job Centres acknowledge that they'll never find work for these people. The ConDems have failed to repeal or amend this awful system, and have instead made the tests harder to pass. There have been a number of suicides linked specifically to the Work Capability Assessment, it is that traumatic for people. I know of someone who had to attend one of these with her daughter. Her daughter has Down's Syndrome. The ATOS assessors asked why she couldn't work. Her mother indicated that she had a learning disability associated with her Down's Syndrome, and a heart defect (a common congenital condition in people with Down's). But, she could walk, so the assessors weren't convinced that she couldn't work. She won her appeal, but it was a traumatic time for all concerned. Still, it's fair, and they're all in it together.

And the ConDems plan to make things even worse. Some people stand to lose all benefits, if they have resources of a certain level. Well, as a point of fact, if anyone in their household has such resources, such as a pension fund they could dip into. And the level of resources that could lead to benefit cuts, is below the level of the minimum wage. Which is no doubt fair. The government's own figures indicated some 700,000 people who are too disabled to work, will be affected by these changes, and 400,000 will have to rely entirely on savings, pensions, or the incomes of partners.

And now, the piece de resistance, the Welfare Reform Bill. The ConDems have sent this bill through Grand Committee, where a single vote can scupper an amendment - read more about this disgraceful move here http://wheresthebenefit.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-is-grand-committee-and-what-does.html

So, the purpose of this thread - Pat Onion's petition to stop & review the cuts to benefits http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20968, Anthony Dean's petition to make it a criminal offence to maliciously report someone for benefit fraud (DWP figures show that 96% of referalls the National Benefit Fraud Hotline are malicious or time-wasting) http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22678, and Calum Wiley's petition to save the Independent Living Fund http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/24368 - please, if you're not a heartless Tory bastard, follow the links & sign the petitions.

chairman bill wrote:Our wonderful UK government, a chimera of a beast, born of an alliance between the Nazty Party of Great Britain (aka 'the Conservatives'), and what appears to be a pretty spineless version of the Liberal Democrats, in these times of financial crisis, have declared that 'We're all in it together', and that changes & cut-backs they make are 'Fair'. Well they're not. The ConDems are a bunch of lying, deceitful little shysters, with a particular penchant for kicking disabled people. And in this they are proudly assisted by the Daily Mail, the Express & the Sun (aka The Hate Mail, The Vexpress & The Scum), regularly featuring made-up stories (aka 'lies) about disabled people. The Daily Fascist/Hate Mail in particular, has published a number of stories, designed to paint a picture of disabled people as benefit scroungers, and as benefit frauds. There have even been claims of fraud running at a level of 75%, whereas the true figure from the Dept. of Work & Pensions is one of less than 0.5%, with a high in 2009 of 1.3%.

This bunch of bastards (aka 'government), who promised to protect the vulnerable, have already cut the Independent Living Fund - it no longer exists. This was a benefit paid to the most disabled people in our society, to enable them to live as near a normal life as possible. It's gone. Next for the ConDem axe is the Disability Living Allowance. Ministers are appalled that the numbers claiming it are rising. Well, no shit, Sherlock, we're getting new disabled people every fucking day! Given that it has no relation to work (it's not an unemployment benefit), people who retire still get it, and children get it, and given that most disabling conditions are for life, once they start getting, most keep getting it. God hasn't started curing amputees yet, and Afghanistan is ensuring a steady supply of new ones. And this benefit is tested, strictly, and regularly retested unless you get a lifetime award (see amputees for example).

Well, now the government want to cut DLA & introduce something called Personal Independence Payments. These are set to exclude 20% of those receiving DLA. Not because those people don't need those payments, but seemingly because 'we're all in it together'. Part of DLA includes Mobility Allowance, paid only to those who really struggle to get about. Criteria are strict, and if you can walk, with sticks or Zimmer frame, more than 50 metres, you don't qualify. Well, the ConDems want to cut this allowance for anyone in residential care. Which will mean these people will no longer have the money to take them home to visit family, or to go shopping, or simply to get out & about. But it's fair & we're all in this together. Bastards! And to add to this, the ConDems are making changes to the Tax Credit system that will cost families of disavbled children some £1400 a year. But that's fair, 'cos that nice Mr Cameron says so, and that nice Mr Clegg hasn't demurred.

And we're to get cuts to disabled people's housing benefits. Young people are expected to live in 'multi-occupancy accomodation', and will be penalised for having a spare bedroom. Leave aside the facts that many will have a need to store equipment (ventilators, wheelchairs and the like, or be unable to share a bed with a partner, so needing that spare room, if you're disabled, you can't get payments if your house is too big. The National Housing Federation reckon some 108,000 disabled people could be forced out of their homes. But that's fair, and they're all in it together. Er ...

To the shame of the Labour Party, the last government brought in a new Employment and Support Allowance to replace Incapacity Benefit. It introduced a Work Capability Assessment, and the contract went to a private company called ATOS. I know some people who've had the misfortune of attending an ATOS assessment. No disabled parking & the centre wasn't wheelchair-accessible (which is illegal for public service buildings). Of the ATOS rulings that reduce benefits, 1 in 8 are overturned on appeal. The rest get moved on to Job Seekers Allowance, yet in many cases the Job Centres acknowledge that they'll never find work for these people. The ConDems have failed to repeal or amend this awful system, and have instead made the tests harder to pass. There have been a number of suicides linked specifically to the Work Capability Assessment, it is that traumatic for people. I know of someone who had to attend one of these with her daughter. Her daughter has Down's Syndrome. The ATOS assessors asked why she couldn't work. Her mother indicated that she had a learning disability associated with her Down's Syndrome, and a heart defect (a common congenital condition in people with Down's). But, she could walk, so the assessors weren't convinced that she couldn't work. She won her appeal, but it was a traumatic time for all concerned. Still, it's fair, and they're all in it together.

And the ConDems plan to make things even worse. Some people stand to lose all benefits, if they have resources of a certain level. Well, as a point of fact, if anyone in their household has such resources, such as a pension fund they could dip into. And the level of resources that could lead to benefit cuts, is below the level of the minimum wage. Which is no doubt fair. The government's own figures indicated some 700,000 people who are too disabled to work, will be affected by these changes, and 400,000 will have to rely entirely on savings, pensions, or the incomes of partners.

And now, the piece de resistance, the Welfare Reform Bill. The ConDems have sent this bill through Grand Committee, where a single vote can scupper an amendment - read more about this disgraceful move here http://wheresthebenefit.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-is-grand-committee-and-what-does.html

So, the purpose of this thread - Pat Onion's petition to stop & review the cuts to benefits http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/20968, Anthony Dean's petition to make it a criminal offence to maliciously report someone for benefit fraud (DWP figures show that 96% of referalls the National Benefit Fraud Hotline are malicious or time-wasting) http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22678, and Calum Wiley's petition to save the Independent Living Fund http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/24368 - please, if you're not a heartless Tory bastard, follow the links & sign the petitions.

I'll sign the petitions, no problem. Get them out.

Thanks Sparky

Signed. This is really going to hurt my family. For all Labour's failings, my family actually gained a reasonable standard of living in the last decade.

Signed

Nice one Bill

It makes you really worry what is going to happen to NHS.

and signed.

(I also note that while ATOS were initially awarded a contract under labour, it is the torydem cunts who re-engaged them when that contract expired in Dec 2010 IIRC, at a time when their atrocious performance had been long apparent. Well I say 'atrocious performance' in the sense of properly assessing claimants without an error rate not far off what a chimpanzee tossing a coin could achieve, evidently from the point of view of denying the most vulnerable people in society even the most basic support they are doing a sterling job)

A very comprehensive summary. The only thing I can think of to add regards the success rate of appeals. Many people have reported that they have won their appeal, only to have to endure the process again, sometimes several times. This smacks of malice.
Oh, and petitions signed, gladly, though I'd be gladder still if they weren't necessary.

Signed.

Don't suppose Cam Il Sung and his acolytes will take notice though. After all, the only people they're interested in are b(w)ankers and other people with Bentleys in the driveway.

i honestly dont know how the UK manages to progress, we vote in polar-opposite parties with each election and they spend their entire time ripping up what the previous party did and enact their own bullshit which in the next cycle is ripped up and replaced with the previous bullshit

can indians sign it too?.Will they know the difference?

cavarka9 wrote:can indians sign it too?.Will they know the difference?

UK government e-Petitions require the signer to complete name & address details, which might be a problem, but thanks for asking & the implicit support.

chairman bill wrote:

cavarka9 wrote:can indians sign it too?.Will they know the difference?

UK government e-Petitions require the signer to complete name & address details, which might be a problem, but thanks for asking & the implicit support.

thats ok, they are not going to check are they, else you guys have no privacy at all, the big brother is watching you.

Joe09 wrote:i honestly dont know how the UK manages to progress, we vote in polar-opposite parties with each election and they spend their entire time ripping up what the previous party did and enact their own bullshit which in the next cycle is ripped up and replaced with the previous bullshit

A not entirely accurate assessment I am afraid. Neither of the two main parties (better get used to a return to a two party system again) are as far apart as you might believe on many issues. There has been a distinct move towards the centre on both sides. Economically there is perhaps a gnats hair between them (perhaps because of the influence and importance of the city to our economy more than anything else). Socially? Labour favour legislation to enact and cause social change (ASBOS, numerous laws on this, that and the other thing) whereas the Conservatives prefer economic measures (Tax breaks for married couples). On law and order both take a "strong" line. On health both seem to have come to the conclusion that the NHS should have an internal market and a degree of privatisation they just seem to disagree where. Both parties support removal of central funding for tertiary education. In terms of pre 16 education there is perhaps the biggest difference between the parties with the Conservatives favouring more independence and local control and Labour traditionally being more in favour of national curriculum based strategies.

The biggest difference between the parties is who they think should provide public services like health. The Conservatives believe most should be provided by the private sector whereas Labour favour more public sector provision. (IMO the Labour model is better as Private sector companies will need to make a profit and be "efficient" which is not something I think institutions like the NHS and similar should be concerned with. I see a future of subsidies and increased bureaucracy under the Tories).

Yes there are differences between the parties but to call them "polar opposites" is a vast overstatement.

Sad, but fair, as assessments of the dire state of UK politics go. But there have been some clear differences, not least in government intent & underlying values. Leaving aside all the bad things about Blair, there were some amazingly successful aspects to his governments, which get completely ignored, either because people are simply ignorant of them (New <hawk, spit> Labour was never very good at trumpeting its successes, specially when they were a bit lefty), or they get forgotten in light of the bad things, such as Iraq. But I remember the classrooms that were falling down, large class sizes (as many as 40 kids in a class), the filthy, under-staffed hospital wards, the millions unemployed, the dire state of our transport infrastructure, and so on. This is what was bequeathed by the Major government. Along with huge debt, that Labour paid off, before borrowing to invest.

The point is, different values lead us to different places, even if the pragmatics of the thing seem a little bit similar at times, and particularly when one party is running scared of a right-wing press, and having to cover its tracks as it tries to implement socially progressive policies in face of a misinformed electorate.

Signed previously.

I can't access any support for my illness so I have to lie and claim JSA. I honestly can't read any more DLA horror stories from friends and other sufferers it all becomes too depressing. My depression has increased as a result of seeing constant newspaper articles from the right wing press and generally being viewed as a waste of space or looked upon with suspicion anytime I tell someone I can't work.

Yes, the sickening depths to which the Daily Hate Mail will sink, generating further hatred from the resultant misinformed public, is a sight to behold.

Tories being total self-serving sociopathic bastard shits.

In other news, water is wet.

If ever I needed a reminder (and I never do) why I loathe the lot of them at a visceral level that is almost impossible to describe, this is yet another reason.

As Bill has alluded to, what I find is worst about the whole issue is that this is typical of Tory "values". Cameron and hs cronies bleat on about a "broken society", "big society" and "moral values" and at the same time the fuckers are dismantling the NHS and practically every safety net that make the UK somewhat resemble a civilised society.

At the same time, at least they are consistant.

They have always been moralistic self-serving bastards out to screw anyone over for a fast buck, so nothing new there.

Signed.

My aunt with Downs Syndrome is being kicked out of her care home and placed in 'individual housing' in a flat, which is completely unsuitable as she will be unsupervised the majority of the time and be given no/few opportunities for social interaction which will affect her health and quality of life. All this because the local government can't afford to renovate the existing care home (which has been fantastic) because of cuts to disability benefits so instead has opted for a plan which is more expensive in the long run where the money doesn't come out of disability benefits but general benefits such as housing allowance.

These cuts are hitting the vulnerable hardest, whilst most of those in government and parliament are spending their time seeking protections from the EU for bankers, and in cases such as the one which has affected my family will end up costing the government more.

Signed.

One of the reasons for the high turn-down rate, and thus the high appeal rate, for DLA decisions is that ATOS is paid on the basis of the money they save against the current benefit budget. In effect they are rewarded for disqualifying those from disability benefits who are already on them and for failing new applications.

Some related stuffs....

Benefits and Work wrote:Multinational giant Atos Healthcare is failing to provide even the most basic disabled access at many of its medical assessment centres, in spite of receiving well over half a billion pounds in taxpayer’s cash. Astonishingly, Atos lists only one disabled parking bay for the use of around a million claimants a year and admits that one in five centres don’t have wheelchair access.

Details published on the Atos website reveals that more than 20% of its 141 medical assessment centres, used primarily for employment and support allowance medicals, do not have wheelchair access.

In addition, out of all 141 Atos centres, only around 50 have dedicated parking on site and just one centre –Wrexham – is listed as having disabled parking. And even then it’s only one single space. Other centres rely on public car parks, which may be five or ten minutes walk away.

31 of Atos’ medical examination centres are not even on the ground floor, with Chesterfield actually perched on the 5th floor.

16 centres have no chairs with arms, vital where claimants have problems with rising from sitting. Others are listed as having just a single chair with arms.

Twenty seven centres do not even supply drinking water for claimants, who may be kept waiting a very long time for their assessment.

Very worryingly, in spite of the many thousands of claimants with continence problems, no details of whether the centres have toilets – let alone disabled toilets – are given....

Full article »»

I would encourage all UK members of the forum to take the time to express their views, whatever it is, to their local MP. The excellent They Work For You website makes this a virtual hassle-free cinch.

In November there was an Early Day Motion on a related matter, sponsored by Conservative MP David Morris and others...

Pariliamnet.co.uk wrote:ATOS HEALTHCARE

Session: 2010-12
Date tabled: 09.11.2011
Primary sponsor: Morris, David
Sponsors:

George, Andrew
Hopkins, Kelvin
Meale, Alan
Russell, Bob
Sanders, Adrian

That this House notes with concern that many hon. and right hon. Members have received complaints from disabled constituents on the practices of ATOS Healthcare; believes that the company is refusing claims from people who are later shown to be quite clearly unable to work; further believes that by continually reassessing claimants the company receives additional fees; and calls on the Government to press ahead with reforms that will abolish this system of assessment.

17 Signatories : http://www.parliament.uk/business/publi ... umber=2416