While this is a high-profile case, this is pretty emblematic of Conservative and Forced Labour policy. Labour have cut back even further on what constitutes a disability, when in reality many hundreds of thousands of people who should receive PIP do not.
If a state cannot provide comfortable lives for disabled people and, even worse, stigmatises them as scroungers, it is a failed state.
Thinking critically on your comment here, I’d like to point out that your mention of these “couple of” disability support exploiters is anecdotal and scant, yet you follow-up with implying that said exploitation is widespread and assumed rampant. This is simply not the case at all, is misleading to unaware readers, and belies a deeply-held bias toward stigmatization of this system & its recipients. ☝🏼
Yeah you’re right, it’s totally anecdotal and I have no way of knowing if this is widespread or extremely rare. Just giving my own experience.
Good on ya for taking criticism and digesting it! That’s genuinely awesome to see! 🤘🏼🤩 We’re all on that journey, each at their own pace and points along, so don’t stress.
Sorry if I came in a little hot. It’s a topic I have strong feelings about. 🙇♂️
No worries, it’s an emotive topic, particularly to those of us who have disabilities or have friends or family in that position. They should be able to access support without having to jump through Kafkaesque hoops.
It’s probably worth mentioning that my experience is certainly coloured by my own history - for many years I was addicted to smack and crack, and so of course my social circle included a whole lot of proper wrong uns. I’m far more likely than the average person to have known people who have committed all sorts of crimes, including those involving benefits. This really does skew my anecdotal experience. I should have made that clear in my original comment.
Completely understandable and, I want to point out: an impressive amount of self-awareness & humility in that adjustment, ngl. That’s genuinely appreciated in this current era. 🖖🏼
As for myself, I’ve been on a different end of the “benefits” system with a lifelong-yet-barely-visible disability —but without any crime nor addiction along the way, I don’t fit the gen-pop agit-prop decoy of “disabled” tropes.
Thank you for hearing me, and I’m glad you’re here, fellow human. 🙏🏽🤘🏼
No worries mate. Yeah I understand that things are even harder in our punitive benefits system - and across much of society - for ppl with ‘invisible’ disabilities. As a taxpayer, albeit lowest level, I’m fuckin infuriated that more of my contribution isn’t spent on helping the people who need help. The disabled, the elderly, the NHS. Any society that doesn’t make looking after its vulnerable members priority number one has taken a wrong turn. At least IMO.
Anyway, sorry if I offended you and best of luck in navigating the system to get the support you need. I’m just sorry it can be such a nightmare for people in your position. It really shouldn’t be. If you’re having issues with the system, there are organisations that can help. I hope you won’t hesitate to reach out to them if you have trouble. Take care eh
Thanks, fellow poor. It’s rough out here, but at least I’m not living in the car anymore (so far), and the way forward is mostly about avoiding the dragnet of “abnormal” people into camps, instead of that plus the constant risk of bacon takin’ my possessions & shooting my ESA. 😶🌫️ Small victories. 🤞🏼