Our government is selling us, via the right wing media, the idea that people who claim benefits are feckless scroungers. That those under 25 who claim housing benefit are a drain on the nations resources. Disabled people are being told they don't matter, their benefits are to be cut. In fact, all benefits are being cut, so the poorest in our society are going to get even poorer thanks to the ideology of this morally bankrupt unelected Tory led coalition.
Everybody who currently claims Disability Living Allowance (DLA), even if they have a lifelong award, will be forced to be 're-tested' by the idiots at ATOS, a French company who are paid £100m or so a year to reduce the numbers claiming DLA. Never mind the fact that 40% of people they order off this benefit go on to win their appeal, this is a war against the disabled. A friend of mine will have the mobility part of her DLA (which is to be renamed Personal Independence Payment) removed, as she can propel herself further than 100 metres under her own steam in her wheelchair. This will result in her losing her job, causing her to claim even more benefits.
Let us not forget that both DLA and Housing Benefit (HB) are in work benefits. In fact, 88% of HB claims are made by working people, which suggests two things. Rents are too high, and wages are too low. Cutting HB is only going to increase pressure on those least able to afford living in high rent areas such as London, and indeed much of the South East. HB claimants are being forced to move from London to places like Walsall and Stoke. This is not denigrating these towns, but to force people to leave behind family, friends and other support groups is inhumane. I know how hard it is to make friends after moving to a new area.
Next time you look down on a disabled person just think about this: it only takes a heart attack, a stroke, an accident for you to become disabled. Who's the scrounger now?
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