Billions to be cut from welfare services

I forgot to mention that I received my court date for my appeal two weeks after I was awarded the higher rate pip. I am almost certainly not going to be here to draw my pension so the government will make a saving on that!

I have several serious medical conditions and at 63 I was appealing against a decision to deny me the higher rate pip despite having a rare and incurable cancer. I waited almost two years for the court date but during this time I was given a prognosis of six months to live. My sarcoma nurse and consultant were able to fill in the appropriate form and I was given the higher rate pip within days. The paperwork you have to provide is soul destroying and exhausting. It takes away your dignity and makes you feel ashamed. Personally I wouldn’t have put myself through this if I’d not needed it. People are very quick to point thee finger at people who claim sickness benefits and although we know that there are people who should not be on pip etc there are many more people who do need it. I would give all the money in the world not to be facing leaving my family so early but this unfortunately is my lot.

growstuff

osamabinladen

There are many negative posts. The UK has been in severe economic condition since it became a country for spongers. In the past, payments made to the unemployed had to be signed on at the unemployment office every two weeks and received a cheque to cash it. Most lived and worked in the EU countries and came home to sign on every two weeks. Now, fraudsters arrange for representatives to call the Job Centre. These fraudsters do not need to return but save overseas transportation costs. The comments I read are probably from benefit fraudsters and those with inherent generations who never worked a day. I do not apologise for my post, for people who worked for a living will agree they are paying taxes for people with forever unemployment or fraudulent ailments benefits—the inclusion of people willing to make the UK a Third World country.

I am one whose comments you have probably read. I'll put you out of your misery. I'm not (and never have been) a "benefit fraudster". Years ago, I lived a different life. I paid higher rates of income tax, which I was happy to do to fund people less fortunate than I then was.

I brought up two children single-handed, with almost no support from anywhere. Both my children worked hard too and my 31 year old is, in her turn, pays higher rate income tax. So life rumbles on. My daughter and her husband are contributing to my pension and paying back some of the meagre benefits I have ever received. In my family, we're all aware that we belong to a society, in which some people need more support than others.

growstuff

I am one whose comments you have probably read. I'll put you out of your misery. I'm not (and never have been) a "benefit fraudster".

You don't have to justify yourself - least of all to someone who has made ridiculous accusations towards some of the posters on here.

In fact, osamabinladen's post possibly ought to be reported because it is deeply provocative - on the other hand, it is such a daft post making wild exaggerated claims, that it's not worth taking seriously... especially with such a silly username.

Germanshepherdsmum

Rather like when my son asks how I am Dickens when he phones - ‘fine’, I say. As you do.

Yes, indeed.

That's exactly what I say to my son, too.

I can't tell you how much I loathe this gov't and can't wait to get them out. I partly wonder if they'll go for an early election next year cos inflation is down, even if it is just a little, & Rishi will say we need to get out of human rights to stop small boats, we've got inflation down, vote for us to leave the ECHR, I won't be falling for that though

pascal30

casdon... if you look at other comments this person has posted I think they are just being deliberately provocative which is why most people ignored them

I hadn’t clocked earlier posts, but I think you’re right pascal30. Thanks

casdon... if you look at other comments this person has posted I think they are just being deliberately provocative which is why most people ignored them

osamabinladen

There are many negative posts. The UK has been in severe economic condition since it became a country for spongers. In the past, payments made to the unemployed had to be signed on at the unemployment office every two weeks and received a cheque to cash it. Most lived and worked in the EU countries and came home to sign on every two weeks. Now, fraudsters arrange for representatives to call the Job Centre. These fraudsters do not need to return but save overseas transportation costs. The comments I read are probably from benefit fraudsters and those with inherent generations who never worked a day. I do not apologise for my post, for people who worked for a living will agree they are paying taxes for people with forever unemployment or fraudulent ailments benefits—the inclusion of people willing to make the UK a Third World country.

I cannot reply to any post where the poster chooses that name, what on earth were you thinking?

osamabinladen

There are many negative posts. The UK has been in severe economic condition since it became a country for spongers. In the past, payments made to the unemployed had to be signed on at the unemployment office every two weeks and received a cheque to cash it. Most lived and worked in the EU countries and came home to sign on every two weeks. Now, fraudsters arrange for representatives to call the Job Centre. These fraudsters do not need to return but save overseas transportation costs. The comments I read are probably from benefit fraudsters and those with inherent generations who never worked a day. I do not apologise for my post, for people who worked for a living will agree they are paying taxes for people with forever unemployment or fraudulent ailments benefits—the inclusion of people willing to make the UK a Third World country.

I am one whose comments you have probably read. I'll put you out of your misery. I'm not (and never have been) a "benefit fraudster". Years ago, I lived a different life. I paid higher rates of income tax, which I was happy to do to fund people less fortunate than I then was.

I brought up two children single-handed, with almost no support from anywhere. Both my children worked hard too and my 31 year old is, in her turn, pays higher rate income tax. So life rumbles on. My daughter and her husband are contributing to my pension and paying back some of the meagre benefits I have ever received. In my family, we're all aware that we belong to a society, in which some people need more support than others.

Most lived and worked in the EU countries and came home to sign on every two weeks.

Really? where's your evidence for that?

Treetops05

I must admit, the hatred some are writing about those who receive ill-health benefits makes me feel ill. I had an operation many years ago which led me to a rare hidden disability, lose my job, my pride, my independence and yes regain the depression I had fought for years. I also gained a lifelong requirement for strong opiate pain care.

In the job I was in I couldn't work, I was a risk to myself and others (DWP Tribunal) yet many here appear to think i should be out 'doing my bit'. For the first time ever, I'm considering whether GN is a sage and friendly place, or whether it is time to part ways, as many opinions are truly shocking, and 'I'm alright Jack why aren't you? '

I sympathise with you, I really do.

I must admit it's not the first time I've thought like you about some of the posters on GN.

Germanshepherdsmum

Nannan2

And i doubt £300 every few months has actually covered all the help everyones actually needed for increased food & fuel prices.

Oh dear, just how much do you expect the taxpayer to fork out for you? Have you totted up just how much extra money the government has given you over the last year or so?

We're all taxpayers (unless we live totally off grid). Income tax accounts for a relatively small share of the Treasury's income.

Not only that, but people like me, spent years paying something called National Insurance and higher level income tax for part of my working life. I always though that insured me to an extent against not being able to earn the money I need to survive. Big mistake by me!

Bugbabe2019

The welfare state needs a complete overhaul! Far too many people claiming benefits when they shouldn’t be!
Another one here who has suffered crippling anxiety and depression in the past and with the help of the right medication and a determination to remain in work I have done so. Sitting in the house all day doing sod all is absolutely devastating for your mental health and should not be encouraged!
My husband broke his back at age 29 and was signed off on the sick for life! Written off! He retrained and has worked in pain for the last 23 years! I can safely say that if he had not returned to work our lives would have been terrible - financially and emotionally!

What about people whose disability (whether mental or physical) means that they're just not up to doing a job where there are vacancies? Employers won't employ them.

Bugbabe2019

I pressed post too soon …
I also wanted to say there are absolutely those people who cannot work because of pain and mental health issues but unfortunately there are also far too many people that take advantage of the system also

So genuine claimants should be made to suffer too?

I would rather they focussed resources on recouping the missing billions from all of those illegal Covid pay-outs. But, ah, that was to their friends and supporters. Shocking at the lack of action to do that. Michelle Mone is still in House of Lords, for example, swanning round the world in her luxury yacht.

The problem is that there is no sound evidence of the benefits system being taken advantage of by false claimants. I am quite sure that it happens, but my experience over 30 years indicates that the opposite is the case - that there are many people entitled to benefits who do not claim, for many reasons: not knowing they are entitled, false information, inability to navigate the application system, ignorance and mistakes amongst those dealing with the claims (it happens - a lot in my experience) and a fear of being labelled a scrounger, which is encouraged by this government.

There are undoubtedly a tiny minority of false claimants, and those are inevitably the ones that attract attention from the right wing media and give the false impression that this is common and the norm. I have of course met those who claim falsely, but I can count them on the fingers of one hand.

I would rather a few false claimants slipped through than see so many people struggling without the help to which they are entitled.

I pressed post too soon …
I also wanted to say there are absolutely those people who cannot work because of pain and mental health issues but unfortunately there are also far too many people that take advantage of the system also

Should have said I’m almost sure!!

Indeed very difficult times all round for most people I’m

Good for both of you Bugbabe. It takes guts.

Rather like when my son asks how I am Dickens when he phones - ‘fine’, I say. As you do.

The welfare state needs a complete overhaul! Far too many people claiming benefits when they shouldn’t be!
Another one here who has suffered crippling anxiety and depression in the past and with the help of the right medication and a determination to remain in work I have done so. Sitting in the house all day doing sod all is absolutely devastating for your mental health and should not be encouraged!
My husband broke his back at age 29 and was signed off on the sick for life! Written off! He retrained and has worked in pain for the last 23 years! I can safely say that if he had not returned to work our lives would have been terrible - financially and emotionally!

Nannan2

And i doubt £300 every few months has actually covered all the help everyones actually needed for increased food & fuel prices.

Oh dear, just how much do you expect the taxpayer to fork out for you? Have you totted up just how much extra money the government has given you over the last year or so?

Nannan2

Just about the whole world is in recession to some degree or other at the moment, not just the UK.

The spending cuts are a separate issue. An issue which is at the heart of Tory ideology - 'small state'.

But they have not caused the world-wide recession, which is partly because of the war in Ukraine.

I sympathise with you and goodness only knows how you cope. Not being able to sleep is the devil's work, and it has such a terrible effect on your health.

I know what you mean about being upbeat - it can work against you. But if that is your nature, it's very difficult to be any different. It's to do with self-image too, when someone ask you - 'can you do xxx', you don't like to admit that you can't, so you say things like, "I manage". An intelligent person would read between the lines of course, but I'm not sure that these proposed work coaches are going to be doing anything other than be trained to read a crib-sheet of questions, and tick the boxes accordingly.

When my GP asked me how I coped with such-and-such, I just smiled and said, "I cope". He was only a youngster but he smiled, looked at me, and said, "it's a challenge tho' isn't it!". Because, he knew.

I’m the parent of a real person too Nannan. When you can’t substantiate your claims resort to insults eh? Was all the money paid direct to your energy supplier to help with your fuel bills deducted from your benefits? Btw the courts don't ‘side with’ anyone - they apply the law.

Yellowfox, I wholeheartedly agree.