Billions to be cut from welfare services

Whitewavemark2

If anyone has suffered from serious anxiety or depression will know, this renders you utterly unable unable to function.

I once suffered clinical depression - brought about by a drug I'd been prescribed, but didn't know that was the cause.

I was prescribed strong anti-depressant medication for the depression (until the known cause was discovered) - very dangerous drugs for which I had to wear a medical bracelet... Monoamine Oxidise Inhibitors ("Parnate").

I went back to work - willingly, it gave me a sense of 'normality', but I was so 'out of it' that my employer suggested I take time off!

The prescribed drug that had caused the clinical depression was stopped but I was told to continue with the AD. Having researched it (not easy in the days before the internet) I decided it was too dangerous to continue with it and sared to taper it down. And then got into trouble with my GP for doing so without medical supervision - which they wouldn't give me because they wanted me to continue to take it!

Sometimes, you just can't win.

Where are all these employers who will be willing to employ someone racked with pain waiting for an operation?

What work will they be able to do? Industry needs lorry drivers, waiters, chefs and those working in construction - are people in pain able to do these jobs - safely? Safely, not just for them but for those working around them and the general public?

I worked through pain and chemotherapy, but - I worked from home, at my own pace (in my own business), in a warm and comfortable environment, able to take breaks whenever I needed them - lie down and rest if necessary, throw-up in the bathroom without anyone being a witness, and I had a supportive co-worker (my OH) watching me out of the corner of his eye.

Ill people in pain - waiting for operations (often for a very long time) really are limited in what they can actually do.

This scheme, with people employed to watch those who are trying to find work under such conditions, is surely going to cost a lot of money to put in place?

I don't know why the government don't cut to the chase and simply axe the benefits - many of us knew the sick and disabled would be first in the firing line for spending cuts - and stop pretending that this is in anyway a workable scheme.

... still, the announcement will have one benefit... it will convince all those who believe that the sick and the disabled could work, "if they really wanted to" - a little bit of demonisation goes a long way!

It’s not demonisation Blossoming. It’s ensuring that if you can work you do, rather than rely on benefits. Work should always pay.

It’s not news, demonisation of sick and disabled people has been on the Tory agenda since they came to power in 2010.

Medication enables you to function wwm. That’s why I have to take it. Not a small dose either.

If anyone has suffered from serious anxiety or depression will know, this renders you utterly unable unable to function.

Everyone gets anxious or depressed at some point in their life but deciding not to work because of it.

There are of course degrees of depression and anxiety as I am sure you must realise. Not working when seriously ill with these problems is not a lifestyle choice - I realise that those posting know this really but are just being goady.

And Scat that should include ‘stay at home mums’ with school age children. They should be out there working too - their country needs them.

I expect the money saved will go into tax cuts Fingers crossed you're right. Young hard working families are taxed to the hilt, what's left of their wages is being eaten up by huge heating bills, exorbitant rents and mortgages and food bills that mean many are having to rely on food banks to feed their family. If people are actually working, they should be better off than those who decide that they can't work because they're simply too anxious or depressed to work. Everyone gets anxious or depressed at some point in their life but deciding not to work because of it is financially unsustainable for the country and does the individual's mental health no good at all.

We know personal wealth is the only priority for the remaining "Conservatives", and that they will take from everyone from middle-income down.

However, there was little for sick and disabled in their Conference pronouncements. It is understandable that they will not make in depth pronouncements until the election is announced, the have access to the Treasury Civil Servants, and are set to release their manifesto.

Germanshepherdsmum

If you really are unable to work, you are unable to work. Depression and anxiety, for which I have had to take medication for decades, and most probably always will, do not render you unable to work. If I had sat around at home rather than making the very real effort to get out of bed and go to work each morning I would probably have given in to the suicidal thoughts. If you are able to work, you should - I speak from experience. We should not be paying people to stay at home if they can work.

I’m afraid I don’t believe in anxiety and depression. It’s a lifestyle choice! And as for the NHS providing free medication for this….words fail me.

TIC

If you really are unable to work, you are unable to work. Depression and anxiety, for which I have had to take medication for decades, and most probably always will, do not render you unable to work. If I had sat around at home rather than making the very real effort to get out of bed and go to work each morning I would probably have given in to the suicidal thoughts. If you are able to work, you should - I speak from experience. We should not be paying people to stay at home if they can work.

No-one is getting seriously 'worked up', eazybee because it isn't going to happen. The tories will be long gone in 2025.

Though Luckygirl is right, it will cause a lot of worry for some benefits recipients.

It’s a pity the Tories don’t focus on getting wealthy tax avoiders to pay their taxes.

I cannot imagine why you are getting so worked up about the thought of all these all these sufferers from mental health issues losing their benefits. They will simply continue to check out the appropriate symptoms to back up their claim and their doctors will agree; if not and they are sent to work they will make the workplace untenable and very swiftly be removed.
I speak from personal experience.

This is a pointless and vindictive move and will waste lots of money. The civil service will be tasked with preparing to put these plans in place, knowing full well that it is unlikely to actually happen as the current government is likely to be gone by the time they are due to come to fruition. Then the next government will task the civil servants with dismantling all the preparations.

In the mean time the Tories have notched up what they might see as a sop to their right wing voters, whilst sowing panic amongst sick people.

In better news, Suella’s gone - or she’s at least being reshuffled.

Whitewavemark2

I expect some poor sods will have to make a “lifestyle choice” and end up in a tent.

Did yo see this story while you were on the BBC site, Wwmk2?

Homeless tents destroyed during Met Police operation
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-67392992

Casdon

Thankfully it won’t happen, because the Tories won’t be there in 2025. It’s a cynical move designed to cause maximum disruption to systems after the next election.

I've just read it on the BBC news site and that was my first thought, too, Casdon. Tories won't be in government in 2025.
Parliament can undo every one of its cruel, mean minded, inhumane pieces of legislation...

As long as they re ok and getting richer eh despicable government still grinding the country into the ground even in their (hoped) death throws

I’ve just read it and came to start a thread. So this evil crew, having demonised immigrants and accused the homeless of making a ‘lifestyle choice’ have those who are unwell in their sights! Many of those who need to be treated are unable to be helped due to the state of the health service and why is that, one wonders?

Despicable! Perhaps with the new legislation planned we could have a class action against this government for attacking our institutions and British values. They are criminal!

One more reason why not to vote for them. (As if you needed more reasons!)

Thankfully it won’t happen, because the Tories won’t be there in 2025. It’s a cynical move designed to cause maximum disruption to systems after the next election.

I expect some poor sods will have to make a “lifestyle choice” and end up in a tent.

Just when you think the news can’t possibly get any more depressing….