In the last few weeks I’m not entirely sure what’s been going on in the world other than the government extending the culture war stuff (being polite there) to now bring in disabled people and people with mental health problems. They are talking about reviewing the PIP process to make it even harder for people to claim. It’s hard enough and bad enough as it is. It totally messed me up when I went through it. So much so that if I letter comes from the DWP I’m always scared to open it.

And I know I’m not the only person that gets that fear when a letter like that comes through the door. It a very real fear that is very common with disabled people all over the country. People that aren’t disabled just don’t seam to understand the fear that something like a letter through the post can change you’re whole world and not it a good way. Some of them almost find it irrational.

The government is there to protect the whole country. That covers everyone in it. Including sick and disabled people. The people in charge of this country do not care about sick or disabled people. They don’t care about people with mental health issues. In general they just don’t care about people they care about money and nothing else.

I’ve heard one person say that people with learning difficulties don’t understand money so they should be paid less than other people doing the same job.

At some point over the last couple of weeks I even heard that some wanted to stop giving money in the personal independence payments (PIP) and give disabled people vouchers to use instead. What they fail to realise is that it’s more than likely that the vouchers will only be redeemable in certain places. And, if that’s the case it takes away peoples independence. You know, the whole point of the payment in the first place.

The government keep telling people that there are too many people on pip that shouldn’t have it. Just want to point out that the fraud rate for PIP is 0.2%. The whole application process theis hellish and so degrading it’s unbelievable. It forces you to focus on every little thing that’s wrong with you and analyse it to the smallest detail. You have to look at things from a very negative point of view. And that’s just the form.

Then there is an assessment. At this stage of the process people that aren’t really medically trained (they might have done a first aid course if you’re lucky) assess and analyse you. To see if what you claimed on the form is correct. The whole process is set up to catch you out. In the form if you said you can’t wash your hair but during the assessment if you scratch your head they will mark you down and probably use that as an excuse to not award you PIP. They will look for anything they can to not give it to you.

After the torture of the assessment you need to wait a bit more time for them to decide if you actually deserve it or not. Even if the interviewer was quite positive during the meeting they may still turn round and not award it. It is hellish and I can’t stress that enough.

The whole process leave you with a constant fear that they could take it away in a split second. They don’t give a shit if you spend most of your time in pain or have mobility problems. There have been articles/news segments with former assessors saying they were told to mark people down and look for anything they can to stop the award.

So do me a favour, if you see or hear anyone talking about disabled people are scroungers and lazy ask them to prove it. Tell the person to sit in a wheelchair for a day and get about and go to work etc. Everything they normally do now they need to do in a wheelchair chair. See how they get on.

Then tell they need to imagine do it all while in pain and then from that with being constantly tired due to fatigue or drowsiness from medication. Then tell them the medication they are taking causes side effects (drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, light headedness, there are a hell of a lot more)

Don’t forget some disabled people have to pay for the prescriptions. And that’s £9.90 per item. If you are on lots of different medications that can become very very expensive. And these are normally medication the disabled person needs in order to function.

These are just the tip of the iceberg of the things disabled people need to deal with on a day to day basis. And if you still find yourself agreeing with this demonisation of disabled people you have lost your compassion and humanity.

There is a better than even chance that at some point in your life that you will end up disabled whether that’s through old age (the government doesn’t care about them either) an accident, stroke, mental health problems, or any of the other millions of neurological conditions.

I don’t wish it on anyone but just imagine yourself in that situation and would you be happy if you were told we don’t beleive you, and you’re a lazy scrounger?

Just spare a thought and don’t get angry at people who are dealing with enough of their own crap. Be angry at the people in charge.

Humbug,

(Doesn’t feel right to finish that with “Love and Light”)