tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post4833200395041800742..comments2024-03-28T09:16:33.241+00:00Comments on Diary of a Benefit Scrounger: To the Mainstream UK MediaSue Marshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14849801822216267250noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-21075211991629439392011-06-24T11:03:28.975+01:002011-06-24T11:03:28.975+01:00To Mary (in her response to Steve)
Just to point ...To Mary (in her response to Steve)<br /><br />Just to point out that many people on JSA have long term conditions and/or have disabilities and indeed many more will do after the WCA kicks in. They have many of the barriers facing those on ESA but less money per week and a shorter contribution based time limits.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-6299634478164587912011-05-26T22:20:47.042+01:002011-05-26T22:20:47.042+01:00I hope these Tory voting fuckers all get run over ...I hope these Tory voting fuckers all get run over and lose a leg.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-35994291395474813422011-02-14T19:00:49.288+00:002011-02-14T19:00:49.288+00:00To answer some of Steve's questions:
1. Are t...To answer some of Steve's questions:<br /><br />1. Are these all the benefit cuts? We don't know. There are other cuts which aren't really "cash" benefits - for instance charges for accessible transport being raised, availability of Meals on Wheels being reduced.<br /><br />2. Difference between JSA and ESA time limits. Disabled people have fewer job opportunities open to them. Last time I was jobseeking, of the thirty or so entry-level positions in the local paper, there were only one or two that I was physically capable of doing (and those were assuming that the premises would be accessible). It wasn't that I thought I was 'above' serving fast food or stacking shelves, simply that those job options were not possible for me as they would be for a non-disabled JSA claimant.<br /><br />3. Off the top of my head, there are just over 3 million people on DLA.<br /><br />4. Don't know. Hopefully someone else will.<br /><br />5. With a couple of heartwarming exceptions, the back to work support is rubbish and their statistics are <a href="http://batsgirl.blogspot.com/2008/06/naughty-remploy.html" rel="nofollow">dodgy as hell</a>.<br /><br />6. The problems accessing support are myriad. If you're disabled and normally housebound and need to nap every couple of hours, getting into town to attend a day-long workshop can be a major expense in terms of not just cash but also energy and pain. There are also issues with many of the support centres being inaccessible to disabled people - courses held upstairs, lack of hearing loops, no toilet facilities and so on.<br /><br />Hope some of this helps.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11639094548415759560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-19366890083052667852011-01-16T14:38:44.148+00:002011-01-16T14:38:44.148+00:00Sorry for the delay in responding ... I've ema...Sorry for the delay in responding ... I've emailed the post to you.<br /><br />Syzygy xSyzygyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15033334461020443772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-60609646499602339642011-01-16T08:53:51.139+00:002011-01-16T08:53:51.139+00:00That's brilliant Sue thanks so much!!
Send it ...That's brilliant Sue thanks so much!!<br />Send it to me at suey2y@gmail.com and I'll post it. <br /><br />I might post it tomorrow, but give it to OMBH for tonight, is that ok?<br /><br />They'll be really really delighted!<br /><br />Can't wait to see it.Sue Marshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14849801822216267250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-82810209030916933062011-01-15T22:52:56.551+00:002011-01-15T22:52:56.551+00:00Sue
I've done 1400 words ... do you want me t...Sue<br /><br />I've done 1400 words ... do you want me to cut it down?.. or you could edit it. I know that it would be in safe hands. And how shall I get it to you ... If I post it on a thread, I suppose that you could lift it.<br /><br />Syzygy xSyzygyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15033334461020443772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-20434800538921914092011-01-15T13:22:39.965+00:002011-01-15T13:22:39.965+00:00Sue
I haven't gone away ... I've been pop...Sue<br /><br />I haven't gone away ... I've been popping in but perhaps not posting because you've said it all already and with much more eloquence. I'll do my best re: PTSD ... and ask Eoin re: Ken... I know that he misses Ken too.<br /><br />Syzygy xSyzygyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15033334461020443772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-21871939411498330192011-01-15T04:16:55.621+00:002011-01-15T04:16:55.621+00:00Natalya - http://www.labourlist.org/some-cuts-dont...Natalya - http://www.labourlist.org/some-cuts-dont-make-the-headlines <br />You're right, scrapped seems to be too strong a word. I'm learning every word is crucial, sorry.<br /><br />Syzygy!! I missed you, where's Ken gone too?<br />Re PTSD, not too late at all and I imagine incredibly relevant to what we're all going through. Did you write it already? It would be amazing if you had it for this One Month Before Heartbreak weekend, but any time at all would be great. <br /><br />It was a true eureka moment for me.Sue Marshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14849801822216267250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-13650491744377467852011-01-15T01:15:37.208+00:002011-01-15T01:15:37.208+00:00Sue
Fantastic article ... and no doubt you know, ...Sue<br /><br />Fantastic article ... and no doubt you know, but in case you don't - Left futures has your link too.<br /><br />Syzygy x<br /><br />PS Still happy to do stuff re PTSD but it doesn't quite fit with this important campaign ... let me know if and when you think still think useful.Syzygyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15033334461020443772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-34463009579093158572011-01-14T23:23:20.012+00:002011-01-14T23:23:20.012+00:00I know Access to Work has received cuts but where&...I know Access to Work has received cuts but where's the evidence it is likely to be scrapped? I haven't come across that one yet - all the others are depressingly 'seen it' for me :(Natalyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02415413831805589079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-30312338870451485332011-01-14T22:29:55.126+00:002011-01-14T22:29:55.126+00:00Hi Steve :)
It's an a extremely complicated pi...Hi Steve :)<br />It's an a extremely complicated picture so much so that even my Conservative mp doesn't understand any of it and doesn't believe the prime minister does either.<br /><br />The only thing that is certain is that it causes endless worry for the sick and disabled who then go onto take their own life<br /><br />There's nothing the police can do about it either as the DWP are all powerful and call the shots at all timesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-63698951605334385362011-01-14T21:59:23.809+00:002011-01-14T21:59:23.809+00:00Hello. I'm a new supporter. I was just have ...Hello. I'm a new supporter. I was just have a few questions that I was hoping you could answer so I can understand better.<br /><br />1. Are these all the benefit cuts?<br /><br />2. I'm currently on JSA. That's limited to 6 months, so I'm not suprised ESA is to be limited to a year. Do you think contributory JSA and ESA should both be indefinite, or that ESA should be different, and why?<br /><br />3. How many people are on DLA? <br /><br />4. Which benefit rates have been frozen? I've heard that benefits will be swapped from RPI to CPI, but haven't heard anymore than this.<br /><br />5. The middle group for ESA that a lot of people are ending up in, the work support group, involves people who need some support but are expected to try to look for some work with help from the support, right? Is this support actually any good?<br /><br />6. Since people put into the work support group still receive the higher benefit, then what is the problem, since if they are too ill they presumably won't get a job anyway? Is the process of support so strenuous that it will make people more ill or something? <br /><br />Sorry to ask a bunch of possibly stupid questions but I'm new to this and want to be able to understand properly what's going on and what the issues are. <br /><br />Many Thanks, <br />SteveStephen Wigmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15604582974059809054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-23955512609461786202011-01-14T20:59:18.758+00:002011-01-14T20:59:18.758+00:00Sue Marsh
Reading your post was a humbling experi...Sue Marsh<br /><br />Reading your post was a humbling experience. I shall send a copy to my lefty LibDem MP, hoping he'll keep the pressure up at Westminster and Cowley Street.Malcolmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16001468091843912502noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-13513380396270972092011-01-14T19:09:00.741+00:002011-01-14T19:09:00.741+00:00Thank you for this post.
I find the whole thing s...Thank you for this post.<br /><br />I find the whole thing so utterly terrifying that the only way for me to avoid suicidal depression is to avoid thinking about it most of the time. But I've written a post for today, and linked to this piece from it, because people HAVE to know about this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-56773096739128015002011-01-14T18:25:50.905+00:002011-01-14T18:25:50.905+00:00I have just lost £53 per week that i get from my i...I have just lost £53 per week that i get from my incapacity benefit for my wife who works 15 hours a week so that she can look after me and to make sure I'm OK. <br />She is only on the minimum wage as well so that is a big hit from a bottom of the earnings household and no explanation whatsoever from the DWP <br />I have asked my mp to try to find out but i don't hold out much hope<br />As that is over two hundred pounds a month i thought the BBC would be interested in this story but they aren't <br />I had a gut felling that wouldn't be interested but it was worth asking <br />if i lose my DLA that will be another £250 month loss to the household budget <br />Thank god my illness prevents me from eating otherwise i would be really in troubleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-59201308807133563342011-01-14T18:17:37.656+00:002011-01-14T18:17:37.656+00:00Of course Rick, I'd be delighted, thank you.Of course Rick, I'd be delighted, thank you.Sue Marshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14849801822216267250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-3689768742572486982011-01-14T17:44:16.498+00:002011-01-14T17:44:16.498+00:00Is it ok if I cross post this on my blog?Is it ok if I cross post this on my blog?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17111132651663342181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-20335556872239094822011-01-14T16:12:24.058+00:002011-01-14T16:12:24.058+00:00joe90 kane - It's worth a LOT, thanks.joe90 kane - It's worth a LOT, thanks.Sue Marshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14849801822216267250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-33392888758335777492011-01-14T15:51:35.274+00:002011-01-14T15:51:35.274+00:00For what its worth, I've sent a nice email to ...For what its worth, I've sent a nice email to the excellent and well-frequented Socialist Unity blog asking them re-post this blog article of yours Sue - I hope that's ok - and also asking them to highlight the <i>1 Month Before Heartbreak</i> campaign.<br /><br />Crispin, that's an excellent point about Frankie Boyle. <br />The thing is, when Frankie has given straightforward political views in public, they've been brilliant. His defence of the people of Gaza and his attack on the BBC was the best -<br /><a href="http://www.aoltv.co.uk/2010/04/30/frankie-boyle-responds-the-bbc-are-cowards/" rel="nofollow">Frankie Boyle responds: 'The BBC are cowards'</a> <br />Aol Television<br />30 Apr 2010joe90 kanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15925893894108250518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-15840453833719327132011-01-14T15:02:22.781+00:002011-01-14T15:02:22.781+00:00True, true crispin.
I'm trying to get update...True, true crispin. <br /><br />I'm trying to get update form #ombh though - I've a feeling it's going very very well indeed :)Sue Marshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14849801822216267250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-26018354407056103332011-01-14T15:00:16.223+00:002011-01-14T15:00:16.223+00:00I do think it's a bit ironic that when Frankie...I do think it's a bit ironic that when Frankie Boyle does a few jokes about disability and cancer many of the tabloids tore him to shreds yet these some papers have said virtualy nothing about cuts in benefits that will leave many sick and disabled people living well below the poverty line and facing the prospects of being made homeless.<br /><br />I think part of the answer is to keep plugging away on the Internet and also in local papers in the hope that the nationals will eventually pick it up. <br /><br />Sadly it will probably take a suicide or someone dying of neglect before the papers really sit up and take notice.Crispin Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00422241837149899082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-35514653849968391732011-01-14T14:18:46.759+00:002011-01-14T14:18:46.759+00:00claude, I'm so glad it made you think, lol. It...claude, I'm so glad it made you think, lol. It's great if you linked to it, exactly what I hope for. <br /><br />jimboeth - I have a fab idea about a protest. I'm asking if Guardian want it for tomorrow as part of ongoing #ombh campaign, if not I'll post it myself and send it to BofB.Sue Marshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14849801822216267250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-21128442726375368712011-01-14T14:02:44.871+00:002011-01-14T14:02:44.871+00:00This is just great Sue, thanks so much for writing...This is just great Sue, thanks so much for writing it. <br /><br />And re Howard's suggestion, I'm more than willing to chain myself to parliament's railings. Where do I sign up?<br /><br />http://twitter.com/jimboethWheelspin Shadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00178198185095755368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-25442571633867131612011-01-14T13:32:48.369+00:002011-01-14T13:32:48.369+00:00Hi,
an excellent post, it really made me think. I ...Hi,<br />an excellent post, it really made me think. I am one of those who didn't have a full idea of what the government is doing to the sick and disabled.<br /><br />Hope you don't mind me reposting this on <a href="http://mymarilyn.blogspot.com/2011/01/what-government-is-doing-to-sick-and.html" rel="nofollow">my blog</a>.<br />Thank you :-)xxclaudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11498799178450479883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4568034298343558962.post-5766961781952811632011-01-14T13:19:22.856+00:002011-01-14T13:19:22.856+00:00Great post! One month before heartache! xxxGreat post! One month before heartache! xxxWife and Motherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15305014194077352762noreply@blogger.com