Security: if something happens to my employment, I know that I will be supported through hardship;
Compassionate: I will be shown understanding as to what caused my hardship, the effect it has had on my and my family and how they can support me through the difficult circumstances.
Security and adequatcy.
Specifically, we need security that people who qualify for disability benefits won't be bullied or forced to look for work in the future, that their claim is secure for as long as they need it to be until they themselves are able to find work or did a way off benefits I'm some other way. As well as security in that the poor shouldn't be punished for being unemployed when the biggest factor in unemployment is businesses posting fake jobs, 0hr contracts and circumstances outside of the control of the unemployed, ergo, they shouldn't be sanctioned and being on benefits shouldn't give the government the right to spy on our spending and bank accounts. Not unless they're happy to publicise every aspect of their financial life's also, after all they work for the DWP and should be treated equally as those reliant on the DWP. Especially as their wages are paid for by taypayer money also.
And adequacy. People should get enough from benefits that they can heat their homes, feed their family, keep a safe roof over there heads and not be forced into debt to make ends meet. The benefit system currently offer too small and amount to safely live on, across the board. If the government wouldn't live on £300 a month, neither should your average British adult. The benefits system amount should be a livable income, not a barely survivable income. And the pressure should be on businesses to stop taking advantage of worker and pay higher than livable income to maintain a motivated workforce.
Well whats sleep these day with a 2 yr old and a 1 week old 2 yr old has been fine till new baby xx
All of the key principles are important. Certainly for us - adequacy of benefits I think would be the most important. A little more money could be the difference in being able to cover unexpected expenses and eating or having to cut back drastically. The next being rights and respect. The DWP should treat all claimants with respect and not like criminals, they should listen more and be compassionate. Empowerment and Opportunity should be next. Us claimants should be able to take training and further education courses without repercussions. The DWP should support and offer retraining - after all, people who have better, well paid jobs will earn more and potentially come off benefits altogether.
Compassion
Similar to rights and respect,
DWP workers with negative pre conceived ideas of benefit claimers are causing unnecessary extra stress and humiliation, justifying how illness / disability affects a claimant every day.
How many people are failed by DWP commit suicide as pushed to their mental limit and denied the basics in life needed to keep a roof over their head, heating and food?
Why are politicians scapegoating the vulnerable to cover for their corruption ?
If politicians care about the UK, then why are they cruelty punishing marginalised groups?
Am I really such an inconvenience to the wealthy politicans who abuse and exploit the UK taxes?
Thoughts on Sir Keir Starmer's desire to see all folk with chronic illness & disability back at work. My tweet on 29/09/2024.
"Virtually no-one should claim benefits without taking active steps to get back to work."
After surgery for #SpinalCordInjury in 2012, I returned to work as part of the #ESA #WRAG group - 6 months after surgery even though it can take 2 years for an incomplete injury to heal. I did my best but mentally burned out in the meantime. I struggle enough to care for myself, my youngest son, my pets & maintain my home in a clean, tidy & sanitary condition as it is. If I had to work as well, it would be all consuming & I wouldn't manage. In the meantime, I am waiting for treatment based on an MRI taken back in May 2023 & symptoms are worse…
But hey - thanks goodness for all the drugs I have to take to keep pain at bay & thank goodness for free prescriptions. In the meantime I am having to cope with tendonitis in my hands & wrists. As a walking quadriplegic, which affects my hands in the first place it's never ending. @UKLabour
Rights and respect
The wording on DWP disability forms are designed to fail claimants. The questions are based on physical disabilities.
Justifying symptoms and side effects of medications is intrusive and humiliating.
To explain how often a human being soils themselves or how often incontinence happens is unnecessary.
Justifying of how a human being is affected by mental health is difficult. How can an assessor for a private firm with no experience of mental health decide if a benefit claimer is well enough to work or not?
Assessors have tick box questions. Illness can vary day to day and medical practitioners all have different levels of knowledge.
Short staff and limited time with GP's prevents important information being recorded in medical records.
Mental health waiting lists for the psychiatrist are long as a year .
How can a disability claimer prove illness with back up from an expert if unable to reach the top of that waiting list on time?
Questions if a claimer owns a mobile phone and how long is spent on social media and if owns a pet as this is viewed as an ability to clean up and take care of an animal, so capable of holding down a permanent job is ridiculous.
Having to show transactions of what's in bank acct and justify what it's being spent on is devaluing a human being .
I am angry , frustrated and have anxiety as from the time a letter or email arrives asks for proof of why a claimant is worthy of a benefit as if I'm not believed . The stigma of mental health isolates me. The lack of support due to NHS and social care budget cuts impacts mental health.
GP fit notes are not enough to prove illness.
Yet politicians and Royals do not disclose what's in their offshore accounts. Politicians can have other jobs and own businesses are rewarded with tax avoidance.
They do not lose their jobs as politicians when journalists expose their corruption.
There clearly is no respect for benefit claimers . No protection, Made to feel unworthy and this is a deliberate choice by politicians. The fear and stress of poverty if benefit application is denied or reduced due to a stranger making the decision increases poor mental health.
This has to stop or play fair. Force millionaires and billionaires to pay tax in the UK.
All of these points are important for a fair and just social security system, based on people's individual needs and abilities.for me personally, it would be ✅ Adequacy and 👥 Rights & Respect, My families lives have been both financially and socially destroyed since I had to rely solely on the benefits system due to physical and mental health problems.
There are so many expenses to be paid out that just can’t be covered by what families are given to cover essential living costs, heating, electricity, water. Phone, internet, school uniform and school meals are just some of the things that you just can’t avoid. All of this is affecting children’s mental health and wellbeing, not to mention the social impact of not being able to have the same experiences as other children when it comes to the cost of school trips, books, uniforms and holiday activities. This will all have a huge impact on their future lives and make it harder for them to reach their full potential for a better future.
Currently there seems to be no rights or respect in the system. People should not have to fight to get what they are entitled to, they should be clearly told what they can claim and how to access the information. Universal Credit was supposed to sort this out but is not working and making life extremely difficult once again. I was given a migration notice to claim, but despite being on long term sickness benefits I was toldI had to report to the jobcentre on a weekly basis and spend 35 hours per week looking for work unless I could get a certificate from my doctor’s who had a 3 - 4 week waiting list for a phone appointment.
Change must be made immediately.
Corrupt bullies run the UK from Westminster.
Deliberate misinformation and blame of the vulnerable to protect themselves as they deceive and exploit taxes.
What so they need so much money to store away in offshore accts for?
Is there something we yet to find out?
Security
Worrying about myself and my family’s needs affects me mental health wise. I want to be in a situation where I don’t have to worry about my financial needs. I want to be able to spend less than I earn and also be in a position to cover emergencies when they arise. I want to feel safe. I want to be in control of my family’s current and future needs. Feeling safe plays a vital role in maintaining a good health
The program for government centres on respect, and I have lived experience of having no respect at all. My child benefit was refused due to my twins being born early, and them having a prolonged stay in intensive care. I appealed their decision, stating that these were extreme circumstances which meant I couldn't give the paperwork in on time due to being at my child's bedside. My appeal was refused and then I had no choice but to go to tribunal - in which they awarded the full backdated amount and apologised. I should have been with my sick children, but was instead forced to come to court. We need a humane approach in dealing with people, particularly when we are dealing with vulnerable members of society
Transparency and accountability are all important- as is compassion. We need to hold those in charge to the same level of accountability as us, why should it be one rule for us and another for them? I’ve dealt with panic attacks, anxiety and depression whilst trying to parent my small babies because of the inhumane way I’ve been spoken to by some staff, yet it’s impossible to complain out of fear of the repercussions