I got my wages yesterday from my main job to discover they were £200 down.

I queried with payroll and they said my tax code had been changed and I now had to pay more tax.

I felt devastated at first as I do two jobs in order to pay everything and also to prepare for house move I have to do in 2 years time.

It appears now if you have a second job and earn over amount the tax is increased. I now need to actually look into if working all these hours is even beneficial or I am just lining the taxman's pocket.

I have reduced my spending considerably and even given up the few hobbies I did have that cost money.

Hey

It was a cold day today, we went out but we enjoyed the 🥶 in town

Please be kind to people you don’t know what the next person is going through

I had a run in with my neighbour over him parking in my disabled space. The vile bigoted response I got shocked me! I knew people felt that way but to have someone scream it at you! I wasn’t disabled I was just fat! I’m a uk size 12! His money pays for me and my kids! Me working 2 jobs before my stroke was a lie! I was a benefits bi*ch! I was in bed for 2 days after. Why do people really think I’d want to live this way? Forever saying no, or wait until next week. Worrying between food or hot water!

Had trauma counselling today and work agreed to reduce my hours whilst I am healing to go to trauma counselling. Universal Credit asked me about change circumstances and health and need a GP Appointment to get a “Fit Note” to evidence the reasonable adjustments at work. Then been informed by work that the unpaid Reduced hours make my sick HR file look and go into negative. Feeling low and emotional exhausted as trying to heal from Domestic abuse trauma but having to jump hoops and feel stigma for reducing hours with work. Worried about such tight budget when in the news all about prices water etc going up and up . I know doing my best as a parent but I know going have to ask for a food parcel support before end Easter break.

I am still reeling from the government's announcements on changes (mainly cuts) in PIP and universal credit. Here's my perspective, as someone with energy-limiting disabilities.

I have been living with long covid, an energy-limiting condition since 2020. Before that I worked full time. I worked part time (self-employed) for a couple of years, then less and less since as my symptoms increased. It took me eight months to get PIP after applying in 2022. It took substantial efforts from a local charity for me to be awarded it. Without their kind help I would have gone without.

I am grateful that the welfare state provides, but it is still a huge struggle on the limited funds I receive. Reducing my benefits will not encourage me back to work. It will add to my overall stress levels. Stress is known to be a factor in energy-limiting conditions.

I desperately want to work again. I have a plan for returning to work. When I am able, I will take on small amounts of work, and build up slowly. As a self-employed person, this will in no way affect my benefit status, despite what the government has been saying about barriers to work. If and when I manage to earn enough, my benefits will reduce and then disappear. This is my long-term aim. With luck, I will be able to help fund my three children through university. Without that luck, it will be down to them to take on more debt.

The flaw in my plan? My health has not been improving. I am flat-bound most of the time, and my brain fog and exhaustion stop me from using my brain as I used to. I am one of hundreds of thousands of people in the UK with long covid struggling to get by, yet receiving no NHS support. I hear of various wonderful studies, experimental treatments and support, but have no idea how I might access them.

If the government wants to reduce the number of people on benefits, would it not make sense to give some sort of NHS support to long-covid sufferers? I don't need to be dramatically better to start working again. The right treatment might help me get there. Reducing benefits is the wrong treatment (I, for instance, will not score four points in any of the PIP criteria, despite genuinely being unable to work). It will push disabled people with similar energy-limiting conditions to the very limits of existence.

With the cost of bills going up again soon it’s hard to be optimistic.

Labour say that they have increased the minimum wage but they haven’t increased the rate of universal credit for people who are unable to work due to mental health or sickness leaving us to rot at the bottom of the pile.

I am confused and scared of taking a step in my life. Making this decision will affect so many things in life.

Hate and racism are spreading through my social media feed on FB.

I’ve been reporting the posts to FB, but nothing is being done about it.

I watched a video from Double Down News, an independent journalist. It explains exactly what’s happening in UK politics—how Reform, Conservative, and Labour are being funded by Russian oligarchs, and why fascism is being spread.

The removal of human rights in protests and employment…

The plan is working. Tory policies in the lead-up to the election ensured they were hated. Now the same is happening with Labour, opening the door for Reform—which is terrifying.

Today I feel like the fight has been beaten out of me. I’ve reached out for mental health support but I 've already been on a waiting list for a year. Maybe this is what the system wants. To beat us down so we don’t call out their abuse. Well...today it feels like they are succeeding.

Today I was notified that my PIP renewal was unsuccessful. I’ve instantly lost £550 a month. I’m totally crushed. I will appeal it but it takes such a toll on me. I don’t know how I will manage until it gets sorted. They have ignored everything I told them and implied I am lying. It’s just cruel. I wish they could see the impact this has on me. How am I meant to mother 3 children when I want to curl up in a ball and cry.

I am feeling very anxious about the proposed cuts to Pip and the changes to the descriptors.

I am saddened by the labour government that they can even have the audacity to cut people who are already on a low income even more.

We are struggling to get by.

Many working families who have disabled family members are struggling to get by and using food banks as it is this is simply not acceptable.