Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Disability, independance and labels...

Im sure I’m not alone in remembering the time that it dawned on me, I am disabled. Whether that is as a child going to school or in my case it was when I was first entitled to Disability living allowance. That name, my new label. Disability.

Let me be clear, when I was first deemed disabled there was no party. It isn’t like getting a job or graduating where people are actually happy about it. It isn’t a status symbol. In a lot of cases it is about the accepting of a new way of life, one of pain, shame and illness. It is, at first a pretty negative experience.

I haven’t seen long queues at the doctors wanting to be labeled as disabled, because of some perverse desire to be considered somehow as ill. It isn’t (contrary to some newspapers) an easy life. It is a difficult life and one that involves a complete shift in perspective if you have become disabled after birth.

Now I admit there are financial “benefits” to this label. However, these financial benefits are far outweighed by the additional costs involved with disability. Whatever sort of disability it may be. There are other, more personal costs as well. I may have a free bus pass, but it comes with the knowledge that I will never be able to drive.

I don’t know how many other disabled people have come this far in their journey or even to the same point as I have. But I have moved along way from that initial realisation of disabled.

For me, my disability was my own, completely circling around me and my lifestyle and my choices in life. I can’t say I blamed myself, but I did feel blamed and I guess in someway accepted that. I had been discriminated against because I wasn’t well enough to go to uni, yes, it might have been wrong, but the onus was always on me to change.

Until I started studying disability studies and slowly I came round to social model thinking, that actually society could go a long way to adapting to my disability and it was them that was making it harder for me.

And then I started to fight back.

I remember a particular conversation with my GP. She said to me that she didn’t consider me disabled, and that she knew of others worse off than me. At this point I was pretty clear on the social model and so I explained to her that in fact it was opinions like that which made society disabling. Apart from not knowing me personally she was trying to judge me differently to what I perceived to be true. After coming away from that appointment I considered, I am on DISABLED students allowance, DISABILITY living allowance, I have a DISABILITY bus pass. If those things didn’t make me disabled I don’t know what does.

The worrying thing for me is that the welfare reform bill, and even ESA is actually going to make it easier for people to consider claiming falsly for these benefits. By taking away the label DISABILITY or INCAPACITY from the new benefits it also takes away the feelings associated with acceptance of that particular label.

When I got my DLA it was a weird experience, as I was happy that I received it, but it was making a reality that I was really disabled. By changing this to personal independence payment it refocuses it away from disability and blurs the lines quite considerably.

I am not saying this to be negative, just to be critical. When a person receives Disability Living allowance there is a certain stigma attached and I hope, and I guess this might be behind the low fraud rate. As I said before, no one is queuing up to be labeled as disabled, and this Disability living allowance does exactly that. Personal independence payment simply takes the disability out of the benefit and replaces it with independence. The scary thing is that the opposite of independence is dependence, and there will be 500,000 sick and disabled people not entitled to be independent, and therefore, by default will be dependant.

Sunday, 29 January 2012

yesterdays protest

First I want to start by saying how worried I was that yesterdays protest would somehow damage the reputation of the new disabled peoples movements and create headlines and stories off message and distracting to the main cause. I am really glad that this hasn't been the case, as I have seen some really great stories and coverage of the day yesterday (it was only twitter that seemed to get a bit negative).

I was really impressed that everyone decided to move off in a peaceful way and that there were no arrests or any disturbances. I LOLed at the police vans not being able to take wheelchairs and I am really amazed and in awe of those who took part. As with any protest, the participants take a great risk to their health and the personal sacrifice for a greater cause is appreciated.

However, and I say this tentatively because I don't want to hurt feelings or create tension, I am concerned. I speak from a disability studies angle, and I hope you appreciate that with this degree I am being taught to be critically aware of issues surrounding disability and to 'look beyond' the surface.

Yesterdays protest in my opinion was all about the wheelchairs blocking the road. Although many other disabled people were involved in this protest and stood alongside non disabled ukuncut activists there was little focus on them. It is a little bit of a bugbear of mine (which I apologise for) that people (IE society) sees disability as people in wheelchairs. Yesterdays protest, in my opinion only perpetuated that belief. There appeared to be no equality with other disabled people, and in my opinion they were the ones who took the greater risk. If the police were to start clearing the protest they would have started with the standing protestors under the assumption that these people were not disabled and part of ukuncut.

Thats what I really liked about the hardest hit march that I went on in october, and the internet based campaigning on twitter. There is equality of participation. In October the slowest walkers went at the front of the march and it was at a slow pace for everyone to feel involved. Everyone felt a part of it and had equal role to play.

On twitter, and on the internet, no one knows whose in a wheelchair and whose got what impairment, or even if they are impaired. The internet doesn't discriminate on the grounds of disability. Again everyone was able to take part equally and contribute equally to the action.

Now, as I have said before I have great admiration for yesterdays protest. It was daring and it was an amazing thing to have pulled off. I am just thinking that in future things like this could be less focused on using wheelchairs as barricades and focusing more on a way for all disabled people to participate equally?

Saturday, 28 January 2012

26,000 pounds and all that jazz

I wrote this blog earlier. http://allbigideas.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-fake-family.html In it I used the figure that has been claimed to be the average uk wage. Or so I thought? Since posting, people have catergorically stated to me that 26k is the average HOUSEHOLD income.

Heres a summary of my findings below. The average british family income is 40,000 pounds according to the BBC (based on 2 adults working). The average salary for a UK worker (full time) is 26,244 gross (BEfORE tax) about 20 K after tax.

And the UK government is expecting whole familys to live on the gross earnings of one full time worker (who would be entitled to benefits to top up their income in my calculation above) regardless of their size or household rent or mortgage? Shouldn't the government be looking to the BBC article that clearly demonstrates that even on 40,000 pounds the average family struggles?

-----
my train of thought and sources...

So, I got twitter to help me after I did some digging and found this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15197860
which clearly states

"The average income for a British family with two adults working is £40,000 a year. But while there are people who feel well-off living on this, for others it is a daily struggle."

Obviously I got confused and so asked for a source of the 26,000 figure. Which thansk to Queerpup I got. http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011/nov/23/uk-household-earnings-fall

from the link:
"The median salary for a full-time worker in the UK rose 1.4% in 2011 to £26,244, "

so again, is that net or gross?

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/ashe/annual-survey-of-hours-and-earnings/ashe-results-2011/ashe-statistical-bulletin-2011.html

"Median gross annual earnings for full-time employees (including those whose pay was affected by absence) were £26,200, an increase of 1.4 per cent from 2010 "

so its gross...

my fake family...

It concerns me that the government caps benefits at 26,000. They argue that this is the average wage in the UK and no one should earn more on benefits. Fair enough you say? Apart from the obvious problem that the cap is being applied per household and not per person (as the average pay is for one person not a household). I wanted to see whether a person earning 26k after tax would be entitled to benefits. As the government deems it enough to live on for one group, surely the answer would be no?

meet my fake family. A single parent, earning 35k a year (26k after tax) with 3 children. They live in this house in sheffield. I chose the cheapest rental 3 bedroom house on in sheffield. They pay 495 pcm. As the parent works I have estimated 100 pounds a week is spent on childcare (say 2 children need childcare, 5 pounds an hour for 10 hours a week). Council tax band A in sheffield is: £983.49 a year. They have no other income.

So, putting all this into http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

That is a total of 7,300 pounds of benefit entitlement. Ok, so lets say this single parent looses their job? They'd get more, or the same right? Thats what the government says, the government is cracking down on benefit entitlement being too high. Wrong...

So, my fake family would be better off in work. 33,268 pounds would be their income if they were in work, and if they are out of work this drops to only 21,168.37.

Even on 26,000 pounds a single parent would be entitled to benefits. There is a big difference in the income you receive if you are not working.

Friday, 27 January 2012

article from pulse...

http://www.pulsetoday.co.uk/comment-blogs/-/blogs/13347229/working-without-enthusiasm-is-the-best-we-ve-been-able-to-come-up-with
to save you registering il put it here:

'Working without enthusiasm is the best we've been able to come up with'

4.00PM 26 January 2012

As the British Medical Association draws up plans for industrial action over pension reforms it remains far from clear exactly what form this action should take.
A BMA representative says: 'Working without enthusiasm is the best we’ve been able to come up with. Forget banner-waving and looting Asda, we’ve decided that the best thing we can do to send the government a clear and consistent message is to behave in exactly the same way that you do every Monday morning.'
'Refuse to smile, sign scripts really slowly with a pencil, tut at patients when they ask for a sick line because their knee is a bit tingly and just let those forms for disability living allowance gather dust in the depths of your pigeon hole. In fact we suggest that you do what every member of the working British public does on a Monday morning and Friday afternoon.'
In order to get some feedback about working without enthusiasm, which is a concept unheard of in the medical profession, the BMA consulted Julie who works part time at the Croydon branch of Topshop.
Julie won the Working Without Enthusiasm award for three years in a row and last year she spent half of her shift smoking fags out the back which is a branch record.
Julie says: 'Working without enthusiasm is really very simple if you get the basics right. First of all, you need a slack expression ... like this ... then you need to chew gum like it’s going out of fashion and then you need to perfect the art of wrinkling up your nose in disbelief if anyone asks you to do anything.
'The next step is to develop an overwhelming addiction to Facebook, and show more interest in Katy Perry than kidney cancer. That last one might be difficult for doctors but it’s amazing what you can do if you just apply yourself.'
We also tried to contact the Professor of Procrastination studies for his views, but he replied: 'I’m out for lunch, call me back sometime.'

Thursday, 26 January 2012

normal people are really sick...

My new years resolution for 2012 was to become well.

Nothing too serious though, I don’t want to be an out and out normie or anything, perhaps just a touch of ableness, so perhaps I could work or something?

I hear theres a lot of money to be made from being normal. Aparantly you can even get a job, you know a proper one, not just one of those workfare ones. One that pays tax and everything.

And it is far easier to be seen as normal these days than was ever the case, just go and see ATOS and you’l be instantly cured, fit for work!

Also, I am nothing if not a creature of fashion, a cool and with-it hipster, daddy-o, who is always up to date with the latest trends.

And being normal is incredibly fashionable. The number of people who claim to be normal has doubled in the past ten years. (again, thanks to ATOS for that)

And who can blame them? Not only do you get a hell of a lot more money from working than being on benefits- but if you play your cards right you might even be able to afford a brand new car of your own and perhaps even a week or two in the sun. You could even afford to park wherever you want and not have to go home if there are no spaces near the shops.

Ahh, the shops, if I was normal I might be able to actually buy things in them, you know, with real money? And I could use a normal toilet, without having to wait for the only disabled loo that’s usually taken up with a parent changing her kid or a wayward MP. And no guilt either! Amazing!

The latest figures regarding employment and being normal came out this week. It is now estimated that the majority of the population are normal, and are fit to work. What’s more, almost all of them have been able to do so for more than a decade! WOW shocker!

When you suggest this is a public scandal, the government get very cross and accusing you of victimizing the normals.

But I’m not. I’m vicitimising the people who are normal in order to claim handouts from employers. Disgusting behaviour, is working.

Or at least, I’m trying to: I don’t suppose it will have much effect. Just water off their supposedly straight backs.

Then the right wingers will say- hang on a minute, you fat old leftie, more money is lost to the country through sickness benefits than from tax avoidance. And then I would point them in the direction of the facts…

And the Government should deal with that misleading statement with a bit more vigour than they do right now.

But it still doesn’t make normals ok does it?

Its like saying we shouldn’t get worked up about not being able to work, because working is so much worse.

It’s a silly argument, we all know normals have it too good.

More than anything, though, the people who find that people are normal are doing a disservice to their country, ATOS are denying people who are truly disabled or ill, and forcing them out into the workplace. It has become easier for ATOS to do this, partly as a consequence of the government who, out of their own self-interest, insist that an ever-greater proportion of the population is normal.

I think we should all try and be disabled for a month or so, try and claim benefits and see how hard it really is. Then hopefully it might persuade the government to sort out the mess.

http://www.freezepage.com/1327578079WVBGACETGC (a parody of this article)

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

who would you demonise?

I am desperately trying to think of another real life example to prove how ludicrous the idea of attacking tenants for the cost of their rents that landlords have set. I think it would be akin to having a go at the passengers of an airplane for the cost of the plane tickets.

You wouldn't have a go at the passengers. After all they didn't chose the price of their ticket and its set by the airline. Equally you wouldn't have a go at the air stewardess for the price, but perhaps the government for the ammount of taxes and charges but mainly the airline itself.

In the same way, a tenant very often has little choice over their acomondation, the ammount they pay for it etc etc. it is set by local rates and landlords out to make a profit. It should always be the fault of the landlord and perhaps the government for allowing this to continue.

Monday, 23 January 2012

not in my name.

Since seeing that disabled people are planning an act of civil disobedience on Saturday I have been thinking a lot about this.

Disabled people have been fighting very hard recently to be recognised as having a legitimate and valued voice, and I dare say we have been successful in this. As Sue Marsh said in her blog, we are no longer considered scroungers and dole scum. Thanks to the Spartacusreport we have raised disabled peoples profile in the national media, wider society and more importantly within the houses of power at westminister.

As I said on twitter the other day, the spartacusreport managed to get inside the HoL in an amendment and not just standing outside with a placard. Its success was in my opinion soley down to one thing. Accessibility. It meant that, for the first time the majority of disabled people could all unite together with one voice, one message using the same means. The internet has become one of the best tools for disabled people to communicate. There weren't any practical issues of traditional protesting and people were able to contribute in their own small way to make a big difference.

My fear for saturday is that all this good work will get undone. disabled people have been fighting for the front pages of newspapers with a legitimate, factual and reasoned argument with the spartacusreport, but unfortunately this might hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

It might shove spartacus report into the sidelines and change the public's new perception of disabled people once again into a negative and scrounging stereotype.

I know I would prefer disabled people to be known for the calm, reasoned, thoughtful, intellectual and factual arguements within the spartacus report than for some stunt in central london.

Friday, 20 January 2012

my bus journey

It took me til 2 to pysch myself up enough to go out. After checking the buses were actually coming I went to the bus stop and managed to make it into town. The bus doesn't exactly go where I want it to, so I have to catch another one 2 stops up the hill, but this bus is at the next stop so its fine.
After getting my 130 pounds refund (I think worth making the effort toget out !!!) I went home.
I had to weigh up the risks of staying in town another 20 minutes or getting a bus now and being over run with school kids. I looked at my phone and seen there were 2 buses running together and so managed to get the one behind. (so the school kids would be on the one in front.
Yes, at this point it is 250pm. Its a 20 minute journey to town, and another 5 once im in town. So by my reckoning i spent all of 20 minutes in town. And yes, I did catch the same bus out as in. After its left town it takes 20 minutes to get to the end of the route and flip around.

When Im on the bus I zone out. I can only sit on the single seats, and this particular bus was a bit of a nightmare as it only has one and its used by pushchairs and their mums, so I was just hoping I didn't get any conflict. I have done before.

so there i am, sitting with my phone and twitter in my own little world when I hear people startingto get more angry, and then i notice the bus has gone the wrong way. without warning. and the bus driver further panics by not stopping and explaining but just shrugging his shoulders and keeping on going.

no one knows where the bus is going, not even the bus driver it would seem. As is apparant from my twitter i had a meltdown. i was only 5 minutes from home at the point of diversion, my bus stop and my house are 2 minutes away. the problem of course with sheffield is the hills, and becuase the bus didnt go the right way it will now involve a longer walk.

but my brains not thinking about that, its not thinking in any sort of logic. Although this area is familar to me, its as though I have just landed on another planet. this is wrong, its not making sense. If the bus driver had said before that he was going on diversion it would have made me panic yes, but at least it wouldnt have completly freaked me out.

Another passenger is saying to me to get off at this stop, so I do, stil lnot quite sure where I am, even though as I say its familar to me. I sit at the bus stop a minute and just calm down enough to work out where i am and how to get home.

but yes, i can mobilze and plan a journey.. i guess thepeople who wrote those descriptors have never walked in my shoes, or even been on public transport. As much as i hate it, i can't drive because I collapse from stress, so I have no choice. its not to bad as i say, the bus stops outside my house and i can track the buses so i know when their coming...

Thursday, 19 January 2012

#getwellsuen

I think most people know that Sue is now not well and in hospital. I reckcon she might need cheering up so I thought Id set up a blog as a giant internet get well card. and as a giant twitter get well card can we use #getwellsuen to tweet our good wishes to her. (did you see what I did there?)

I know for me personally Sue has done so much and this is just a little something i wanted to try organise to give a little bit back..

please join me?

writings...

Im running for disabled students rep, and im filling in my nomination form. these are the questions and these are my answers. any thoughts or help?

WHAT EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS WILL I BRING TO THE ROLE: (This could be through your course, part time or voluntary work and/or involvement in the Union, e.g. clubs, societies, volunteering, student rep, etc)200 WORD LIMIT

I am currently studying education and disability studies. This course has quite simply been a revelation to me. It has transformed my thinking around disability. I want to share what I have learnt with other disabled students.

I have been in higher education and trying to get a degree for nearly ten years. I have experienced both good and bad practice and I understand and appreciate what a struggle it is to be a disabled student.

The reason I am doing my degree is because I want to be the change I wish to see in the world. This year I have gone on a protest against disability cuts and I am sitting on union council as a faculty rep. I am also setting up an online student community to help disabled students feel less isolated.

I love to listen and advocate for disabled students. I have been involved in peer mentoring disabled students.

IN THIS ROLE I WILL ACHIEVE FOR STUDENTS (This is explaining what positive change you plan to bring for students)200 WORD LIMIT

Disabed students rep

I want to activate and empower disabled students.

The way i intend to do this is:

- Initiate a disabled students rep system for each faculty to ensure that students have a voice on campus with any disability related academic concerns.

- Publicity and awareness campaigns to ensure that disabled students know who they are and what their rights to DSA, benefits, and disabled students support are.

- Hold workshops for everyone in the above group so that disabled students can become informed and empowered

- To have/ continue to build on the disabled students intranet forum so that we can communicate with each other.

- To build communication links between disabled students and the disability team through a similar style as the student rep system of semester meetings.

- To empower and activate Hallam to recognise that disability and disabled people don’t solely exist in a wheelchair and to educate them with some different perspectives on disability.

- To have a disability awareness day/ disability history day.

I am solution focused. I don’t like to think of things as problems, but as something to find a solution for.

weakness and anger

If you had known me 7 or 8 years ago I doubt you'd want to be my friend. I had a lot of anger back then and I would lash out at anyone and anything. And then something changed.

When I was diagnosed, the specialist said to me that it wasn't anger, it was energy. And that I had the choice to use that energy in a negative way through anger, or in a positive way through action. I immediately changed, and became solution focused and action and positivity became my mantra. I am still depressed and I still am angry, but instead of seeing a problem, I see a solution.

These last few months since the hardest hit march in october has meant I have been able to channel my anger into something really positive and amazing. The spartacusreport has also meant that I had the opportunity to channel all my energies into helping others and being angry at the right people for the right reasons.

But, as i think is typical, I have one weakness.

I have, since that point also developed my creativity. Especially at the moment when I'm not well, and can't concentrate on things for more than 10 minutes this outlet is essential to get rid of some of that anger. It de stresses me to work in photoshop, and its the only thing I can sit and do for hours. I enjoy it, its as though I lock away that anger inside the image im creating.

which is where my weakness comes from. I love to add visual stuff to mainly written and text based things. and I hate to see my artwork misused or misunderstood. it is a part of me, and a very emotional part, so when that happens, it also releases that emotion and that anger inside.

I did some creative stuff for church and well, i no longer go there. They misunderstood and were not using my creative skills appropiately. I had the same problem with a group at uni. They copied my work and sold it on. All this stuff makes me very sensitive and i get very angry and upset when it happens.

I do things on trust. I never do things to make money, its not who I am, I make my artwork for other peoples enjoyment, and as a strong visual message to aid written messages. Its my expressive art.

which is why it angers me and upsets me to see it being abused in that way. I shouldn't have to watermark these designs. I watermark most of my work, but the stuff I do to spread a message or an idea visually, is something I want people to share. To enjoy and to use in helping them to explain the message.

It upsets me and embarrasses me when I get angry because I really hate that side of who I am, and it winds me up that I let people get to me like that. so I am sorry for my weakness and I hope i have explained it all well.

thanks

Tuesday, 17 January 2012

first they came for

My brains not thinking so well, so its not as good as I hoped it would be...

Pastor Martin Niemöller said this:

First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn't speak out because I was Protestant.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

I think we are listening

Over the last few months I have found this:

First they came for the people on housing benefit

But even though it doesn’t affect me, because my rents cheap I still spoke out for them

Then they came for people who have cancer

And we questioned how terminally do you have to be to get benefits?

Then they came for the disabled children

And we refused to give up on them

Then they came for the workers, the people who’ve paid in all their lives

And we stood shoulder to shoulder in solidarity

So, when they come for us

We have the support of all.

Sunday, 15 January 2012

Spartacus week 2 Links

And so here it is.. week 2 and we are still getting publicity...

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/policy/disability/personal-independence-payment/the-assessment-criteria/social-security-personal-independence/
pip consulation different options. I have also made a word version. tweet me @allbigideas if you need that.

radio n tv links
http://www.latentexistence.me.uk/welfare-reform-bill-todays-media-links/

thursday
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/19/what-next-sparticus-welfare-campaign?newsfeed=true Hundreds of people have asked me "So, what next for Spartacus?", the welfare campaign named after the report I co-authored with dozens of other disability ...

Friday

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16116
are continuing to protest strongly over the coalition's controversial Welfare Reform Bill, following the publication of the critical Spartacus Report. ...

http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/columnists/adam-and-hannah-off-air/rainbow_warrior_1_3429166 NEW report called Responsible Reform has been drawn up based on ... The document (which has been dubbed Spartacus*) sharply criticises the planned .

http://kerrymccarthy.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/scroungers-fight-back/
Sue Marsh and others have done an excellent job campaigning on disability issues, with their Spartacus report and efforts to persuade the Lords to amend the Welfare Reform Bill. They’ve used social media to do this very effectively.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16656818#TWEET65431
Iain Duncan Smith has told the BBC a planned benefits cap is not "about punishing people", and has said people are "not suffering" under his reforms

Wednesday

http://news.sky.com/home/politics/article/16151452
Tanni GT's ammendment thrown out of HoL

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4068678/1billion-a-year-benefits-waste.html 800m in over payments for benefits (bad article)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/17/welfare-reform-bill-amendment-blocked?newsfeed=true The government fought off a fresh challenge to its controversial welfare reform bill on Tuesday night, when peers rejected a proposal to delay the full introduction of slashed new disability payments after ministers offered concessions

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/matthew-norman/matthew-norman-cameron-is-the-david-brent-of-welfare-reform-6291013.html The only freedom the Government has in mind, in seeking to have this benefit reduced or removed by the decision of private firm employees under huge pressure to find reasons to do so, is the freedom from caring adequately for its most vulnerable.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gpsKwDvySVWj9N9JUwwP79AR8qHQ?docId=N1028251326788847266A
The coalition has avoided fresh embarrassment over its plans for a new disability allowance after making concessions.

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16099
By staff writers Conservatives leaned heavily on Liberal Democrat support in the Lords last night, avoiding another humiliating Welfare Reform Bill report stage defeat by only 16 votes. The rejection of a proposal to delay the full introduction of new

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=27267

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/politics/article-24028559-backing-tories-on-welfare-will-see-disabled-sleep-in-open.do
A senior Liberal Democrat MP today attacked leaders of his party for backing welfare reforms which he says will see "the weak and disabled bed down at night under railway bridges". Andrew George hit out at the "dinner party tendency in our ranks" who ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16596799
All of this was largely uncontentious in years of plenty, but austerity has brought with it demands that the welfare state be cut back. DLA costs billions and the Treasury is committed to finding an alternative that will see the rising bill reduced by ...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lords-rebellion-fails-to-block-reform-of-disability-benefits-6291148.html
Disability campaigners were dismayed yesterday as the Government narrowly won ... an attempted amendment to its reforms of the Disability Living Allowance.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/18/conservative-party-attacks-disabled-people?newsfeed=true
Having been a member of the Conservative party since 1992 and a councillor from 2006, I decided to relinquish both of those positions in 2011. A big decision but one that I decided to make because of the government's endless attacks on disabled people ...

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/01/the-governments-replacement-for-dla-is-not-fit-for-purpose/
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/01/the-governments-replacement-for-dla-is-not-fit-for-purpose/
Thursday 12 January's vote against the welfare reform bill was a key victory for disabled people, including those with Parkinson's. In powerful speeches, peer after peer objected to the arbitrary one year time limit that was proposed for means testing .

http://www.publicservice.co.uk/news_story.asp?id=18554

LA is in need of urgent reform so that it can give people the support they need. Under PIP a greater proportion of people will be eligible for the higher rate of help than is the case under DLA. "People understand that the welfare state needs to ...

http://www.hi-mag.com/health-insurance/product-area/income-protection/article389116.ece The government's plans to reform Disability Living Allowance face a hurdle in the House of Lords today when a group of cross-benchers, including Paralympic gold medallist Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, will demand changes to the

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16613900
She said some people were "terrified" about the proposals, and claimed up to 500000 people could lose out. Iain Duncan Smith said the reform was intended to offer a "sustainable" allowance that would go to the right people, with some losers and some

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16099
ackers of the Spartacus Report, which exposed the deeply flawed official consultation on the Disability Living Allowance, vowed to keep on campaigning. Sue Marsh, co-author of the headlining 'Responsible Reform' report, commented: "Lord Freud had t

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16610020
pmqs as it happened.

http://www.thecommentator.com/article/816/why_britain_is_f_
.. single mother of three who arrived in the UK four years ago can now claim £2600 per month in Housing Benefit to go on top of the £25547.60 per year she already gets in tax credits, child benefits, disability living allowance and carer's allowance. ...

http://www.rethink.org/about_mental_illness/personal_stories_blogs_forum/blogs/jane_harris/dla_and_the_question.html
What next for DLA?

http://www.papworth.org.uk/news-detail.php?aid=282
papworth trusts response to last night.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16613900

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/01/the-governments-replacement-for-dla-is-not-fit-for-purpose/ Fit for purpose?

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16095
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World at One, ahead of the House of Lords Welfare Reform Bill (WRB) debate today, Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Maria Miller sought to sound reassuring and reasonable.

http://carerwatch.com/reform/?p=492 In the Aftermath our voices will not be silenced

http://www.mstrust.org.uk/news/article.jsp?id=5201 MS trusts response..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16611064 ain Duncan Smith has rejected suggestions that thousands of cancer patients could lose nearly £100 a week due to coalition welfare changes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16618955 UPDATE: The government, according to strong rumour, is about to make defeats a little less likely, by appointing 60 new peers - 40 Conservatives, 15 Liberal Democrats and five Labour. And no crossbenchers.

http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/701/13525/18-01-2012/welfare-reform-bill-lords-compromise-is-no-victory disabled activist On 11 January, the House of Lords rejected the Con-Dem coalition government's proposal in its misnamed welfare reform bill to limit the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) that is contribution-based for disabled and sick claimants to one year.

http://www.spiked-online.com/index.php/site/article/11976/ Let’s have a proper debate about the welfare state

TUESDAY

this one im putting here becuase its an essential read for all spartcii
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/17/disability-spartacus-welfare-cuts-campaign-viral?CMP=twt_fd

All links relating to the amendment here:
http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/news/9474781.Baroness_to_challenge_new_disability_benefit/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16588521

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16588953
(video)
http://fullfact.org/factcheck/disability_living_allowance_benefit_20_years-3240

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/221449.html

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/296215/Benefit-reform-fears-for-disabled

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gpsKwDvySVWj9N9JUwwP79AR8qHQ?docId=N1028251326788847266A

(600million 'overpayment' source)
http://fullfact.org/blog/DLA_benefit_claims_without_checks-3112
and another article about the claim
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/jan/17/disibility-living-allowance-overpayment?CMP=twt_gu

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/neilobrien1/100130331/reforming-disability-living-allowance-is-the-right-thing-to-do/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/video/2012/jan/17/disability-living-allowance-video-diaries

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/17/society-daily-email?newsfeed=true

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16088

(comes with a health warning this one, its Lord Freud)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/17/welfare-reforms-sustainable-system?commentpage=1#end-of-comments

http://www.healthinsurance.co.uk/news/2012/jan/pressure-on-govt-increases-over-planned-benefit-changes.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/01/17/dla-reform-welfare-lords_n_1209847.html

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16087

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/blog/2012/jan/17/disability-welfare#block-3

http://lartsocial.org/DLAreform

http://mark-mi-words.blogspot.com/2012/01/personal-story.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2087784/Welfare-Reform-Bill-Where-national-conscience.html

http://mark-mi-words.blogspot.com/2012/01/personal-story.html

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/01/charities-call-for-welfare-reform-bill-pause/

http://sewtired.wordpress.com/2012/01/17/wrb/

http://audioboo.fm/boos/626921-welfare-reform-rushed-through

live blog on disability reform http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16092

Real PIP losers revealed, just before Lords vote: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16093

Will the government take away money from disabled people on a hunch? http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/01/will-the-government-take-away-money-from-disabled-people-on-a-hunch/

http://boggenstrovia.blogspot.com/

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16095

http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2012/01/stop-and-think-about-disability-benefit-cuts-say-charities/

http://www.channel4.com/news/campaigners-urge-pause-on-disability-benefits-reform

---------------------------
Saturday
Bendygirls radio interview transcribed
http://www.blogistan.co.uk/blog/articles/kaliya-franklin-interview

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2086770/The-Lords-decent-politicians-left.html#ixzz1jThlaocd

http://www.latentexistence.me.uk/ministers-getting-ahead-of-themselves/

http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.com/2012/01/not-scroungers-any-more.html

http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-data-protection-for-sick-and.html

http://www.benefitscroungingscum.blogspot.com/2012/01/spartacusreport-inspires-sermon.html

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cm120110/text/120110w0008.htm#12011114000010

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Appeal-MPs-vote-cuts/story-14413648-detail/story.html

Warning, against us, please comment and get involved if you can
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/15/duck-reform-disabled-benefits-disability?CMP=twt_gu

why we need to defend DLA
http://jennymorrisnet.blogspot.com/2011/11/why-we-need-to-defend-disability-living.html

Monday
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16080

In reference to:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2087165/Disability-benefit-TREBLES-20-years-3-5m-claiming-2015-warn-ministers.html?ito=feeds-newsxml and http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4063358/Disability-benefit-claims-treble.html#comment-rig

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/16/disability-reform-lords-defeat-amateur?newsfeed=true

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16079

http://anitassessment.weebly.com/spartacus-action.html

http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/districtnews/districtatog/9473418.Disability_aid_cuts____unfair____to_the_sick/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16573348

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/blog/2012/jan/16/welfare-reform-bill-cuts-to-disability-benefits?newsfeed=true

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/davehillblog/2012/jan/16/london-housing-benefit-caps-disability

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/01/16/welfare-reform-pip-three-months-qualifying_n_1208417.html

http://notsobigsociety.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/from-clicktivism-to-activism/

http://www.papworth.org.uk/news-detail.php?aid=279

http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.com/2012/01/lord-freuds-letter-to-peers-re.html

http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/latest-news/1509-dwp-tries-to-discredit-spartacus-report

http://www.prlog.org/11773513-spartacus-report-gains-public-support.html

http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/guest-post-last-chance-to-save-disability-living-allowance#.TxSDvXwRN-4.twitter

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jan/16/welfare-reform-bill-lords-rebellion?CMP=twt_fd

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2012/01/16/young-cancer-patients-will-be-pushed-into-poverty-by-government-welfare-cuts-charity-warns-115875-23701297/

http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16083

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jan/16/coalition-cuts-disability-benefits?newsfeed=true

Saturday, 14 January 2012

weekend Tweeting

hiya

Low on spoons? want to keep tweeting?

Here be some help... il add more as i find them. please comment with any you have seen.

thanks

People on DLA should not be reassessed til we know that PIP is working - #spartacusreport

I bet you've read the #spartacusreport. You must have done, everyone has read the #spartacusreport. No? Well here it is http://bit.ly/xS4Txp

#spartacusreport Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor, Robin Cameron is stealing from the poor to give to the rich.

#spartacusreport It costs 3829.11 per year to support a disabled person with DLA, why does it need cutting?

#spartacusreport All we ask for is 6 months. All we need is 6 months. Pause and listen to disabled people please.

#SpartacusReport support disabled rights to fair treatment and stop the gov's lies

Monthly LOW rate DLA £156, monthly food allowance for an MP £400. Who are the scroungers? #spartacusreport

How can DWP refuse to agree PIP criteria until after reforms. Can't have a complete consultation without criteria #spartacusrepor

Boris says DWP statistics give the overall fraud rate for DLA as being less than 0.5% http://tinyurl.com/7sdk8uq #spartacusreport

I’m as mad as hell & I’m not going to take this any more. http://tinyurl.com/78erjru I support #spartacusreport, will you?

Any reform that impacts the #hardesthit needs to be thought out, well considered, and properly consulted. #spartacusreport

STOP right there! Before you go any further read THIS > http://tinyurl.com/78erjru #spartacusreport #WRB #DLA

100's of ppl came together to fund, write & research the #spartacusreport How d`ya like them big society apples Cameron?

I support the #spartacusreport because disabled ppl shouldn't pay the price for financial failures - nor can we afford to

The #SpartacusReport shows that changes to DLA have not been properly scrutinised – we need a six month delay to these reforms

We get cuts, while mp's want extra expenses and second home allowances. All in it together?....no not really obviously #spartacusreport

Even if you're not interested in disability or welfare, surely you can stil see the injustice in this http://bit.ly/zKQiqo #spartacusreport

its not about right and left its about right and wrong. all #spartacusreport wants is whats right.

People that don't think the #wrb or #spartacusreport are relevant to you,what'll you do if you go off sick?

Once you have read the #spartacusreport please sign @patspetition http://bit.ly/vUDMfN to stop and review the welfare reform bill.

How Much does it cost?

figures from here:

www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dla-reform-wr2011-ia.pdf

Thursday, 12 January 2012

newsnight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iviJ-Wgl7JQ&feature=youtu.be
(thanks to latent existance for the video)

Sue wrote this this morning: Mostly, I know that you will burn at the injustice of not being heard. You will wonder - as we have always wondered - why the mainstream media persist in ignoring truth and reason and evidence. Journalists will not be queueing to ask how the defeat came about, to ask the campaigners who almost certainly made it happen.

We have come to this point by engaging with politicians of all colours, by owning social media and using it to make our own news.

Today, you have truth and justice on your side. The Government do not. No Government is defeated on the scale we saw last night, with the very strong majorities we saw, by accident. It was the undeniable injustice of the Government's plans that convinced the Lords.

Do what we do best and make our case honestly. Re-post articles, write short statements, blog, contact friendly journalists and see if they will drop a little of the DWP spin angles. Contact supporters and let them know we won and what it means. Own the internet. It's all we have.

Trust in our case, trust in the evidence we have presented, but most of all trust yourselves. Governments are not defeated often in the way ours was yesterday and you did it. Without the TV news, without much of the printed news, without an opposition, whatever Labour MPs claim today. The Labour Lords worked tirelessly for us however and they deserve a huge thank you.

---------

Tonight, Sue will be appearing on newsnight, bbc2 10:30. Lets show the internet we own it. Lets use Sues words to motivate and guide us. Be polite, be reasonable, and remember we have the truth on our side. Use the offical newsnight hashtag but dont forget to add #spartacusreport to tweets. I have added a link to my links hub to remind you of the coverage so far and key points.

http://allbigideas.blogspot.com/2012/01/links-links-links.html

Lets own the internet tonight, after all, as sue says, its all we have.

what spartacusreport means to me....

for me the spartacusreport movement has been life changing. I have mental health problems and I am very socially isolated. I'm findng life really tough at the moment and even getting out of bed was a struggle.

And then monday happened. all of a sudden I was part of a community, all with the same aim and purpose. We wanted a pause to Pip and we had a legitimate case in the spartacusreport.

I no longer feel alone, I don't feel helpless and worried about the future of my life on benefits. I feel empowered, stronger and feeling like I can make a difference, no WE can make a difference.

I haven't met any of these people, but to me they have become family. Its been an emotional rollercoaster this week as last night we virtually held hands watching parliament tv as the vote came in, and then the explosion of tweets tentatively celebrating, and breaking out into a full blown party.

Disability activism has found a new voice on twitter, thanks to the #spartacusreport.

fallout from welfare reform votes links

Wednesday, 11 January 2012

hi everyone :)

Tuesday, 10 January 2012

DLA is my lifeline, PIP would mean life gone.

Over the last few days there has been incredible support from all sorts of different people, organisations and the media about the spartacus report. This blog will explain what it actually is, and then what a difference it will make to my life if the government are allowed to press ahead with the welfare reform bill without proper consultation with disabled people (by proper I mean asking, listening and acting on what disabled people and our supporters are saying we need). The hash tag on twitter is #spartacusreport. We are fighting for our lives, and some are literally fighting with their lives, causing them sickness and ill health because of this report. We need support, This report is 100% disabled people from inception to delivery. Our main aim is to get the government to at least pause their plans for PIP.

------------
Freedom of information requests were used to gain access to responses to the consultation on replacing disability living allowance with personal independence payments. The response (and subsequent report) showed that:

The government said that the responses support the reforms. They lied. The consultation showed that only 7% do.
The consultation did not meet the government’s code of practice. It was too short and it ended two days AFTER they wrote and presented the bill to parliament.
The government has consistently claimed a 30% rise in DLA claims. It is 13% and they admit they know this but still claim 30%

In short, this report says that the government broke the rules, LIED, are still lying, and we can prove it. They are lying to force through legislation that will affect millions of people, and could one day affect you. Anyone can become sick or disabled. We simply ask that the legislation is paused and given proper scrutiny.
Facts courtesy of latent existance: (http://www.latentexistence.me.uk/responsible-reform-report-in-simple-terms/)
--------

At the moment I use my Disability living allowance for private treatment. Treatment that isn't available on the NHS because its deemed to costly. I also use it to remain independent which for most people are little things. This includes being able to have ready meals, my dishwasher and kitchen gadgets (my blender, grill and rice cooker means I can can do it myself). I also use it for getting shopping delivered, and those unexpected things. When I am depressed I can't focus or budget properly so knowing I don't have to stress about money is one less thing to stress about. Basically it keeps my life going.

my life? I am currently a student studying for a degree at university, and I am in my third year. I took the decision to do this final year over 2 part time years because of my disability, and knowing I had the security of DLA was a big factor in my decision. I am also creative and enjoy photoshop and taking photos.

So, Thats me and my life with DLA. If the proposals for PIP go ahead you might think I am safe enough as I am disabled and clearly using the money appropriately. No, you would be wrong.

I try not to dwell on it, but the criteria for PIP are vastly different to DLA and the fact that I can use my microwave and rice cooker, and blender negates me from the cooking test. Ironic, the things I have spent my DLA on to enable me to be safe in the kitchen means I wont qualify. I don't know what would happen if they break down? I do know that without them I was living on takeaways and eating from paper plates.

Under DLA the fact that I need supervision to go out in unfamilar places qualifies me for lower rate mobility. Under pip, it is no longer about mobility but cognition. I can plan a journey and follow it through so that again negates me from the benefit. However, the way I plan a journey is in itself disabling. I have to plan and plan and plan every possible route to get me somewhere. I get stressed if the bus gets too busy, or noisy or it might even be something random that triggers me into getting off the bus. It is the rigorous planning that keeps me safe. But it means I can't just go to a place, I need to exstenively look into it and consider all the risk factors before i decide if its worth it.

As I mentioned I have treatment, which isn't covered in the new criteria. Without this treatment it would make me seriously unwell again, and I would go back to relying on police, ambulance, crisis team etc etc. not somewhere I want to be thanks.

Quite simply DLA is my LIFE and with PIP I wont have one.

Tweeting ideas

Seen any good tweets? comment with them here and I'll add them to the list, again, I am just trying to make it easier for spoonies to tweet and to keep #spartacusreport trending.

Just copy and paste whatever you want to use.

Brilliant easy read version of #spartacusreport. Many thanks to United Response for their work. http://tinyurl.com/7ym7st6

Exclusive Interview: William Beveridge backs #spartacusreport | Liberal Conspiracy http://liberalconspiracy.org/2012/01/10/exclusive-interview-william-beveridge-backs-spartacusreport/ via @libcon

Prime Minister, do 'you' actually know what you are doing? asks (wait for it) The Daily Mail. Yay… http://wp.me/pNwla-2mE via @Quinonostante

WE are the #spartacusreport. WE have kicked some big blue arse. WE will not be ignored. WE ARE WINNING! Keep it up, lovelies! #teamwrb

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me. so I got together with disabled people and wrote #spartacusreport

RT @latentexistence http://youtu.be/oYsIoAiazZ0 @BendyGirl + @suey2y have literally half killed themselves working on the #spartacusreport.

I support the #spartacusreport because charities and medical professionals support its conclusions.
never 4get a small group of committed pple can and will change the world. #spartacusreport

important to note that 4 every1 fighting with the #spartacusreport there are at least 10 pple who they represent.

no ifs, no buts, the government didnt listen to us. #spartacusreport tells everyone why.

the government want to take away my dla, i say no way. #spartacusreport tells them why.

we are angry @ gov. Use #spartacusreport to direct rage at them. No anger needed. Truth will set us free

disabled people are desperate to see #spartacusreport have an impact. We r tweeting for our lives. Keep calm and carry on tweeting. No2Anger

i support the #spartacusreport and im behind a pause to PIP. Are you?

#spartacusreport matters to me. Shows the gov. Misled people about dla which is my lifeline.

Please RT: #spartacusreport shows that govt has hidden evidence on Disability Living Allowance.

No, I'M #spartacusreport http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/16008

https://twitter.com/#!/spartacustweets
this account also has a good hub..

I am just creating a hub here ok, trying to help...