Food For Thought

Good morning everyone,

I don't normally share the blogs of others, but I felt this was too important to not share it with you. This is how things are now in the UK. I hope things are better wherever you are.

Thanks again to the impossibly passionate Jane Young, wearespartacus.org.uk have today announced they will be working with @DoughtyStPublic and @LeighDay_Law tochallenge changes to the new PIP (Personal Independence Payments replacing DLA or Disability Living Allowance) mobility criteria.

Campaigners like Steve Sumpter (@latentexistence), myself, Kaliya Franklin and Jane herself have been invited to explain on radio and TV today, just what the changes will mean.

As regular readers will know, the government have constantly misled the public over the new benefit, claiming a 35% rise when Spartacus Report showed clearly that the rise is only 13% for the working age group who will be affected. Physical conditions have remained totally stable, whilst the 13% rise is almost all due to a rise in mental health conditions and learning disabilities, a trend seen worldwide, not just in the UK.

The DWP misled the public over the first consultation, claiming broad support for the changes, when in fact there was almost none.

After a passionate journey through the House of Lords, the government simply overturned all of the amendments we'd won (amendments that were reasonable and could have made PIP safer and fairer) using an archaic 16th century law known as "financial privilege"

Even at that point, once the changes had become law, the government assured campaigners that once they announced the finer details of PIP, there would be no further policy changes, However, when "regulations" were finally announced just before Christmas, the criteria for claiming the most help with mobility problems had been slashed from 50 mtrs to 20 mtrs without consultation or warning.

This means that many of the most vulnerable claimants of all will no longer qualify. A whopping 600,000 of them. The ability to walk 50 mtrs might just get you to your car and out at the other end, to, say, get to a supermarket scooter. 20 mtrs will get few people from their homes to even their car, leaving over half a million sick or disabled people effectively housebound.

As we all rush from interview to interview, it's clear those put up to oppose us don't even understand DLA or what it does. With that in mind, I thought I'd lay out the key points here for any of you to use or pass on.

Certainly makes you think.

Good News at last

Well I have had contact from DWP. They have granted my appeal and admitted that I am disabled and should have been on support allowance for the last year. However I will have to wait at least 2 months for the money they owe me. Well at least I have a lump sum to look forward to. I only need to decide how to spend it.

I went to watch Fast and Furious 6 on Friday and it has to be the best one yet. I really love fast cars even though that is partly the reason I now struggle to walk.

I have been trying to think all weekend of ways that I can help Michelle at Fightback. she is trying very hard to provide a pro bono service to help people claim their rights and as most of the ones she helps are fighting for benefits, they have very little money. Her savings have now gone and without support, she will no longer be in a position to offer free assistance to anyone. It really is a worry, because she provides such a valuable service. Will have to ponder on this for a while longer.

I had my hanging baskets delivered last week. I have decided that because of our fickle weather, it isn't worth putting real flowers in the baskets any longer. They only last a couple of weeks,so I have got 2 made with silk flowers. They are beautiful and I think they will look lovely at the front of my property. That is if none of the idiots decide they like them and steal them. It is always a worry. I like to see my garden looking nice, but sometimes jealousy overcomes others and my plants disappear. I planted some Evening Primrose seeds a short while ago and I really hope they will come up. However they are not a native plant and may struggle with our non summer months.

Just had a thought. Now that DWP have officially categorised me as seriously disabled, does that mean I am no longer and LTB (lazy thieving bastard)? If it does, then will I need to change the name of my blog? Ah well I'll leave it for now because there are still many people think everyone on benefits is faking it. I hope they are never in a position that they may need help. They should walk a mile in my shoes to find out how difficult life can be.

Have a good day. Will talk again soon.

4 Firemen, and ambulance and 2 funerals.

Well what a terrible couple of weeks.

First Mum's best friend and nieghbour died leaving Mum in a bit of a state. I know she's 95 next week and should be used to it by now, but when it is someone 20 years her junior she can't understand why. 
Next in the catalogue of disasters I fell and broke my ankle. So there I was getting out of the shower when bang down I go. Stupid knee gave out. I'm on the floor without my phone hoping someone will hear me. As luck would have it I was only there for 6 hours because my friend Christine decided to make a surprise visit. Anyway to cut a long story short, there I am in all my glory on the bathroom floor with just a towel over me when this gorgeous fireman asks if I'm okay. (they had to break the door down to get in) Trust me to have  the best looking guy I've seen for ages as a captive audience and to say the least I'm not looking my best, is not the meeting someone new look I'm aiming for.
Next I get the ambulance people who not only have to assess my injuries and get me to hospital, but have to try to put some clothes on me while still trying to preserve my dignity. Not an easy task. Well all well that ends well and I did get the fireman's number. 
Disaster number 3. Got a message on Friday night that a very dear friend had died suddenly. He was only 52. There really is no justice.

Enough of that for now.

This idiot Government are still trying to confuse us with smoke and mirrors, but it won't work. We're onto you.

I got word from DWP that they are allowing me to appeal their decision regarding ESA. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that is jolly decent of them considering they are the ones who screwed everything up. They are the ones who made the wrong decision in the first place and then proceeded to compound their mistake by giving incorrect advise. Will just have to see what the outcome will be.

I think I'd better stop waffling for now. I think the pain killers are kicking in.

Will speak later