Yes, but are you REALLY disabled?

Ann Milnes Roberts is the former editor of the Financial Times: Global Water Report

“How disabled are you? Are you really disabled? You’ll have to be beyond hope if you want any charity from us. Now let’s watch you jump through our hoops.”

Motability-car Outside in the world, you think you are coping well. You don’t feel sorry for yourself. Stuff happens.

But you’ve managed to pay your way, hold down a job and care for your children, live what the world might see as a successful life.

About twenty years ago, your doctor mentioned that you’d probably qualify for disability living allowance. You’d never received a state benefit in your life. You fill in the forms, and are happy to receive the allowance.

You don’t use a wheelchair, but can’t walk far, or fast, and can’t manage escalators or stairs.

In London, the free public transport card won’t work for a Scot. You live in Scotland, but can’t take the train, as the seats are too upright. You drive the 350 miles, so that you can stop and move around every hour.

Though all these years, your Motability-acquired car has meant that you are operating on a slightly more level playing field.

Your car is essential. Without it, the mile-long walk to the nearest bus stop would put the world out of bounds. You could afford to pay for your own car. You’ve worked all your life. But isn’t the DLA supposed to be non-means tested? Didn’t David Cameron claim DLA for his disabled son?

But now you’ve been called for an assessment, to see whether you’ve been cheating all these years. The cold letter ‘invites’ you to attend.

But it also contains a threat:

“If you fail to attend, your benefit may be affected.”

So you struggle to their office.

Pride, dignity, hope: Abandon them at the door. No-one here cares about anything but the best method of rejecting your claim. In this place, you’ll be made to feel bad about yourself.

You’ll leave with the word “loser” imprinted on your brain whether you convince them or not of your need for their “help.”

All these years you’ve played a kind of confidence trick. That’s right, a confidence trick.

But this trick was to show all your friends, employers and family – and even yourself – that you could manage as well as they could in the game of life. You might hobble along, crab-like, inch-by inch, wobble, wobble. But you could hold down a high-flying job, struggle on and off planes, get to meetings on time.

You’d earned a good salary, paid your taxes. The DLA was not means tested. You could use it to help lease a car, pay for a cleaner, a taxi, a slightly larger, more comfortable vehicle – anything that would help you take part in the world. You feel pretty confident you’ve made a good shot at it all – after all, the disability is not who I am, is it?

But here you are, in this room, with this bureaucrat.

If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you. Because by showing that you can take part in the world, you’ll be banned from the world.

No DLA, no Motability, no car, no life. This heartless, calculating, cruel Conservative government has managed a clever trick, backed up by the right-wing press. In spite of fraud accounting for less than half a per cent of all claims, we’re regaled with tales of ice-skating cripples, disabled ballroom dancing champions bent on cheating the system.

Stop it. Stop it now. People are kinder, more honest, better than you think. The public don’t think we’re all scoungers, in spite of your best efforts. Look for a more popular enemy. Perhaps you could target those rich people who aren’t paying their taxes? Just a thought….

See also:

• Why did DWP delay releasing new data until after welfare reform bill cleared Commons? - Daniel Elton, August 12th 2011

• DWP admits disability reform based on dodgy figures, as reported by Left Foot Forward - Declan Gaffney, August 11th 2011

• ‘Simplification’ leads to severely disabled young people’s benefits being cut - Nicola Smith, February 18th 2011

• Government plans to cut DLA could cause extreme hardship - Sue Marsh, January 24th 2011

• Charities urge rethink on DLA mobility allowance cuts - Sarah Ismail, January 12th 2011

http://twitter.com/marshmallett/status/160287576446615553 paul mallett

@BienSoeur one for you I reckon – Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/ztnPywTY
http://twitter.com/jdinparticular/status/160287605819326464 James Davies

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/CvmyWwRj by Ann Milnes Roberts
http://twitter.com/reastybeasty/status/160287948305207296 Jane Reast

demonstrate ability in face of disability, showi you can take part in world, banned from world. http://t.co/SWU0IUZ8 #spartacusreport
http://twitter.com/leftlinks/status/160289873222303744 leftlinks

Left Foot Forward – Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/8zm06nS1
http://twitter.com/crowmogh/status/160290415008956417 Cookie Monster

Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/wej1K60F by Ann Milnes Roberts
http://twitter.com/xheaths/status/160290650842079232 Steve Heath

Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/wej1K60F by Ann Milnes Roberts
http://twitter.com/politicalplanet/status/160290751060783104 Political Planet

Yes, but are you REALLY disabled?: Ann Milnes Roberts attempts to explain the lives behind the DLA cuts. http://t.co/6I3j0KVp
http://twitter.com/communityunion/status/160292721603510272 Community Union

Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/wej1K60F by Ann Milnes Roberts
http://twitter.com/biensoeur/status/160293430851944448 Jules

Thanks to @marshmallett for bringing this one to my attention http://t.co/umbsT5aM read and share folks!
http://twitter.com/britishroses1/status/160293533914374144 BevR

Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/wej1K60F by Ann Milnes Roberts
http://twitter.com/fibromitesunite/status/160293635768852480 M Thomson Fibromite

demonstrate ability in face of disability, showi you can take part in world, banned from world. http://t.co/SWU0IUZ8 #spartacusreport
http://twitter.com/patronpress/status/160293769399373824 Patron Press – #P2

#UK : Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/kLorP2vD
Anonymous

So whats missing.

You haven’t defined disabled. Somewhere along the scale of 0 to 100, there has to be a line where there is no help.

Then you need to say, how you assess where people are.

Otherwise, being towards the 100 scale, perhaps I should claim under your system. I’m sure I hurt my foot the other day, and that makes it difficult walking. Yep, I’ll claim that I’m disabled for that, and I can get the car, the house, the benefits, the lot.

However, there is an easier solution.

1. No disability benefits. You get benefits the same as anyone else if your income is low.

2. 100% of any extra costs paid for by everyone else. If you need a wheel chair, we all get you a wheel chair. If you need a care home, we pay for the care home. If you need physiotherapy, its provided.

However, no extra money just for getting the badge, the label, that you are disabled in some way.

Look at the change. No need for assessments bar the simple tests about what extra you need in the way of help. No question of passing or failing tests for money. Doesn’t need hoards of people administering the system taking tens of thousands a year in wages and pensions, that is far better going on support and those extra costs.

However, nothing like keeping the disabled down, by making sure all that money goes to those administering the system for the state. The real poverty industry in the UK
Anonymous

spite of fraud accounting for less than half a per cent of all claims,

=========

That’s not the real fraud.

Why has disability rocketed from 1 million to 2.5 million?

It’s fraud by government to hide the unemployed, or the NHS is crippling people.
http://twitter.com/keithdavis31/status/160295547826225152 Keith Davis

demonstrate ability in face of disability, showi you can take part in world, banned from world. http://t.co/SWU0IUZ8 #spartacusreport
http://twitter.com/threadbarepanda/status/160296901118410752 Panda

Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/wej1K60F by Ann Milnes Roberts
guest

Brilliant article and all so true….but…makes no difference whatsoever. We can scream and shout all we like this joke of a government is going to press ahead regardless. What really upsets me is the hypocracy by Cameron and IDS. Grayling too. This decimation of peoples lives have been calculated for years. IDS whined about his wife suffering cancer but still he thinks it’s right the little oiks going through chemotherapy are not ill enough to rest and recouperate. As for Cameron..well what can I say about that..(insert own swear word)Even though he’s a millionaire he claimed DLA for his son because *he could* FFS. He said disabled people had nothing to fear!!! WHAT!!!!
What next ? I presume it will be an easier and legal way for euthenasia. I’m waiting for the knock at the door to be rounded up and taken to the shed!
http://twitter.com/heatherkkennedy/status/160298053398577152 Heather Kennedy

If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your #disability, then God help you: http://t.co/cpJi0Ckh #WRB #ATOS
http://twitter.com/alecspeaking/status/160298074395250688 Alec Speight

Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? | Left Foot Forward – http://t.co/simZvZSW
http://twitter.com/blue4butterfly/status/160298657755836416 Rose

Left Foot Forward – Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/8zm06nS1
http://twitter.com/britishroses1/status/160298920780632064 BevR

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/ft5p0JDM Diary of a Benefit Scrounger: So How Am I? http://t.co/A5qOYq3r
http://twitter.com/poutingpou/status/160299782877876225 Kyron Hodgetts

demonstrate ability in face of disability, showi you can take part in world, banned from world. http://t.co/SWU0IUZ8 #spartacusreport
http://twitter.com/themingford/status/160303444903739394 Thomas Hemingford

If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your #disability, then God help you: http://t.co/cpJi0Ckh #WRB #ATOS
http://twitter.com/djmgaffneyw4/status/160304667719507968 Declan Gaffney

By chance 2day, this from @suey2y http://t.co/73UCW1pK and this from former FT journalist http://t.co/Nv24rBeW This is telling us something
http://twitter.com/bendygirl/status/160304770320572416 BendyGirl

By chance 2day, this from @suey2y http://t.co/73UCW1pK and this from former FT journalist http://t.co/Nv24rBeW This is telling us something
Redisbleu

“Defining disabled” as you’ve put it is why the Social Model was created – it was created BY disabled people who understand exactly what is accessible and what is not because they live it every day. We encouraged the DWP and the Government to take this model into consideration, and were even assured that they were doing…but only last week during the Wefare Bill debates we heard Lord Freud use the words “bio-psycho-social” model. Essentially, the model insurance claims use to find ways to not pay out to the insured. Of course one should expect such a thing when it’s backed by Unum. But the difference to “Hurting your foot” is that you’ll eventually recover. People who are disabled have conditions which they can only manage, NOT recover from. Many of these conditions have no cure, at all, ever. And how even simple things which seem “No big deal” to people who don’t have to face these issues can actually be a huge issue to someone with disability.

So how, exactly, do your “easy solutions” actually help? 1) that seems to be the “equality = being treated equally” argument which I’ve seen so many times when it comes to other issues such as gender or race. But making a “level playing field” doesn’t necessarily make for equality. The same benefits as everyone else doesn’t work if you are also responsible for buying equipment to manage your disability. Things that seem like “luxuries” such as a washer and dryer inside your home suddenly aren’t luxuries if you have Crohn’s or are caring for someone on the ASD spectrum. Buying the best quality food you can because your body would suffer if you didn’t means that ASDA sales won’t do you any good. There’s no equality here as the situations that each person deals with is different – there’s so many different ways that one illness or disability can go, and we’re talking about thousands.

2) 100% of any extra costs paid by everyone else – honestly? How do you propose that one? DLA as it currently stands doesn’t come anywhere NEAR getting 100% of any extra costs, and even so the government and Hard-Working-Taxpayer is fainting in coils. My DLA covers maybe 10% of my needs, and I had to fight two years for it…and now I’m being told even that 10% will be gone. Apparently, that’s just fine as “there’s no money left”. Truly, if everyone got exactly what they needed, the government would be horrified. In a perfect world that hadn’t been whipped into a frenzy about scroungers and how expensive we are might even have been willing to do just that, but there needs to be a huge change in attitudes before I ever see it feasible that disabled people across the board are given exactly what they need without constantly having to prove why they need it.

We agree however that the sheer amount of administration is absolutely staggering – and the truth of the matter is Unum is making a huge sum of dosh over this new PIP, which is something we have tried to bring to attention time and time again. Disabled people have said as much…no one is listening. The system does need reform, it’s true…but the spin and deceit which is trying to steer that reform into brushing aside disabled people rather than fix the system to something which actually gives money to the people who need it is the main issue we have, and that’s what needs to be recognised.
http://twitter.com/greekboy8/status/160312292389556224 stavros

http://t.co/D7EDkOCg
How cruel & vile are these Tories. There's no way our public will allow this. Shame on those responsible.
http://twitter.com/margojmilne/status/160312330465443840 Margo Milne

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/lu2XXZ0y #spartacusreport #wrb
http://twitter.com/markmiwordsblog/status/160312354146484224 Mark

leftfootfwd Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/IXdluXUI #spartacusreport
http://twitter.com/timregency/status/160312419674095617 Tim B

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/psheEDTg #spartacusreport
http://twitter.com/chaostocosmos/status/160312438967910400 Pamela Heywood

Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/09zgOxAs
http://twitter.com/patrickjbutler/status/160312880670056448 Patrick Butler

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/psheEDTg #spartacusreport
http://twitter.com/enabledby/status/160312924924153856 Enabled by Design

RT @BendyGirl: RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/y05qSn0U #spartacusreport #disability #WelfareReform #wrb #DLA
http://twitter.com/poutingpou/status/160313288188628992 Kyron Hodgetts

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/psheEDTg #spartacusreport
http://twitter.com/iannoon/status/160313308791046144 Ian Noon

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/mQfmbxqi
http://twitter.com/meganclareprice/status/160313414508486656 Megan Price

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/lu2XXZ0y #spartacusreport #wrb
http://twitter.com/sheppeyescapee/status/160313693320646656 sheppeyescapee

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/psheEDTg #spartacusreport
http://twitter.com/bigpawedbear/status/160314386114818048 big pawed bear

this is bril. RT @MargoJMilne: RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/hZmdZ8Kx #spartacusreport #wrb
http://twitter.com/queerpup/status/160314617896251392 Robin

Excellently spelled out article about the conflict between being functional, and needing DLA: http://t.co/jC2TeSx6
http://twitter.com/chl0ecarter/status/160314788361142272 Chloe Carter

Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/wej1K60F by Ann Milnes Roberts
http://twitter.com/latentexistence/status/160315075578707968 Tentacle Sixteen

this is bril. RT @MargoJMilne: RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/hZmdZ8Kx #spartacusreport #wrb
http://twitter.com/marc_bush/status/160315269707862018 Dr Marc Bush

@leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/FPNluHGU
http://twitter.com/kimbellybull/status/160315285558136834 Kimberley

Excellently spelled out article about the conflict between being functional, and needing DLA: http://t.co/jC2TeSx6
http://twitter.com/jintyg51/status/160315489166438402 Janet Graham

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/pTrhmdCw #SpartacusReport #WRB
http://twitter.com/havantacluotmp/status/160315641411272704 Jeni Parsons

this is bril. RT @MargoJMilne: RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/hZmdZ8Kx #spartacusreport #wrb
Robin Bray

“t’s fraud by government to hide the unemployed, or the NHS is crippling people”

1) Disabled people work. DLA is paid to people whether they work or not – or did you not actually read the above article?

2) The NHS is helping people survive that formerly would have died. Soldiers coming back from the Gulf shot to shreds are now surviving massive injuries that formerly killed very quickly. Children with Cystic Fibrosis are now surviving into adulthood – and longer into adulthood than even ten years ago. People survive brain injury and stroke that never used to. Premature babies live to childhood and beyond.

People survive with cancer for longer, and recover. But frequently recovery includes long-lasting side effects like chronic pain, serious osteoporosis, missing organs that mean support is needed to get through life.

People with Learning Disabilities are no longer locked away in institutions, where people used to die younger.

People survive car accidents, motorbike accidents, industrial accidents, but are left in crippling pain.

Look around you, and rather than looking for “scroungers”, try out your capacity for empathy instead.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=638977017 Clive Arnold

Kindly provide proof of that statement as only 0.5% of DLA claims are fraudulent (DWP’s own figures which means 99.5% are genuine)

*spite of Freud is more accurate*
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=638977017 Clive Arnold

“This heartless, calculating, cruel Conservative government has managed a clever trick, backed up by the right-wing press.”

In fact Labour were the party that started this attiude to disabled people, the ConDems just cranked it up.
http://www.facebook.com/dporembabrumer Derick Poremba-Brumer

A friend of mine who’s a Medical Doctor acquired a head-injury. When she was asked if she understood the ramifications of a head-injury thanks to her medical training, she replied: “It’s like being pregnant. You only fully understand it after you’ve been pregnant!”
http://twitter.com/efcmark777/status/160318854415921152 Mark Wilson

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/psheEDTg #spartacusreport
http://twitter.com/oldtrekkie/status/160320409823219713 Ann Woods

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/psheEDTg #spartacusreport
http://twitter.com/kayelemeno/status/160320914733539328 K a y e l e m e n o

this is bril. RT @MargoJMilne: RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/hZmdZ8Kx #spartacusreport #wrb
http://twitter.com/peachypickle/status/160321040474578945 joanne frank

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/psheEDTg #spartacusreport
http://twitter.com/patspetition/status/160321080261746688 patspetition

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/bendygirl/status/160321144560431105 BendyGirl

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/rosiecosy/status/160321233467097088 Rosie

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/tanya_marlow/status/160321902152392706 Tanya Marlow

By chance 2day, this from @suey2y http://t.co/73UCW1pK and this from former FT journalist http://t.co/Nv24rBeW This is telling us something
http://twitter.com/rosenamc/status/160321910599716864 Rosena McKeown

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/queerpup/status/160322178145976321 Robin

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/aliceblundrland/status/160322248941641729 Alice in Blunderland

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/ju_petrie/status/160322282588340224 JULIE PETRIE

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/anteggs49/status/160323220237590529 anne

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/claireot/status/160324087053430784 Claire OT

By chance 2day, this from @suey2y http://t.co/73UCW1pK and this from former FT journalist http://t.co/Nv24rBeW This is telling us something
http://twitter.com/chrisbracken/status/160324102706577408 Chris

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/2oK8JRLu
http://twitter.com/wbiln/status/160324105185394688 wbiln

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/dochackenbush/status/160324427182125056 Hugo Z. Hackenbush

"Are you Disabled? Are you REALLY Disabled?" Great piece on going through the assessment process. Via @LeftFootFwd http://t.co/mxtheNiq
http://twitter.com/mrsnickyclark/status/160324652403662850 nicky clark

"Are you Disabled? Are you REALLY Disabled?" Great piece on going through the assessment process. Via @LeftFootFwd http://t.co/mxtheNiq
http://twitter.com/robedmerlin/status/160325546620887040 General Korg

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/fibrography/status/160325650488623104 Leigh James

"Are you Disabled? Are you REALLY Disabled?" Great piece on going through the assessment process. Via @LeftFootFwd http://t.co/mxtheNiq
http://twitter.com/tanya_marlow/status/160326569146060800 Tanya Marlow

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/henrypaws/status/160326627925041154 Judith Jesky

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/zgttvn05
http://twitter.com/lilacwheelz/status/160326985799827456 Lilacwheelz

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/blairnboca/status/160327049687465986 Blair A. Miller

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/blue4butterfly/status/160327333910282241 Rose

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/louisebolotin/status/160327461110939648 Louise Bolotin

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/pensham/status/160327866217803777 PennyPensham

Excellently spelled out article about the conflict between being functional, and needing DLA: http://t.co/jC2TeSx6
http://twitter.com/rantingkat/status/160328406003761152 Kat Dadswell

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/8F4eNODW #spartacusreport
http://twitter.com/kirstym_88/status/160328563936067585 Kirsty Morris

"Are you Disabled? Are you REALLY Disabled?" Great piece on going through the assessment process. Via @LeftFootFwd http://t.co/mxtheNiq
http://twitter.com/nevillefarmer/status/160329314850717697 Neville Farmer

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/8F4eNODW #spartacusreport
Anonymous

Except if you look at the research, there isn’t 1.5 million extra people who are shot ex soldiers, people with cystic fibrosis surviving for longer, …

The number of accidents has dropped. The number with industrial accidents has dropped dramatically, because industry has been decimated.

The only figure that makes a small impact, is that there are now more women in the workforce.

You haven’t put any numbers to explain why we have had an increase from 1 million to 2.5 million.

Let me give you the real explanation. Most of them are there because the government changed the rules to get them off unemployment. It started with Thatcher, and Labour carried on.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmworpen/401/40104.htm

For one link on what is called ‘hidden unemployment’

If you want a full analysis, peer reviewed etc, try this

http://www.shu.ac.uk/_assets/pdf/cresr-woib-report-2010.pdf
Anonymous

Because of course, modern political history/policy started at year zero or 1997! the previous 19 yrs ( or 60 yrs dependent upon your particular gripe) were a socialised utopia. Puhlease!
http://twitter.com/alisdairc/status/160332048186347520 Alisdair Cameron

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/aHuPPePa
http://twitter.com/riverluss/status/160332505495519232 Nomad

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/aHuPPePa
http://twitter.com/latentexistence/status/160332704494260224 Tentacle Sixteen

"If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you." http://t.co/IimI7Ouo
http://twitter.com/chrisg4347/status/160333654671892480 Chris Gravell

"Are you Disabled? Are you REALLY Disabled?" Great piece on going through the assessment process. Via @LeftFootFwd http://t.co/mxtheNiq
http://twitter.com/thewidge/status/160333962756096000 The Widge

"If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you." http://t.co/IimI7Ouo
Anonymous

Heaven forfend you should find yourself – through no fault or action of your own- following an accident in need of a wheelchair, in need of help to meet your basic personal care? having a stroke? being mugged and suffering a head injury which leaves you struggling to manage for the next 40 yrs?
This contempt for the ‘not like you’ demonstrates nothing more than your privilege and your inhumanity.
I do not wish illness upon you, only that you show willingness to consider that being well is an act of sheer bloody luck and you should be grateful for it. Rather than sneering at those who are not quite as perfect as you – and undermining their attempts to fit into a world designed by the able bodied exclusively for the able bodied.
How did we get to here, where greed and selfishness became the norm?
We are not a humane society if your attitude is as prevalent as it seems.
http://twitter.com/thebeardlessone/status/160337440756871168 beardless

"If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you." http://t.co/IimI7Ouo
http://twitter.com/reesehopes/status/160337608168316928 carissa hope

Excellently spelled out article about the conflict between being functional, and needing DLA: http://t.co/jC2TeSx6
http://twitter.com/2hay/status/160338671378243584 hayley

"Are you Disabled? Are you REALLY Disabled?" Great piece on going through the assessment process. Via @LeftFootFwd http://t.co/mxtheNiq
http://twitter.com/2hay/status/160338865096359937 hayley

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/subimaginati/status/160339499178663936 Dawn Mckenna

"Are you Disabled? Are you REALLY Disabled?" Great piece on going through the assessment process. Via @LeftFootFwd http://t.co/mxtheNiq
http://twitter.com/subimaginati/status/160339631232122881 Dawn Mckenna

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/bookjo/status/160340061047635968 Joanna Sholem

Article really spells it out.Torn between tears & fury-fuel keep going RT @leftfootfwd:Yes,but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/VtLSZb2O
http://twitter.com/dayvdee/status/160342024904642560 Dave Denison

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/7XgE8wMs
http://twitter.com/budecruiser/status/160342134522789889 Raymond Shemilt

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/h9tQomLa
http://twitter.com/dfenney/status/160343090115264512 Deborah Fenney

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/psheEDTg #spartacusreport
Sarah Campbell

It is IRRELEVANT whether you use a wheelchair or not. Thousands of wheelchair users are also about to lose their HRM and I can’t understand why articles such as these keep using the caveat “you don’t use a wheelchair”.

We need to publicise the fact that ANYONE who can’t walk far or fast, whether or not they then use a wheelchair will lose HRM.

Activity 11, descriptor D identifies “individuals who can use an aid or appliance to move up to 50 metres but then require a wheelchair for anything further.”

Such people only score 10 points, disqualifying them from enhanced mobility, motability, possibly a blue badge. So anyone who can move from 0-50m with crutches, a walking stick or a zimmer frame but then needs a wheelchair also no longer qualifies for HRM.
Anonymous

My nearest bus stop is 30 yards away – it’s still too far. I’ve been disabled all my life, seriously so for 27 years, claimed disability benefits for 26, and currently suffer from one life-shortening condition and and a pair which are inevitably fatal, and probably quite soon. Walking the 12 paces to the bathroom exhausts me.

However, were I to have my DLA entitlement reassessed, I have little doubt that there’s a very good chance Atos would find against me.

And Atos, despicable though they are, are not the real villains in this – IDS and the DWP are, not to mention Cameron, whose hatred of the sick and disabled is arguably insane.

Let’s not forget, though, that Freud and Purnell, under Labour, kicked off the anti-disabled lie-fest – IDS simply ramped it up, producing a lie-factory and propaganda machine that would have had Goebbels wetting himself with envy.
hindle-a

This is where to me the “implementation team” show their little or no knowledge of the practicalities of daily living .It has to be changed surely.
http://twitter.com/Newsbot9 Newsbot9

There’s a simple explanation. (several, actually)

Firstly, people are being kept alive. I know, that terrible NHS you want abolished.
Second, DLA provision was expanded because it saved money. Because otherwise they ended up in institutional care, which is far more expensive. Wait, you’re against that too.

The real “fraud” is that people like you who spout hatred against the disabled are allowed to keep doing it.
http://twitter.com/Newsbot9 Newsbot9

Assessing “what people need” and tracking millions of 1-100 scales will be FAR more expensive than the current system. It would need TWO hordes of people.

The real poverty industry is the capitalism you peddle. The industry of misery.
hindle-a

Thirdly,which the Government keeps quiet about is that over 800,000 pensioners receive it,not(at the moment) being moved to PIP.The reform conveniently negates case law(such as the Mobility component being payable to carehome residents it tried to remove) and will NOT save money merely transfer it to the private assessors,increased NHS and SS,hence thier attempts to remove legal rights as the tribunal costs will also exponentially increase as people(yet again) endeavour to fight for their entitlements and the case law is built up again and then in twenty years time the whole farce begins again as PIP is “out of date”-well you know the rest.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=638977017 Clive Arnold

You are using 10 year old Incapacity Benefit levels in your claim yetwhen using the government’s own data, currently 1.8 million people of working age claim some form of DLA (it comes in two components, care and mobility), which rises to 3 million claimants if the under 16s and the over 65s are included. And DLA is the benefit mentioned here not the old and scrapped Incapacity Benefit.
Bill kruse

Disability has rocketed as our ability to diagnose has improved. People who years ago simply would have been thought of as weird or incompetent are now recognised as having various forms of illness. These people were always there and were always ill, we’ve just got better lately at diagnosing them that’s all.
http://twitter.com/annmilnes1 Ann Milnes

Thank you. I’m afraid we’re simply the easy, low-hanging fruit. Unless we make a horrible, embarassing fuss, we’re just collateral damage. Perhaps we shouldn’t go down without a fight?
http://twitter.com/thepurplediva/status/160466183550795777 louise b stark

blog that needs to be read IF YOU CARE? RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/F3YnSjYl
http://twitter.com/cazbaht/status/160471009856729088 Carol Ann Taylor

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/jqGFAHxE
http://twitter.com/fizzyclare/status/160471018442465281 Clare Jordan

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/nRp0tKzR
Louise

Oh yes. And try supporting someone with severe learning disabilities in any sort of assessment. Instead of being able to celebrate their achievements, you suddenly find the only responsible thing to do is to go on and on and on about all they CAN’T do……. which is the most confidence-shattering thing I can think of.
http://www.facebook.com/AmyLouiseHudd AmyLouise Hudd

right! im annoyed, my daughter has severe spina bifida uses a wheelchair and has what is seen to be a life threatening ilness she is only 2 nearly 3 years old and i have only just got used to this dla etc lark now im worried its going to be taken away, i cannot work i just cant i get made to feel like a scrounger whenever i have trusted people to take medical care of my daughter’s needs it has gone horribly wrong she needs me to look after her 24/7 and i should feel threatened or like im scrounging i am only 22 and i worked since school until i found out at 20weeks pregnant i was having a disabled child i have dreams and aspirations and ambitions i want to go to college i want to study so many things and be so many things, but now im a MUM and that means cook cleaner washer ironer maid and doctor/nurse i have given up so much to be the best mum i can at such a young age for my beautiful daughter and now my 1 year old son also and willingly but il be damned if this 1 thing between us having a roof over our heads and practically living in a bloody box is going to be taken away! she is also starting a machine therapy for her may being able to walk will this have to affect her benefit shes still in constant pain!! makes me soooo angry i could rant constantly about the lack of support and understanding and seperation of benefit fraud and seriously disabled people. my nan cant walk 100 yards some days shes in constant pain she doesnt receive a single benefit shes been waiting 2years+ for spine treatment so she can walk to the bus stop and back she is practically house bound and yet no help for her. WHEN DO WE START TO STICK UP FOR US THAT ACTUALLY ARE IN NEED OF THIS EXTRA HELP? NOW!!!!
sharon taylor

i would like to add to all this,i look ok but i have severe crohns,witch has caused even more problems,i have stopped going out now because of the looks the laughs ,when i need go to clinic or doctors i have to starve my self to even make an apointment,i have incontinence through this illnes and am on 32 tablets a day dont sleep in the night even with sleepers always high on co codamol and tremadol ,i would actually like to ask the goverment face to face if i was you how would you feel ,loosing your job operation after operation,loosing friends dignaty and in pain every day of your life ,but because they might not have seen people like me they think they arnt disabled,well get me a job who will accept me druged up in pain days off all the time ,i claim for care and now its gonna be taken so it will be the end for me
http://twitter.com/ligomersall/status/160476269614596097 liane gomersall

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/iRToJhtI Excellent account of what could happen to us #spartacus report
http://twitter.com/smokinghorse/status/160476716643520513 Simon

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/4tCCC10G
http://twitter.com/pigovian/status/160492276282425344 Matt Barker

http://t.co/gASSps0j #fb
http://twitter.com/creativecrip/status/160501400986591232 TheCreativeCrip

A humorous blog that makes some serious points! How disabled do you have to be?#in http://t.co/TsRnpvoO
http://twitter.com/sdbast/status/160501649612345345 sean bastable

A humorous blog that makes some serious points! How disabled do you have to be?#in http://t.co/TsRnpvoO
http://twitter.com/bookjo/status/160589405608878082 Joanna Sholem

'If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your disability, then God help you' Brilliant post http://t.co/ymFzkiX6 #wrb #mhuk
http://twitter.com/unite785/status/160611493031841792 Brnch Sec Ruth H

Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/wej1K60F by Ann Milnes Roberts
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=638977017 Clive Arnold

Sorry, your reply is to me or Lord Blagger?
http://twitter.com/milky_onions/status/160672276994473985 Milky Onions

If you demonstrate your ability in the face of your #disability, then God help you: http://t.co/cpJi0Ckh #WRB #ATOS
http://twitter.com/virginiamoffatt/status/160683588860387329 Virginia Moffatt

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/psheEDTg #spartacusreport
http://twitter.com/tonethetree/status/160751848372973568 Les Tricoteuses

Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/dgk2SjUS
http://twitter.com/tonethetree/status/160752643592044544 Les Tricoteuses

Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/AETT16Si
http://twitter.com/blueannoyed/status/160752723602583552 gail ward

Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? | Left Foot Forward http://t.co/1PHNuW1c
http://twitter.com/melissa_chapin/status/160768354116829186 Melissa Chapin

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? FANTASTIC piece!! http://t.co/PhON7dF3
http://twitter.com/marcusaroberts/status/161544381206241280 Marcus A. Roberts

Delighted most read article on @leftfootfwd is @annmilnes1 debut blog http://t.co/A7Tc9h36 'Yes but are you really disabled' #worldsbestMum
http://twitter.com/rachellybee/status/161572023527669760 Rachel Megan Barker

Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/wej1K60F by Ann Milnes Roberts
http://twitter.com/deardaveandnick/status/177366490239082496 Bern O’Donoghue

See how the government's welfare reform will be hitting some of the most vulnerable here: http://t.co/RkrfSrUr #pmqs #wrb
http://twitter.com/shamethedevil/status/177366635479445504 John Jackson

See how the government's welfare reform will be hitting some of the most vulnerable here: http://t.co/RkrfSrUr #pmqs #wrb
http://twitter.com/britishroses1/status/177366909577203713 BevR

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/ft5p0JDM #wrb #spartacusreport #nhs #democracy
http://twitter.com/goonerfan65/status/177368465013882881 Foxy52

See how the government's welfare reform will be hitting some of the most vulnerable here: http://t.co/RkrfSrUr #pmqs #wrb
http://twitter.com/goonerfan65/status/177368612913426435 Foxy52

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/ft5p0JDM #wrb #spartacusreport #nhs #democracy
http://twitter.com/themingford/status/177380411431858176 Thomas Hemingford

“@leftfootfwd: See how the government's welfare reform will be hitting some of the most vulnerable here: http://t.co/BIKl2EYG #pmqs #wrb”
http://twitter.com/leni_lava/status/177380741490024448 Kirst

“@leftfootfwd: See how the government's welfare reform will be hitting some of the most vulnerable here: http://t.co/BIKl2EYG #pmqs #wrb”
http://twitter.com/barryfunite/status/177381916109049857 H

“@leftfootfwd: See how the government's welfare reform will be hitting some of the most vulnerable here: http://t.co/BIKl2EYG #pmqs #wrb”
http://twitter.com/daisybeebee/status/177385891906596864 Just Me

“@leftfootfwd: See how the government's welfare reform will be hitting some of the most vulnerable here: http://t.co/BIKl2EYG #pmqs #wrb”
http://twitter.com/slingpool/status/177388354629931009 Deborah Ruston

“@leftfootfwd: See how the government's welfare reform will be hitting some of the most vulnerable here: http://t.co/BIKl2EYG #pmqs #wrb”
http://twitter.com/nickbloke/status/177393347487469568 Nick H.

See how the government's welfare reform will be hitting some of the most vulnerable here: http://t.co/RkrfSrUr #pmqs #wrb
http://twitter.com/osteogenesis/status/177399797555265537 osteogenesis

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/44Dm86YJ
http://twitter.com/deardaveandnick/status/177416623538438145 Bern O’Donoghue

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/turwgSJh
http://twitter.com/mrswupple/status/177420431614164993 Catherine Geldart

RT @leftfootfwd: Yes, but are you REALLY disabled? http://t.co/turwgSJh
http://twitter.com/blondehistorian/status/177423411042205697 AmyKavanagh

very good points made about the ability of disability http://t.co/bMflkTBl