Peter Beresford, chair of national service user network Shaping Our Lives and professor of social policy at Brunel University, explains why he has signed the petition to stop the reform of disability living allowance and why benefits and social care must be seen as a complete system.Two things that go very badly together are populist political ideology and welfare benefits reform. Sadly the Coalition government has not been able to resist what it seems to see as easy political targets in its headlong rush to cut public spending.
Worst of all, disabled people have become a number one target in its calls to cut the 'deficit'. Yet only the Coalition and fellow-travelling right-wing economists seem to see this as of primary importance in getting the UK economy back on an even keel. As the banks bask again in high profits and personal bonuses, it will be poor and disabled people who once more take the hits.
And now as part of this Alice In Wonderland strategy, based on blaming the victims, rather than the profiteers, the government seems set on destabilising Disability Living Allowance (DLA). For all its limitations the underpinning value of the DLA is its recognition of the costs of disability. Sadly this government so far seems to have seen the benefits system as more of a cash cow to milk to its own advantage, rather than a massively complex system that does indeed need reform, but not for a quick ideological fix or to bail out competing spending demands.
More after the jump...
I spent eight years living on benefits, for many of those as a mental
health service user. I don't think I'm remarkable in feeling that this
had lifelong damaging consequences for me. The stigma, insecurity and
impoverishment of living on such benefits have stayed with me. I can't
say how often I have heard from other mental health service
users/survivors, since this government came to power, expressing their
fears and anxieties about being forced back into employment that they
can't manage or sustain.
Mental health service users/survivors have long had inferior access to disability benefits because of the failure of authorities to understand or respect their difficulties. Yet the difference that the DLA can make to people's quality of life cannot be overstated. Disability benefits, health and social care services and support have to be seen as part of a whole - a whole which can make the difference for some service users between life and death; between having a life or contemplating extinction. I know the feeling, as do many mental health service users.
That's why I put my name to any call that challenges the cheap politicization of disability benefits policy and provision to the detriment of disabled people and other service users. In employment, or on benefits, mental health service users can and do make a real contribution to society - sometimes against the odds and at great personal cost.
Some of us, with the help of anti-discriminatory legislation have been able to take up our place in the workforce again. I am pleased I have personally been able to do so. Others contribute in other ways - as parents, to their communities, through their insight and voluntary action.
It's time that politicians stopped peddling cheap stereotypes and stopped waging war on mental health service users and other disabled people and at last valued the diverse and unique contributions we can all bring to bear. By welcoming us, they open the door to a truly Big Society.
Mental health service users/survivors have long had inferior access to disability benefits because of the failure of authorities to understand or respect their difficulties. Yet the difference that the DLA can make to people's quality of life cannot be overstated. Disability benefits, health and social care services and support have to be seen as part of a whole - a whole which can make the difference for some service users between life and death; between having a life or contemplating extinction. I know the feeling, as do many mental health service users.
That's why I put my name to any call that challenges the cheap politicization of disability benefits policy and provision to the detriment of disabled people and other service users. In employment, or on benefits, mental health service users can and do make a real contribution to society - sometimes against the odds and at great personal cost.
Some of us, with the help of anti-discriminatory legislation have been able to take up our place in the workforce again. I am pleased I have personally been able to do so. Others contribute in other ways - as parents, to their communities, through their insight and voluntary action.
It's time that politicians stopped peddling cheap stereotypes and stopped waging war on mental health service users and other disabled people and at last valued the diverse and unique contributions we can all bring to bear. By welcoming us, they open the door to a truly Big Society.
Once again your support is appreciated Peter.
I have sent this link to Rhydian Fon James and Broken of Britain, creators of the petition.
Rosemary
At present I am a carer for someone with mental health issues.I am terribly worried that Duncan-Smith,will stop his benefits and force him into ajob.There is no way he could manage to keep a job of any disription.