Five years ago, I started volunteering for a mental health charity in my hometown of Stoke-on-Trent. This has given me frequent unsettling insight into the impact austerity policies, enacted by the government since 2010, have had on our members. For … Continue reading Austerity has had a devastating impact on people living with mental health problems
Today has been a long day. I had an interview in Launceston, another place in Cornwall that lost it’s rail connections decades ago. The interview was about working in the care sector, a sector I know very well both from … Continue reading “Does the family of the frail individual know, how vulnerable her mother and grandmother is?”
I am almost 69 and 3 years ago had a Capita assessment, as I am wheelchair dependent due to MS. Previously I had full DLA benefits, but was reduced to basic. The DA lied by saying I could walk 20 … Continue reading “Previously I had full DLA benefits, but was reduced to basic”
I took part in Autism awareness week last week. I went on the radio, l love radio and did artwork for the week. Also helped raising money for Autism and spent a morning transversing the River Tamar. One of the … Continue reading “Autism is not sad, it does deserve your support and it’s not getting enough”
What does it mean to be a Carer? The dictionary states that it is ‘the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something’. It also further states that it entails ‘serious attention … Continue reading “What does it mean to be a Carer?”
I find this very difficult to write. I find it very difficult to accept that 7 years after we realised that Tory & LibDem Welfare Reforms, as commissioned by Tony Blair from his banker mate Lord Freud, were killing disabled … Continue reading Can we convince enough people to sign the “Justice for Jodey” petition?
When I first applied for PIP, I had to go to an assessment in the City Centre (I am agoraphobic with BPD and CPTSD with suicidal ideation and hear voices). I had my Carer with me and by the time I … Continue reading “Every day is a battle within me fighting against my suicidal thoughts”
Mum passed away a few weeks after having her benefits taken away by a Capita “nurse”. I spent months trying to file official complaints to Capita and the DWP. They just passed the buck between each other. In our case … Continue reading “Mum passed away a few weeks after having her benefits taken away”
Around 3 months ago in September the one thing I have been dreading for the last few years finally landed on my letterbox. The dreaded Brown Envelope with the Letter from the DWP telling me my DLA is ending and … Continue reading “My High Award of DLA was being reduced by 60%”
I am not disabled, but I have recently helped my cousin with her PIP application. The form is bad enough, she could not have done it on her own, but the face to face assessment is just cruel, with some … Continue reading “The assessment has made her mentally worse, she is scared now”
