Mental Health and Benefits, Part 2: The impact of cuts to Disability Living Allowance

On Tuesday, 25th January 2011, I spoke at a meeting in Parliament arranged by the Disability Benefits Consortium as a volunteer for the mental health charity Mind.

These videos are a two-part series exploring what was discussed in this meeting and the proposed cuts by the UK government to the benefits system, specifically to do with Disability Living Allowance and Incapacity Benefit for those with mental health conditions.

Mental Health and Benefits, Part 1: Cuts to Disability Living Allowance.

Part 1 discusses what the proposed cuts to DLA benefits will be and how those cuts may translate to those affected.

Mental Health and Benefits, Part 2: The impact of cuts to Disability Living Allowance.

Part 2 discusses the impact that the cuts to DLA benefit will have on those with mental health conditions by drawing examples from my own circumstances.

"mental health" benefits welfare "disability living allowance" DLA "incapacity benefit" UK "bipolar disorder" depression mania psychosis NHS "welfare reform" mind "disability benefits consortium"

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• mental health
• benefits
• welfare
• disability living allowance
• DLA
• incapacity benefit
• UK
• bipolar disorder
• depression
• mania
• psychosis
• NHS
• welfare reform
• mind
• disability benefits consortium

[suesill1]

hi i am a 53 yr old lady who has been turned down for dla.like you i have mental health issues.i had a massive brain hemmarage 4 yrs ago that changed my life ,i have a platingham coil fitted to the base of my brain,i have full on angina ,excema...virtigo.nerve damage in my left arm,hearing loss and now skitaphrenia. any advice please

[recury]

@suesill1 Hello, I'm sorry to hear about your circumstances :( I'm incredibly surprised that you haven't been accepted for DLA judging by what you've mentioned here. Applying for benefits is a serious matter, particularly if you are doing so because you're unable to work or suffer from a long-term illness that impairs your ability to work. I'm not qualified to give advice on a professional level but if you would like to discuss it further, please feel free to message me directly.

[tren979797]

@sbowesuk How does someone with mental illness "appear" to be disabled? How should they look to you? lol You sound really dumb dude...

[geoffdundee]

i totally agree with cuts to DLA benefits.....i know a couple who fraudulently claim to be mentally ill and they recieve £1800 each month,free rent and community charge,free bus and rail passes...yet they can afford to spend over £120 a week on take away meals,often spend £80 on nights out at bingo,regulary spend in betting shops and local pub....after paying all my bills some weeks im lucky if i have £13 left for food and it Pees me off when the couple mentioned above still say they are skint

[hollyred1]

@sbowesuk Have you ever tried working with someone with Bipolar? I'm not trying to defend recruy but more defend you if you work with someone with it!!! Ignorance can be bliss, but not if they go "mental" on you.

[hollyred1]

@recury The kind government have decided that even though I'm not in a wheelchair that I am entitled to DLA. As far as I'm concerned, everything I wrote was the truth and my Dr was more than happy to support me. I do voluntary work once a week (I get lifts to and from work)and I meet people all the time with mental health/physical problems who can't get DLA and it's ridiculous!

[madscanman1]

i got dla my heat f..ked , and then some thug shot is in the neck i got ptsd and anti social personality disorder , only job i ll get is one in jail ha ha , as if i will pass medicail ? wit bullet proof vest on and thinking every one is going to kill me ,

do you wish the 22 yr ied victim the same ? you need to think , and were the f,,k are all the jobs in uk ? i right there's non,

they say big business owe the uk hmcs 120 b , all mp robbed us of their expensive s

[yousurfer2]

I don't claim DLA but I hate to see the ignorant comments by people who think because you're not in wheelchair you should be at work. If you could only be inside the mind of what people with mental problems have have to go through, you would know. These problems don't necessarily affect you when at home!

[recury]

@sbowesuk And by the way, you can still work and claim DLA and ESA. A decision is made on the basis of need, number of hours worked, income, etc. I received Incapacity Benefit which has recently been changed to ESA; DLA is non-means tested and is based primarily on need and the level at which my condition affects me. So what is someone with a mental health illness supposed to look like exactly? How am I meant to behave which differs from your expectations? No, I think YOU need to GTFO

[recury]

@sbowesuk DLA is being reformed for many reasons. Also the word "disability" doesn't accurately reflect the wide spectrum of people who need it. Different conditions affect people differently at varying levels. Maybe you've never felt your mental health was enough of a problem to prevent you from holding down a job but just because you can work AND cope with whatever you claim to have, doesn't mean other people can.