I've had to go back to claiming ESA SG because I've been unable to hold down studying and working at the same time. I'll tell you why I am entitled to my benefits and what I use them for,
ESA additional rate £30.
I use this for travel costs.
I have mentioned numerous times that I have a personality disorder as well as Autism. I find it difficult getting from A to B. This money goes on petrol for my friends, relatives and parents to ferry me around.
A bus for disabled people would be nice but would these buses be able to serve all disabled people for their medical appointments, community journeys and grocery shopping trips?
ESA enhanced disability premium rate £15.75
I have a habit of wetting the bed and having pre-mature urination issues when I'm in public. This is a mental health problem as well as something related to my bladder & liver. I there for spend a lot of money washing clothes more then often as well as having to replace blankets, mattresses and chairs.
All of these things use to be covered on the NHS when disabled people where in institutions but when Margret Thatcher closed the institutions and created care in the community the provision was given in a cash form instead to disability benefit claimants.
ESA severe disability premium rate £61.85
My Parents work so I don't have the luxury of a carer. I get this money so I can hire private sector services to assist me in my day to day care needs.
I tend to spend it on help cleaning my home which can get in a real tip sometimes due to either phases of depression or just me basically have a huge anger lapse. There are also times when I just cannot cook period so I give my neighbors some money to cook meals for me or I order it from the local Pub which does take-away. Note: This ain't junk food it is a Roast with Vegetables.
The NHS use to provide Adult Social Care. The Government then switched this to local councils and now Adult Social Care hardly exists because Councils have had to make huge cuts.
ESA Permitted Work up to £107.20.
I had to stop doing this due to my health but I used the money for a couple extra luxuries in life like buying a computer to be able to socialize with other disabled people as well as discuss politics on TSR.
Permitted Work is the Tax Credit system for disabled people who can only do less than 16 hours work a week. It is a stair-case system to allow a disabled person to switch to Tax Credits or downsize to Permitted Work due to ill health.
Note: I can only work as long as my medication sedates me for. I take a anti-psychotic medication called Risperidone.
Anyway ........................................
Over time I haven't been very honest on TSR and I can understand why right-wingers won't believe anything I say but I wrote this to support the fellow disabled people who have shared their testimonies but also to give friends like ChaoticButterfly, Scotgrot, Bornblue and other people my true situation. I respect you lot. You are decent people even though I behave like a ass most of the time.
I would defend disabled peoples right to these amounts of welfare for 2 reasons.
1. People who have no mental health problems and are able bodied can go out into the job market and work as many hours as they choose. Some disabled people do not have the luxury of doing this and others are limited to how long they can work.
2. Disabled people need additional help for day to day living. I am not proud to say that I need additional help in doing things. In-fact I feel weak and ashamed.
So on a lighter note I would like to congratulate the usual right-wingers on here who knew all along I was a disabled scrounger looking to protect his own interests.
Scrounger that is the word the right-wingers use to oppress genuine disabled people. Well I'd rather be a scrounger than a heartless Tory who worships wealth & inequality.
I am not afraid anymore to admit I am disabled and for the past 5 years I've been pushed down by multiple people, groups and organisations but there are those of you who keep fighting and lifting me up and giving me reason to carry on.
So I will carry on.
The house of Lords and the Courts has deemed the ESA 30% cut immoral and the Bedroom Tax immoral.
With the tables starting to turn and all you comrades by my side I think its worth carrying on being a disabled student and trying to graduate.
I love you guys.