For centuries history books have recorded many battles, and yet for us none can be as important as the one we face today.
The Welfare reform Bill is nearing its final stages in the Lords and it has been extraordinary these last few months seeing everyone come together to highlight opposition to the bill.
Last night we learned that Baroness Grey Thompson will table a new amendment asking for a pilot scheme to be put in place ahead of any changes made to Disability Living Allowance. Clause 80 can be read here
For those wanting to watch the proceedings you can do so here ( approx 3pm )
Voices are being raised daily, saying Coalition must think again regarding these proposed changes to disability benefits.
To date 21,489 people have signed the petition I submitted on the governments website.
If you have not already done so I ask that you join us by signing here.
Share with family, friends, contacts, groups and tell them to do the same.
This could be Welfares last stand, and it is one for which we need a united front.
This morning the Candle of Hope still shines brightly and with members in the House of Lords battling on our behalf, long may it stay lit.
Last but not least, keep a watchful eye on our backdoors.
With all the coverage re Disability Benefits, we need ensure nothing untoward is being rushed through by stealth. There are so many proposals, many that will affect our lives, and it is vital we do not take our eye off the ball so to speak.
Any possible reprieve today will be a great victory for everyone but the war itself will not be won. Our campaigning will need continue.
Pat x
Tags: benefits, benefits and work, blindness, carers, carersuk, carerwatch, disability, disability alliance, disability living allowance, Pat's Petition, personal independence payment, the broken of britain, universal credit, visually impairment, welfare reform
Dear Pat
My autistic son and I (his mother, carer and also disabled) signed your great petition a while ago now. So good to see more people are signing it every day.
We have hope that the Lords will do the ‘right thing’, but we like so many will dread what will happen if they don’t. Both my son and I are on DLA, if we lose that or if we have to face an ‘interview’ situation, we will for sure lose it. There is NO ONE my son could cope with a face to face interview.
Until his Statement of special eductional needs was stopped in the summer of 2010 at aged 19. He was receiving his education from BEHIND his bedroom door, because he could not cope with seeing the 2 Home and Hospital tutors or speech and language therapist he had. No one from CAMHS or CMHT ever helped with that, despite ‘hundreds’ of meetings I attended where they stated they would help, they never did.
I have been struggling for the last year and more to get his education to be reinstated, but to no avail. As a disabled student he is entitled to education up until the age of 25. He has passed many GCSE’s and 2 diploma distance learning courses, one with a distinction grade and the other with a merit grade.
In so many ways this country is letting down it’s young people, and even more so it’s disabled young. My son wants so much to continue studing and learning, but he needs the support and guidance of his 2 tutors and SALT. He is so depressed because that is not happening. If he loses his DLA too – I very much dread the future, not only for him, but for all of us.
Good Luck with your petition.
Kind Regards
Ms Rosalind Brewer