Hi readers, it’s Emily, Kerry and William here, with our final thoughts about benefits.
We don’t like benefits letters, with long, complicated words. For me, Kerry, there are different systems for learning and physical disability, which makes it even more complicated. Sometimes I feel they want me to fit into a box.
We also worry the benefits system can put people like us off getting a paid job. That’s because, if we lost the job, it would be hard to get the benefits back, so we’d need skilled people with time to help us fill in the forms. If we don’t have people to help us, that can leave us even more vulnerable. Why not just make the forms easier?
Having to prove how ‘disabled’ we are is also rubbish, when all we want is the right support to thrive. It's like the benefits system makes us feel we are no good. We’d love to work 9 – 5 in an accessible job and a manageable role, say with evening support if needed, to help with cooking or personal care. We are tired of fighting for support or having to appeal, like I, Emily did, to get the support I’m entitled to.
We agree it’s important the welfare system checks people actually have a disability and aren’t cheating the system. Maybe that’s why the forms are harder, to stop people abusing it.
Even though we’ve all had benefit struggles, we’ve been lucky with having paid work, volunteering jobs (like this column, the Susie book) and thanks to PFD, a great circle of friends.
Don’t we all need support in some way, every one of us? What support do you need? Friendship? Encouragement? Being appreciated? Family? We hope, like us, that you get the support you need.
The writers of the Our View column are supported in their editing by People First Dorset - a charity led and run by people with learning disabilities with support from staff
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