{"id":1022,"date":"2025-03-18T16:58:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T17:58:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/?p=1022"},"modified":"2025-03-18T23:11:34","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T23:11:34","slug":"labour-wouldnt-cut-my-pip-after-spending-a-day-in-my-shoes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/18\/labour-wouldnt-cut-my-pip-after-spending-a-day-in-my-shoes\/","title":{"rendered":"Labour wouldn\u2019t cut my PIP after spending a day in my shoes"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"LONDON,\t<\/div>
Kendall announced an overhaul of a number of different forms of support, including Universal Credit and PIP(Picture: Carl Court\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As someone<\/strong> with psychosis<\/a>, I<\/strong> often say my<\/strong> condition is so awful that I<\/strong> wouldn\u2019t wish it on my<\/strong> worst enemy.<\/p>\n

But I\u2019m not sure I stand by this today, on hearing Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall<\/a>\u2019s major changes to the benefits system, which will leave many sick and disabled<\/a> people worse off.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In fact, a morning dealing with what I do might enable her to build a shred of empathy for her targets.<\/p>\n

In a speech to the House of Commons, Kendall announced an overhaul of a number of different forms of support<\/a>, including Universal Credit<\/a>, which helps those on low incomes or seeking work, and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) a benefit that helps with the cost of disability.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In terms of PIP, that involves changing the criteria for who qualifies \u2013 with particular focus on making it harder for those like me with mental health<\/a> conditions \u2013 part of a bid to save \u00a35billion by the end of this decade.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Practically, that means that the minimum age to claim PIP will rise from 16 to 18, and the \u2018points system\u2019 (a tick-box exercise to see exactly what criteria a disabled person meets so their level of benefit can be determined) will be made more difficult\u00a0<\/p>\n

Currently, claimants only need to score over eight points across a range of 10 different components to receive PIP \u2013 but from next year, they will have to score at least four points in a single component to qualify.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That means support will be prioritised for those who physically struggle with things like eating, bathing, and managing toilet needs, and those like me with mental health issues are more likely to miss out.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t{“@context”:”https:\/\/schema.org”,”@type”:”VideoObject”,”name”:”Metro.co.uk”,”duration”:”T4M52S”,”thumbnailUrl”:”https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2025\/03\/18\/14\/96315961-0-image-a-25_1742308492953.jpg”,”uploadDate”:”2025-03-18T14:35:15+0000″,”description”:”Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall told MPs that the current social security system is “failing the very people it is supposed to help” as an overhaul of the welfare system will see the assessment process for some health benefits scrapped.”,”contentUrl”:”https:\/\/videos.metro.co.uk\/video\/met\/2025\/03\/18\/4806677701270942110\/480x270_MP4_4806677701270942110.mp4″,”height”:270,”width”:480}<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbrowser that
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsupports HTML5
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t<\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n

Up Next<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrevious Page<\/title>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__page\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__page\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__page\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__page\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__arrow metro-related-video-carousel__arrow--right disabled\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<title>Next Page<\/title>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-videos-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder\">\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"metro-related-video-carousel__related-video-placeholder-headline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\twindow.addEventListener(‘metroVideo:relatedVideosCarouselLoaded’, function(data) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tif (typeof(data.detail) === ‘undefined’ || typeof(data.detail.carousel) === ‘undefined’ || typeof(data.detail.carousel.el_) === ‘undefined’) {<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\treturn;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t}<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar player = data.detail.carousel.el_;<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar container = player.closest(‘.metro-video-player’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tvar placeholder = container.querySelector(‘.metro-video-player__up-next-placeholder’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tcontainer.removeChild(placeholder);<br \/>\n\t\t\t\tcontainer.classList.add(‘metro-video-player–related-videos-loaded’);<br \/>\n\t\t\t});<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The incapacity benefit element of Universal Credit, support for those who can\u2019t work due to disability, will also by cut by nearly 100%, from \u00a397 a week to \u00a350 a week.<\/p>\n<p>Liz Kendall says this will stop the \u2018perverse incentives\u2019 keeping people in benefits.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Well I claim Universal Credit and PIP combined for my psychosis and schizo-affective disorder \u2013 and the only incentive I have is to stay alive and manage my conditions as best I can.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s nothing perverse about that, whatever the government says.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Cutting my livelihood won\u2019t cure my life-long disability \u2013\u00a0far from it. <\/p>\n<p>Instead, it will add to my anxiety levels, and as much as Liz Kendall says disabled people will be treated with dignity, I can\u2019t help but feel I\u2019ve had my feet cut off then asked to do a dance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-20332157 lazyload\" alt=\"? Joel Goodman - 07973 332324 - all rights reserved . 15\/02\/2024. Staffordshire, UK . The home of ERICA CROMPTON (43) , pictured in the upstairs guest suite, and her partner Paul Nicholls (42), in Silverdale . Photo credit : Joel Goodman\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/softnary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/SEI_191966373-cedb.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>I have tried full-time work several times (Picture: Joel Goodman)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>And that\u2019s not all.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We believe that unleashing the talents of the British people is the key to our future success\u2019, said Kendall \u2013 but \u2018unleashing our talents\u2019 won\u2019t resolve my depression and anxiety.<\/p>\n<p>Future success for me is being able to have a good life despite my disability \u2013 and that is something the government is threatening to remove.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s still not all.<\/p>\n<p>According to Kendall, disabled people like me have been denied hope, dignity and self-respect by not being in \u2018good work\u2019 \u2013\u00a0but the biggest indignity I have experienced is managing my conditions while in employment.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I have far more hope, dignity and self-respect claiming benefits without needing to work full-time.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-22713716 lazyload\" alt=\"Mandatory Credit: Photo by Thomas Krych\/ZUMA Press Wire\/Shutterstock (15189654dl) Secretary of State for Work and Pensions LIZ KENDALL, leaves Downing Street after a weekly Cabinet Meeting. Cabinet Meeting In Downing Street, London, England, United Kingdom - 11 Mar 2025\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/softnary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/SEI_243476115-36c0.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>According to Kendall, disabled people like me have been denied dignity by not being in \u2018good work\u2019 (Picture: Thomas Krych\/ZUMA Press Wire\/Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Kendall spoke of a \u2018right to try\u2019; of \u2018giving people the confidence to take the plunge and try work\u2019. She added that this would be \u2018without the fear this will put their benefits at risk\u2019, due to a guarantee that \u2018work in and of itself will never lead to a benefit reassessment\u2019 \u2013 but I don\u2019t need the \u2018right to try\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>I have tried full-time work several times \u2013\u00a0stress and lack of time to manage prescriptions always put me back on suicide watch.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t need to \u2018take a plunge\u2019 so I can suffer like that again.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Certainly, the \u2018broken benefits\u2019 system \u2013\u00a0as Kendall referred to it \u2013 that makes up a significant part of my livelihood is not sustainable. As Kendall pointed out, one in 10 people of working age are claiming sickness benefits; while 2.8 million are out of work due to long term sickness.<\/p>\n<p>But the answer to the \u2018broken system\u2019 that Kendall is supposedly looking for doesn\u2019t lie in making it even harder for people to access benefits they need \u2013 it lies in increasing wages so that people can work part time if they need to, without worrying about how they\u2019re going to make ends meet.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"646\" height=\"485\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" class=\"article-image wp-image-19222095 lazyload\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" data-src=\"http:\/\/softnary.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/SEC_166100016-54a0.jpg\">\t<\/div><figcaption>For those with mental health issues, this constant threat of change can exacerbate our conditions (Picture: Erica Crompton)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I\u2019ve found a combination of benefits pays more than the part-time work my psychiatrists recommend I engage in \u2013\u00a0which I do \u2013 but it doesn\u2019t have to be this way.<\/p>\n<p>I get by, I do have a nice lifestyle on benefits. I also work part-time and am a carer.<\/p>\n<p>And if Kendall really wants to \u2018unleash the talents\u2019 of people with long-term (and life-long) illnesses and disabilities, she could start by helping to de-stigmatise these conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Putting people with mental health conditions in competition against those with \u2018the most severe\u2019 disabilities doesn\u2019t help anyone.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Mental health is stigmatised enough without people like me being portrayed by ministers as a drain on the system.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I have friends who won\u2019t reach out to their GP for much needed support for mental illnesses, because of a fear of how they\u2019ll be judged. <\/p>\n<section class=\"metro-comment-cta\">\n<div class=\"metro-comment-cta__inner\"><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text-wrap\"><title>Comment now<\/title><span class=\"metro-comment-cta__text\">Will you be affected by changes to the benefits system? Have your say in the comments<\/span><\/span><a class=\"metro-comment-cta__button\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\">Comment Now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>These same friends won\u2019t claim support with disability benefits \u2013 exactly like the benefits currently being overhauled \u2013 because of the fear of being dubbed a \u2018scrounger\u2019 like I have in the past.<\/p>\n<p>The prognosis for them is poorer than mine \u2013 some of my friends are older than 40 and still living with their parents, because the stigma attached to their condition means they can\u2019t manage any other way.<\/p>\n<p>It no longer matters what party is in power \u2013 whether it\u2019s Liz Kendall overhauling PIP or George Osborne\u2019s austerity programme \u2013 our disability benefits are rarely not up for grabs.<\/p>\n<p>For those with mental health issues, this constant threat of change can exacerbate our conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Since my diagnosis I haven\u2019t been able to watch TV for fear of hearing the worst \u2013\u00a0that my benefits will be cut \u2013 and scrolling through social media can be hard, for the same reason.<\/p>\n<p>Uncertainty about my livelihood causes me anxiety on a huge scale. It\u2019s like the constant threat of redundancy workers experience. As someone with psychosis, I can tell you \u2013 it\u2019s hugely triggering.<\/p>\n<p>But to those who, like me, are wondering about what the future holds, I say to keep your head up and to keep on fighting back. U-turns and not doing what they say they do are all de-rigueur for politicians these days \u2013\u00a0but we still have a voice.<\/p>\n<p>And I\u2019ll join my voice to those demanding that Liz Kendall U-turns or is sacked by Keir Starmer.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A spell of unemployment might let Kendall experience first hand the uncertainty she\u2019s given me \u2013 and who knows how many countless others.<\/p>\n<p>How\u2019s that for a perverse incentive?<\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing <a href=\"mailto:jess.austin@metro.co.uk\">jess.austin@metro.co.uk<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Share your views in the comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kendall announced an overhaul of a number of different forms of support, including Universal Credit and PIP(Picture: Carl Court\/Getty Images) As someone with psychosis, I often say my condition is so awful that I wouldn\u2019t wish it on my worst enemy. But I\u2019m not sure I stand by this today, on hearing Secretary of State […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1024,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1022","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1022"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1022\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1029,"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1022\/revisions\/1029"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1022"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1022"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/softnary.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1022"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}