MANY THANKS TO THE PEERS IN THE HOUSEOF LORDS.

Like many members of the public, I’ve rarely taken interest in the upper chamber of British politics.

But I genuinely thank this house for voting by 283 to 198, a majority of 85, to strike out a clause of the Welfare Reform and Work Group Bill (WRAG) which would have cut the Employment Support Allowance (ESA) for people in the Work Related Activity Group by £30 a week for new claimants from next year.

As I’ve said before, I apply for jobs. At first, people are interested in having me working for them but when they realise I’ve got multiple sclerosis (MS) they don’t call, text or e-mail me back.

I fully agree with the opposition peers, who’ve said that the reduction would cause hardship for substantial numbers of disabled people.

I’m also glad that Tory former health secretary Lord Lansley stating that the cut would effectively act as a kind of economic law of gravity.

As peers debated the issue, crossbencher Lord Low of Dalston warned the proposed reduction from £103 to £73 a week would have a catastrophic impact on disabled people.

The bottom line is that we shouldn’t penalise people for being disabled but that’s what would have happened if clause 13 of this act had been introduced.

 

Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of the Multiple Sclerosis society said it the best, when she said: “We’re delighted Peers have seen sense and defeated the Government’s plans to reduce Employment Support Allowance ESA for people in the WRAG.

“More than 100,000 people are living with multiple sclerosis in the UK and many of them would be hit hard if these changes go through. We urge the Government to now think again.”

As do I ask for the British Government to think again.

I’ve stated in an earlier blog that I’m on benefits but I’m no scrounger and stated what I do with the money I get, which includes having clothes modified for my needs.

Now my left leg is becoming more redundant, that also includes gathering more bruises on this leg and I don’t know how I got them.

I don’t realise when I got these marks to but now I’ve accepted this is what comes with the territory of having me having multiple sclerosis (MS). 

Either way, I now have to take mini-cabs on a regular basis in order to get out of my parent’s house, now that I have lost the place I used to call home.

£££££££

Which leads me onto another issue. The last time I drove was nearly ten years ago, as no one wanted to give me travel insurance to drive a car.

So the fact that nearly 14,000 disabled people who rely on a specialist motoring allowance have had their cars taken away from them following the British Government welfare changes is very disappointing.

Many cars had been adapted to meet their owners' needs and campaigners warn it could lead to a loss of independence.

Here’s a few words people should realise:  BEING DISABLED COSTS MONEY!

I’m not surprised at these cuts, as the British government hopes to save £2bn as a result of the switch from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payments (PIPs).

The bottom line is that disabled people need help to have a life after being diagnosed disabled. As with above, we shouldn’t penalise people for being disabled.