Article by Alice Dunn – The Independent
Oh dear. At a time when the Tory party is desperately trying to shake off its ‘Nasty Party’ image, this turns up on our doormat – literally.
This is a letter from the DWP, the government department responsible for, among other things, benefits. It is a routine letter that was sent to my mother as a claimant of Disability Living Allowance (on behalf of my disabled brother) containing a thinly veiled threat to take my brother into care if she didn’t do as the DWP said.
The opening paragraph states that they, the DWP, “are writing to review your role. We want to ensure the appointeeship is working well and that there are no issues we need to address”. As far as we know, this disgraceful missive was sent out to the parent or guardian of every child in receipt of DLA when renewing their claim. This new letter, the ‘BF57B’, was recently introduced by the DWP and the form has to be signed and returned before the claim can move forward.
It is, in my opinion, a particularly damning indictment of the government’s attempt to demonise those on benefits, and particularly the disabled: to portray them as lazy, feckless scroungers. The letter ordered my mother to “always act in the best interests of the child”, then gave her a bullet point list of what this included, such as “manage and spend any money from Disability Living Allowance in a way that best serves [the child’s] best interests”.
Effectively, the DWP is assuming my mum would, (had she not received the letter), be spending my brother’s money on cigarettes, alcohol, and satellite TV. Is assuming the worst of a parent claiming benefits not rather insulting? It is also worth noting she has never received such a letter telling her how to spend the child tax credits received for her two children without disabilities nor was she sent it with the annual child benefit award notice.
Believe it or not, it gets worse. Underneath this bullet point list, is the sentence “We will review your status as an appointed person if we think that you are not acting in the best interests of the person named above.”My mother has not been ‘appointed’. She claims DLA on behalf of my younger brother because she is his mother – he is only seven so can’t receive the funds directly. In both my mother’s opinion, and my own, what they’re essentially saying is: ‘we will take your child away from you if you don’t spend this money properly’.
It is also worth remembering that the DWP itself cannot enter our house to check if my mum is a fit mother and they certainly cannot remove parental responsibility; only social services in conjunction with the courts can do this. When my mother called to ask what this meant, they replied that a member of staff from the local office may call her to arrange a house visit to check she was, basically, a fit mother to which they added: “you wouldn’t believe the hundreds and thousands who spend the money on themselves.”
The DWP has assumed because my mother is claiming disability benefits on behalf of a disabled child she is going to use the DLA for herself and has been threatened by the DWP accordingly.
Article by – Alice Dunn The Independent
Does this not act as direct evidence of – at least some – demonisation toward the disabled? Research for the charity Scope found that 46% of the 500 disabled people, their carers and parents polled, said people’s attitude towards them had worsened in the last year. Nearly two-thirds (64%) said they had experienced aggression, hostility or name calling. When asked what could be contributing towards such hostility, 87% singled out people claiming disability benefits to which they are not entitled.
A spokesman for the DWP told the BBC: “We are careful about the language we use, as it’s clear that the benefit system itself has trapped many people in a spiral of welfare dependence.”
They added: “And whilst we already have laws in place to ensure equality, we need to work together and do more to change negative attitudes.”
Perhaps the DWP could look a little closer to home whilst they are “working to change negative assumptions” about disabled people and their families and stop sending out letters that assume the parents of disabled children are lazy, feckless scroungers.
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Am I missing something?
What sort of parent WOULDN’T spend the benefit in the best interest of their child?
Condescending barfmungers!
Belittling, unnecessary, part of a culture of scapegoating. Tory ideology: anyone who claims anything is scum. Unless it is an MP’s expense or subsidy of course.
Perhaps the Govmt should send inspectors to Bankers homes to see how they’re spending their household budgets, since the banks have been handed so much money from the tax payers? This Campaign of deliberate government/political harassment is an affront to human dignity and a direct attack on the most vulnerable in society.
nah they just want it to give to people like emma so she can top her bonus up as of late shes getting a little short with her keeping her head down ,and dont forget for every penny pinched off the disabled and sick will go to keep a person helping said charity who will get from 2225 to 14000 for each body it takes under its care so whos frauding who mr cameroooon jeff3
absolutely disgusting!
disgusting
This twunt, along with Maria Milland should both be in receipt of JSA. Mentally insufficient and philanthropically indisposed
Ive read online of this already happening in the states, kids being taken away too.
Im not intent on fearmongering, but to be on the safe side?…. I suggest keeping reciepts of everything from hereon…… If you have proof? They cannot take any claim against you.
Its sick, its twisted, but i urge anyone in this disturbing situation to keep themselves one step ahead.
I know many people think im a lil crazy, what with my going on about NWO and gov agenda, but you only need see how deviated this all is to appreciate what you need do to, to protect yourselves and families.
Save all receipts, they (the dwp/social services/gov) cant do a thing….. Even if its for a soda, for a hot dog……. Save it. That money is not theirs once they hand it over,