Tom Espine and Charlotte Edwards
Business reporters, BBC News
Alison
Alison says that the thought of a cut in her advantages is “extremely overwhelming”
The government is expected to announce discounts for well-being expenses this week, after the Prime Minister called the current “unsustainable, indefensible and unjust” system.
The ax should be greatly reduced by long -term disease and disability benefits, in particular payment of personal independence (PIP), which can see a reduction of 5 billion pounds sterling.
An increase in the number of people claiming long -term health benefits has pushed the total social protection bill to 64 billion pounds sterling per year. Some maintain that system reform would encourage applicants to work or work more.
But that has left many people who are afraid of not being able to afford to pay their bills or worry to have to take jobs that they cannot manage.
The BBC spoke to several people concerning how the cuts could affect them.
Alison, 56, who lives with her brother in a property of the council in Southampton, says that she feels “sick” in the prospect of cuts.
She has received a diagnosis of depression, anxiety and SSPT caused by child trauma. It also undergoes panic attacks and night terrors. Since the cochery, she is afraid to leave the house due to the “fear of germs”.
Alison has not worked since she lost her job with the Southampton Municipal Council in 1997, and says that at the same time PIP, the main invalidity and employment and support allowance (ESA) totaling around £ 1,700 per month.
She says she would have trouble dealing with the pressure of a job.
“It is not a case of not wanting to (work),” she said. “I think about it all the time.
“Being on advantages does not make me happy.”
Alison was informed that her right to benefit will last until 2027, but she says that the prospect she was cut after that is “extremely overwhelming”.
Emily
Emily says that her autism makes it more difficult to establish an appropriate routine
Emily, 41, lives in Croydon, is autistic and fights with time management and the organization of basic tasks for his daily routine.
“My autism prevented me from getting a job in the past,” she said.
“Sometimes, in interviews, I could not answer any of the questions.
“I am very kidding and repeated myself a lot, repeating myself. When you do that, people think that” this person is strange. We don’t want this person “.”
She is now working full time as on -board agent and has developed strategies to help be late, in particular to get up much earlier to grant more time before quarters of work.
She is aware of the services of criticism that applicants often receive. “I’m not a scroll,” she said.
Emily receives more than £ 400 per month in PIP payments, which do not depend on the beneficiary’s income. But the money relates mainly to her regular invoices, rather than the occupational therapy, according to her, would really help him to establish a good routine.
Receiving PIP also means that it is eligible for a discount railway card for disabilities, which makes travel at work more affordable.
“It’s a great thing,” she said. “I would have trouble paying.”
Justine, 42, was born with a painful genetic condition affecting her joints.
Even movements as minor as cutting vegetables or sneezing can cause dislocation. She has also developed dysautonomy, a condition affecting her nervous system, which can make it vanish.
Constant pain and other symptoms cause fatigue, but it manages to work 14 hours a week, supporting students with special educational needs.
“For a year, I couldn’t work at all. Then I started to climb more. I got a diagnosis and medication and started to feel a little better.
“But when it comes to most of my doctors, they are very surprised to work.”
Without the financial support of £ 737 each month, which helps pay help in the house and transport, she says that she could not work.
“It would be counterproductive, that would not save them money,” she said, because her other advantages would increase if she lost her income.
Steve
Steve says that playing people at work can look like intimidation
Steve from southern London had to stop working after a car accident left him chronic cervical spondylosis, which affects the health of bones and skin on the neck and brain damage.
He fails to work but says that his advantages would not mean that he was able to take a job.
“In my situation, I receive a lot of ignorant comments … Why I don’t jump on a moped on Uber eats? Everything you do normally … It hurts. If I get up too long,” he said.
“What am I supposed to do? Float?”.
Steve receives a universal credit, as well as incapacity services, including PIP, but says it is difficult to respond to your energy bills and pay for food with the income on which he is.
“My life is already below the minimum quality – it will reduce more and health will suffer first,” he said.
Encourage people on benefits to go back to work can look like intimidation, he said.
“When the government says” encourages “, reality is” threatened “,” he says. “You are threatened to return to work.”
Alba
Alba asked for PIP payments but was refused
Alba, 53, is a computer entrepreneur in Dorking who is currently working for one of the airports near London. Although she suffers from chronic back pain following two “fairly serious” motorcycle accidents, she currently receives no support for disabled people.
During a period of unemployment last year, when she ate in her savings to get out of it, she applied. But in March, she was told that she was not eligible.
“They did their best to assess me – they were just – and the conclusion is that I can do some work.
“It’s true – but I wanted them to recognize that I suffer from chronic pain,” she said.
She fears that if her current contract is not renewed, she may find it difficult to find a job that allows her to work at home.
“I am unable to go to work every day in an office. I am literally not,” she said.
Her current employer was “extremely useful” to let her work at home, a subject she has already talked about at the BBC.
“I’m really happy to have found this job,” she said.
“I don’t want to claim advantages-it’s horrible. It’s not my style,” she adds. “I don’t want to stay at home by doing nothing.”
