Disabled people are already carrying a disproportionately high burden of the austerity cuts, despite government claims of economic recovery.
Government ministers are planning to cut a key element of the Personal Independent Payment (PIP). Last year a consultation indicated that the Conservatives were considering ways of reducing eligibility criteria for the daily living component of PIP, by narrowing definitions of aids and appliances.
From January 2017, the cut is likely to hit people experiencing incontinence, who struggle to dress themselves, and those facing other fundamental barriers to health and essential basic care. The cut, it is estimated, will affect at least 640,000 disabled people by 2020.
Controversially, it is alleged that the cuts to disability benefit will fund tax cuts for the most affluent – the top 7% of earners. The Chancellor is set to raise the threshold at which people start paying 40p tax, in a move that will probably see many wealthier people pulled out of the higher rate of income tax, in the coming budget. Mr Osborne says he wants to “accelerate progress” towards the Conservative’s manifesto pledge of raising the threshold for the 40p rate to £50,000 in 2020, it is understood.
Meanwhile, under the plans announced on Friday, sick and disabled people will be much less likely to receive essential disabled benefits if they use aids such as a handrail or a walking stick to get dressed or use the toilet.
The Department for Work and Pensions reviewed a sample of 105 cases of people who had scored all, or the majority, of their points for PIP due to aids and appliances, in order to assess the extent to which the award may reflect extra costs.
The review led the government to conclude that PIP “doesn’t currently fulfil the original policy intent”, which was to cut costs and “target” the benefit to “those with the greatest need.” That originally meant a narrowing of eligibility criteria for people formerly claiming Disability Living Allowance, increasing the number of reassessments required, and limiting the number of successful claims.
Prior to the introduction of PIP, Esther McVey stated that of the initial 560,000 claimants to be reassessed by October 2015, 330,000 of these are targeted to either lose their benefit altogether or see their payments reduced. Of course the ever-shrinking category of “those with the greatest need” simply reflects a government that has simply made a partisan political decision to cut disabled people’s essential income to fund a financial gift to the wealthiest citizens. There is no justification for this decision, nor is it “fair.”
The government now claim that the proportion of people awarded the daily living component of PIP, who scored all of their points because they need aids and appliances, has more that tripled, from 11 per cent in April 2014 to 35 per cent in 2015.
The PIP assessment currently examines an individual’s ability to complete ten daily living activities and two mobility activities. Regular reviews were also introduced by the last government to ensure that claimants continue to receive the “right level of support.”
The increase has largely been driven by a significant and sustained rise in relation to activities one, four, five and six: preparing food, washing and bathing, dressing and undressing, and managing incontinence and toileting. Around three-quarters of those who score all of their points through aids and appliances score the minimum number of daily living points needed to qualify for the standard rate of the daily living component.
The government ridiculously claim that the “evidence” presented to the review suggested that in some instances points were being awarded “… because claimants chose to use aids and appliances, rather than needed them.” And noted that in many cases “ these were non-specialised items of very low cost.”
However, it’s very difficult to justify cutting support for people who require aids to meet fundamental needs such as preparing food, dressing, basic and essential personal care and managing incontinence.
Ministers have now announced their intention to cut PIP for people who currently receive it to help them afford specially-adapted appliances and equipment. Examples of qualifying equipment currently includes adapted cutlery for people who find it difficult to hold things for long periods of time and specially-designed household items for people less able to stand.
Justin Tomlinson, the disabilities minister, said that the cuts to funding for aids and appliances for the disabled could save about £1bn a year and was announced the week before the budget. Charities warned that the cuts to personal independence payments (PIP) would be devastating after the move was confirmed by Tomlinson on Friday.
Tomlinson, said: “The introduction of Personal Independence Payment to replace the outdated Disability Living Allowance for working age claimants has been a hugely positive reform.
But it is clear that the assessment criteria for aids and appliances are not working as planned. Many people are eligible for a weekly award despite having minimal to no extra costs and judicial decisions have expanded the criteria for aids and appliances to include items we would expect people to have in their homes already.
We consulted widely to find the best approach. And this new change will ensure that PIP is fairer and targets support at those who need it most.”
Only a Conservative minister would claim that taking money from sick and disabled people is somehow “fair,” and they frequently do. The cuts of £120 a month to the disability benefit employment support allowance (ESA) are also claimed to be “fair.” and “supportive.” Though I have yet to hear an explanation of how this can possibly be the case. Ministers claimed that people subjected to the ESA Work Related Activity Group cuts could claim PIP if they required support with extra living costs, but now we are told that PIP is to be cut, too.
Bearing in mind the Department for Work and Pensions “review” was based on a sample of just 105 people, it’s very difficult to see how further inhumane cuts to the lifeline income for this group of amongst the most disabled citizens can possibly be justified. How did ministers “plan” the assessment criteria for aids and appliances to work, exactly? People qualifying for PIP need extra support in meeting their living costs.
A coalition of 25 disability charities has written to the Government to warn against plans that would strip some disabled people of a key payments meant to help them live more independent lives.
The Disability Benefits Consortium wrote to Justin Tomlinson, to argue that proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment – or PIP – assessments would have a “severe impact” on people’s security and make it harder for them to find work.
Debbie Abrahams, the shadow disabilities minister, said: “Removing support for people who need help to use the toilet or dress is an attack on dignity.”
“These further cuts would represent another huge blow, making life even more difficult for many people who already facing huge barriers.”
Phil Reynold, policy and campaigns adviser at Parkinson’s UK, said: “If someone needs aids and appliances to carry out the most basic tasks that most people take for granted then they clearly need ongoing support to live independently, which is often expensive. They should not be penalised by making personal independence payments even more difficult to claim.”
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of the MS Society, said: “This decision could have a devastating impact on the lives of people with MS. In the worst cases, they could lose up to £150 a week.
PIP is an essential benefit which goes towards the extra cost of being disabled. The new plans will fail some of the most vulnerable people in society and we have serious concerns about the future health and welfare of those affected.”
The government is currently being investigated by the United Nations because of serious allegations that many of us have made regarding the welfare “reforms”, which have extended gross and systematic abuse of the human rights of disabled people. The UK is the first country to be subject to an investigation regarding the government’s failure to meet legal obligations to uphold disabled people’s human rights. In the 6th wealthiest nation of the world, and a so-called liberal democracy, this treatment of an already marginalised and protected social group is utterly shameful.
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Reblogged this on | truthaholics and commented:
“The government is currently being investigated by the United Nations because of allegations that many of us have made regarding the welfare “reforms”, which have extended gross and systematic abuse of the human rights of disabled people.”
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But will anything come of it? I have heard that they are going through a funding crisis themselves! Plus rats have intelligence enough to survive, this government are so slick they will get the UN eating out of their hands
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They won’t get the UN eating out of their hands, I promise. But they will ignore the UN recommendations and they will also insult the rapporteur, like they did last time
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I have a hand rail to help me get off the loo, why would I need a weekly payment to use it?
I totally disagree about people on wrag losing £30 a week but why if people have the fixtures they need, why would they need extra money? It would be unreasonable if said ooh I have got a handrail, but I need an extra £10 a week to be able to use it.
I have severe osteo-arthritis, diabetes, three mental conditions including PTSD, but I don’t qualify for PIP, I also don’t have any family at all, never have had. So I have to struggle along, if I need any other adaptions I simply tell my doctor and he contacts the occupational therapist. If I was incontinent I would be supplied with pads.
I don’t mean anything wrong but this particular point is being blown out of proportion.
The £30 loss of benefits is so Wrong in so many ways!!!
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I don’t agree. People recently becoming disabled through illness or accident simply don’t have adaptations in place to support independent living. You assume that because you are ok, other people will also be ok, which simply isn’t true.
I have lupus, I had to finish working in a profession I loved in 2010. I claimed ESA but not PIP as at that time I didn’t feel I needed that level of support. I do now. My illness has progressed and I am now seriously disabled. I can’t manage to shop, prepare meals and really struggle some days using the bathroom – I don’t have a rail at all. I struggle maintaining basic care for myself. I can’t afford to buy things that make my life manageable. Having moved from the WRAG to the support group in 2012, I’m just about to claim PIP, but believe that BOTH cuts to WRAG ESA and PIP are wrong. Ministers justified the cuts to ESA by saying those most in need could claim PIP, for support with extra living costs, now they will cut eligibility for that, too. Being disabled costs a lot more. PIP was supposed to reflect that.
And furthermore, the cut is to fund tax cuts for 7% of the most affluent members of society, whilst disabled people are most often the poorest. I don’t agree with your comment.
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Hi Joanna.
It’s not as simple as saying that adaptations are free, or that adaptations are always available, or that all conditions qualify for adaptations or that all seriously debilitating conditions qualify for or can by helped by adaptations. Yes I agree once you have said adaptation you probably don’t need to replace it until it breaks.
Problem comes when you have conditions like mine, ME and fibomyalgia. ME particularly is seriously debilitating and I need to use a stick for those occasions when I am able to get out and about (which is not often as I’m 95% housebound) and would actually like a wheelchair to enable me to get out more often. However, as we live alone, my husband is the only one who would possibly be available to push me when he is not working and given that he has multiple chronic conditions himself, including being on the waiting list for a new knee, prinz metal angina, asthma, arthritis, diabetes and many more, there is no way he could physically push a wheelchair. I don’t have the energy or strength to propel myself (afterall that’s why I need the chair) so I would have to get a powered chair. The chances of getting a manual chair for ME on the NHS are at best slim and I simply cannot see being allowed a powered one on the NHS. So if I need to go to the doctors or the hospital, let alone dentists, opticians, hairdressers, shops etc, then the only other alternative is drive. Oh wait I can’t drive these days can I because the brain fog and poor concentration, slow reactions, fluctuating fatigue, blinding headaches, spasms, twitches and full body convulsive jerks mean I’m not really up to driving these days. Alternatives then. Public transport? Sorry not enough energy for that. Taxis? Ah wait a minute – that takes money! Shopping then. Well again it’s husband does it when he’s not working and doing everything else I can’t do; or pay for taxis again; or online shopping. But as budgets are so tight I only use Lidl who don’t do online shopping and sadly don’t quite do everything you need for everyday shopping, nearly but not quite.
My conditions are such that I am about 95% housebound which means no income from me anymore, and hubby can only work part time because he has many health issues of his own and spends a lot of time looking after me and doing the household things I can no longer do. Consequently I’m home all the time which means 24/7 heating and lighting and tele and computer etc. More additional costs. I also need things like knee pillows, special neck pillows, wheat bags, electric back warmers, a tense machine, a very healthy diet, unprocessed foods, many supplements, chemical free toiletries, eco-friendly household cleaners because of chemical sensitivity, fluoride free toothpaste, many kitchen aids (like electric can openers etc) because of poor dexterity and a lot of pain with muscles and joints etc, compression gloves for my hands – the list goes on and on and on. Many of these things are extra to the needs of healthy people, pretty well all of these things are not available on the NHS and pretty well all of them are more expensive than the normal versions in the shops.
You see where I’m going with this. There is much more to being sick and disabled than simply adaptations and not all adaptations are available to or suitable for every chronic condition or disability. Many conditions are more complex than non sufferers realise and require additional costs that healthy people just don’t have to think about.
Plus the £30 a week cut that you are talking about is not to PIP and is not related to adaptations. That is for people in the WRAG (work related activity group) of ESA (employment and support allowance) who are sick but deemed fit enough to either do some part time or voluntary work or to do work towards preparing themselves to return to the work place.
Ministers claim that people in the WRAG group can always claim PIP if they need help with extra costs. That’s ridiculous because people who are genuinely ok enough to be in the WRAG group are highly unlikely to be considered disabled enough to qualify for PIP. Not impossible certainly as again it depends on your particular medical issue, but unlikely. And as for those who are wrongly assessed as being fit for the WRAG group, I’ve been there and let me tell you it’s not a nice predicament to be in. But if you are ill enough to qualify for ESA but only in the WRAG group you may still have difficulties requiring extra help to get you to and from interviews and jobs but the government doesn’t seem to think you need extra money to cope with it. It’s wrong, just plain wrong.
The cuts to PIP (personal independence payment) are a different thing and they relate to changing the qualifications with regards to adaptations. Potentially some people stand to lose as much as £150 a week. That could include people with MS, ME, Parkinsons and many of the invisible illnesses that people don’t see but devastate lives nevertheless. And that is for people who are already living on a shoestring, already suffering, are already stressed, have little or no prospect of getting better, have already faced more cuts than any other sector of society, many of whom have already lost any ability to earn a living any more and none of whom brought their problems on themselves. And what are the government and far too many others in society doing. Patting themselves on the back whilst they pull the financial rug out from under their feet, condemn them to a life of neglect and exclusion with even less hope of ever becoming a part of society again, let alone a useful part.
Sorry, I seem to have written half a book, so I’ll stop now but I hope you get the point that it’s much more complicated and complex than just having adaptations to give you any hope of passable existence let alone a meaningful life.
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With chronic, fluctuating and progressive illnesses, we have to constantly adapt as symptoms worsen. We face a constantly moving goalpost of coping and adaptation strategies, both practically and psychologically. Well said, Margaret.
I was considered very ill in 2010 when I was diagnosed with Lupus. I had to finish work. I went from the ESA WRAG to the Support Group by 2012. Now I need PIP. I am now unable to care for myself on a basic level some days.
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Reblogged this on sdbast.
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Hi kitty, as you know I’m on pip and it was not an easy benefit to get I went through a degrading assessment it was frightening for someone that wasn’t well enough to deal with it at the time I have full daily living points I can’t use my hands I have osteoarthritus of both thumbs both wrists it’s a painful debilitating disease and it’s spreading around my body my lower spine and knees are also arthritic I use all the equipment mentioned in the cuts being made I have had a trapeziectomy of the left thumb which alleviated pain but you never get back full use of the thumb I’m now on the list for wrist fusion surgery also my left hand the same applies what you gain with having the pain taken away you lose with flexibility of the wrist I also have arthritis in the base of right thumb and my right wrist is breaking down in the same way my life is difficult I can’t hold onto rails even tho they were put in my house by social services I can’t carry anything or grasp change letters or equipment I have special padded cutlery but if you have no guts in your hands and wrists they are pointless I know now this new cutback will directly affect me, with a debilitating disability I fear for the future I worked hard all my life as a chef which probably didn’t help this and now I need help they are taking it all away I would like these ministers making these decisions to be affected the way I am and see how they would manage without the use of their hands you can do very little without them the knock on affect is also dangerous I broke my ribs because my wrist gave way am I really deemed safe to be out in a working environment?? And who would employ me!! these are questions that need answering by the government.
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I can identify with this. I have serious spine and hip problems which require i use a stick, but I can’t take weight on my wrists and shoulders, because of severe tendonitis. I have also fallen onto the corner of a bookcase in my home and broke my ribs. I can’t lift pans, I walk into doors, I struggle with even basic care of myself some days.
A tribunal decided in 2011 that I had made the right decision to leave work, and that I was too poorly to work. I loved my job, but I am now so ill that working would not only be a danger for me, i also argued it would place others at risk too. The tribunal agreed with me. If I were coerced back to work, who would be liable should anyone suffer as a result? As it is, it would most likely be me. I catch a cold from a colleague and end up with pneumonia because of my rubbish immune system. I use an office keyboard and get a finger abscess for no reason. I bang myself and bleed all over the place because I have a bleeding disorder. I can’t see very well because of a treatment that damaged my eyes. My coordination sucks and my joints and tendons are damaged and very painful which affects my mobility. I get so profoundly exhausted that I can sleep for 17 hours at a time when I am ill. I get completely incapacitating headaches that mean I have to lie flat and not move my head because of lupus related inflammation. They are far worse than my migraines. I get nerve pain which renders my concentration to zero. Repeated kidney infections. I need time to recover from my immune suppressant treatments each time I have them and need regular hospital and GP appointments. Who would employ me??
Like you I have worked, I loved my job. I worked with vulnerable young people with mental health problems for social services, before that I was a youth and community worker, doing pretty much the same.
Yes, the government need to answer these questions, you raise some excellent points, Vivien.
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Feel for you, after reading that as I too am crippled by arthritis. I have it everywhere and am losing the use of my right hand, as well as my left hip. It’s throughout my spine as well. Being terrified of becoming housebound, I am having to make plans to move out of the village I’ve lived in for the last 20 years, as there is absolutely zero support for disabled people here. So, with these new cuts, I may also be facing a great shortening of my tenancy. If that happens, my reaction is going to shock the first poor soul who gets in my way! We shouldn’t be forced into that situation, but it will come, and someone will be sorry they got in my way. Oh, don’t worry, it’ll only be a sentence I’ll deliver. Nothing else! I haven’t the will or the patience to take things any further than that.
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I am sorry if I insulted you or your readers in any way!!! But this sub-human government is so corrupt and twisted in every way!!! it is such a minefield to be alive today. But if a person has adaptions, and all adaptions Should be available free of charge. I haven’t had any experience with nor do I know anyone with a condition like yours, I have never heard of Lupus, but then I have never had to before, but that has changed now thanks to You and I will think first before I post a reply
I am currently suing the Social Services, the police and the department of education for horrible abuses I have gone through, so my mind is mush at the moment.
Thank you for the information!!
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Don’t worry about offending anyone, I wasn’t at all. I think the need for adaptations are taken as an indication of the level of disability, too. Not yet sure exactly how PIP assessment works, as I’ve only had experience of the WCA. But the point about progressive illness is probably an important one,
Really sorry to hear about your experiences with social services, Dept of education and police, sounds awful and if you need an ear any time, let us know how you are getting on xx
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Thank you!
the reason I am suing the SS and education is that when I was 10yrs I had the reading age of 13yrs, but I was placed in a special school for 3 years, the SS got lots of money with me deemed a special needs case, then when I was 16yrs i was kicked out of care with zero support, I couldn’t get any benefits until I was 18, so I had to live on £28 per week from YTS, as a result I had nothing to eat 5days of each week.
Lots more horrible things happen whilst I was in care. I am so lucky that a solicitors firm has agreed to look into it.
As a result of what I have gone through, I live in huge fear every single day, I even fear for the day I might not be able to hold on.
All of what this government is doing is breaking my heart for others who are suffering!
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Sounds like you have a lot on your plate after a very bad time. I hope you are successful Joanna. I too remember the YTS.
It’s terrible to live in fear each day. I am also scared for the future, and see so much suffering because of this government’s cruel policies, too. We have to keep fighting, and remember, none of us are alone x
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Thank you Kitty, I will put more thought into my comments!
I have just gone through 3 weeks of infections after teeth extractions, my fault in a way, it sets my teeth on edge ( no pun intended) to have to chew on a cotton wool gauze pad Eww. Also last week I tripped over a paving stone and hit my head, and above my eye I had a cut, and ended up with a black eye. It happened outside a boots pharmacy, the staff in there were wonderful to me. I am ok now and for the first time in a long time I am going to go out tomorrow to have a little fun while I can. I just wish everyone can have a lot of moments of fun!!
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What a bad run of rotten luck with accidents and infections, hate the dentist, myself. Glad to hear you’re planning some fun now. You certainly deserve some 🙂
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Reblogged this on Nathan Lee Davies.
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Reblogged this on wgrovedotnet and commented:
Ableism in action. Unbelievable sustained attack against the most vulnerable despite the UN investigation and all the charities opposed to these vicious cuts to the life line of the most disabled in terms of life opportunities. What is it with this vindictive bigoted government that they are so obsessed with demeaning the disadvantaged?
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The Idle rich, have to have something to do! Unfortunately they are picking on the wrong people, because economically they need poorer people.
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You’d think they’d be nicer to those people that prop up their wealth! And wouldn’t you think they’d be a little grateful.
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Delighted by the news Iain Duncan Smith has resigned I don’t know where things will go from here but if even he felt the cuts to the disabled were a step too far and has finally had a conscience maybe there is some hope for us in need I truly hope so.
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He hasn’t been showing up for debates lately, so despite people’s disbelief regarding his motives, I’m inclined to think he’s being honest, more or less. In any event, the Tories know they went too far cutting money for people who can’t dress, use the toilet and prepare food for themselves
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I think that fact makes the tories, that much more contemptible, they know, but they aren’t prepared to do anything about it!! I hope we have an election soon, but the SNP should not have anything to do with it, if they want Independence that is fine but what they pulled in the last election, led to more deaths and that is truly unacceptable!!!
I am probably wrong in all I say, but this is how I understand it. If I am totally wrong I would appreciate if you could let me know, after all life is about learning.
I hope you are feeling as well as you can Kitty, if possible better!!
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I don’t think you’re wrong in all you say at all. I don’t blame the Scottish gov for wanting out. Agree that life is all about learning, hun.
Aw thanks for asking, I’m a bit under the weather physically – joint pain tendon inflammation and constant tiredness, but I’m good mentally x
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I couldn’t agree more kitty whatever his motives it’s made a profound statement for the sick and disabled none of us chose to be this way and the persecution was beyond relentless I have an understanding of how things are and as we know you have no chance against these people but Ian Duncan smiths resignation has blown it apart thank you IDS for finally speaking out it took guts to break away. Too late for those that have lost their lives over this cruelty but hope for the ones like us still fighting it…….
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I’m sorry but it is not about him having guts! He resigned partly because he wasn’t allowed to make pensioners suffer “some of the pain” he wanted to take away travel passes, winter fuel payments and other concessions that the elderly rightfully get!
IDS is a psychopath, he has no empathy or understanding for people who he perceives to be a drain on this economy, even though he and his wife are criminals!!! A man without a conscience is incredibly dangerous, as we have found out to our cost!!!
He never had anything on Cameron, because, Ids was once a leader, he had the rare privilege to hold any office in government he wanted, apart from PM
He had to find a way out, because his further cuts were seen as going too far, look at “tax credit cuts”.
Don’t think this is the end, we are going to hear more from him because now he is allowed to express his opinions without restraint!!!
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Who said it was about him having guts? Certainly not me. I pointed to the UN investigation into the violations of disabled people’s HRs and the fact that he has been ordered to make public the potentially humiliating Universal Credit train crash costs , his “only following Treasury orders” is almost a Nuremberg defence of what should have been seen as untenable. People have died as a consequence of his policies. He’s abdicated responsibility
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funny too how his resignation came about the time the UN gave their report. and condemned the govt for their behaviour towards those who were/are vulnerable/ good if he did find his conscience but always there will be that little niggle of doubt because of the timing. i do have questions though….CAN the UN do anything about it other than this report on their findings. (you say yourself Kitty ,that the govt could ignore that.. and they are doing just that. even now
) but could the UN do more?……. 2nd… being able to make a meal for yourself…… does that include getting a ready meal out of the freezer and putting it in the microwave, taking it out when cooked and eating it. whether you eat from the container or manage to empty it onto a plate? and carrying it to the place where you sit and eat it…. and if you can manage to do an online shopping order on a pc. does that not count against you?
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But he has effectively publicly denounced austerity measures, and we can use that to throw back at the government
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sorry I got mixed up someone actually said he had guts, I tend to get things mixed a little!
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Never fear, I do that all the time, forget who said what and where and when! But you clearly and quite properly feel strongly and are righly angry about what IDS has done. I agree he’s extremely, manipulative, authoritarian, he lies, he lacks empathy, he’s completely narcissistic, has Machiavellian traits and refuses to listen to anyone. He’s a bully – his critics are labelled “extremists” and “scaremongers.” And now he’s ducking responsibility for what he has done.
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Hi Kitty, I didn’t accuse you of saying he has guts! But a lot of people still says he does, I’m just really angry because he still has a life, that he has denied to many others. That anger was Not directed at you at all!
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Oh He will get away with it!! There is no doubt about that! There is, and has never been any justice for some people, on the right side or the wrong side!
He won’t even be looked at, even if a thousand people take him to court, because he can just use his job as an excuse.
This world isn’t survival of the fittest, it is based on survival of the wealthiest.
Believe me I have tried so hard! When I was a baby my so called parents bashed my feet with a hammer when I was taken from them at 4 I was in physiotherapy for 8 years, When I was 10 years I was in the the junior school netball team and I had the reading age of a 13 year old.
But then I was put in a special school for 3 yrs and I had to endure being called Maladjusted and a high functioning retard by adults as well as “no wonder your mother didn’t want you”
I wasn’t even badly behaved, because I was so intent on pleasing adults, to prevent being hurt. ( it never worked, but I still tried)
At 14 I was put back into mainstream school just round the corner from the special school so my peers knew where I came from, so I was subjected to the name of “spaz anna”
I was set up to fail, because when I got back into the proper school, everyone was one and a half years into their optional courses.
Throughout all of this the local library was my second home, books saved my sanity at least, just wish I had been able to access the right books that could or would, have helped me more.
To me, life is just a prison sentence, and I have never broken any law!
I am sorry for my pessimism!!!
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Reblogged this on Benefit tales.
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