Tories target incapacity benefit recipients.

[Mad Cyril]

Tories to cut incapacity benefit bill.

I'm not a politician but exactly what jobs are all these people going to do?

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Conservatives cite Stephen Hawking as an example of someone fit enough to work when they start slashing peoples benefits.

 

[MK Shrimper]

Let's up the inheritance tax levels to help out our rich buddies and target the poor. Same old Tories despite Dave trying to being touchy feely.

Labour are *****.
Tories are *****.
Lib Dems are pointless.

What a country.

 

[Slipperduke]

I don't see a problem with it, to be honest. He's not saying that he's going to force everybody, regardless of handicap, behind the counter of McDonalds, is he?

I've heard only anecdotal evidence about people who claim incapacity benefit when they're actually quite healthy, but I've heard enough of it to make it worth investigating.

It's not a question of punishing disabled people, he's trying to punish people who pretend to be disabled.

 

[Bob Cratchitt]

I think you will find a lot of long term sick have been placed on the incapacity benefit as they do not contribute to the unemployed figures, fudging the figures at it's best.

Personally I do feel the inheritance tax does need an overhaul, why should my parents money that has already been taxed when earnt be retaxed just because they die. The level of £325,000 is not much when you look at the value of houses even in these times, that figure can easily be swallowed up.

 

[canveyshrimper]

To me this sounds fair enough. One of the cornerstones of Blair's manifesto in 1997 was to "think the unthinkable" on social reform, and he made Frank Field the Minister to do this, only to kick him out a year or so into his administration.

IMO our welfare system needs root and branch reform, and if Cameron grasps the nettle and actually does something about it, then more power to his elbow.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Let's up the inheritance tax levels

Hope springs eternal...:p

 

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

I don't see a problem with it, to be honest. He's not saying that he's going to force everybody, regardless of handicap, behind the counter of McDonalds, is he?

I've heard only anecdotal evidence about people who claim incapacity benefit when they're actually quite healthy, but I've heard enough of it to make it worth investigating.

It's not a question of punishing disabled people, he's trying to punish people who pretend to be disabled.

That is exactly how i see it, if I was genuinely receiving incapacity benefits, I wouldn't have a problem being checked out. The only people who are going to suffer are the people ripping of the system.

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

I'm not a politician but exactly what jobs are all these people going to do?

Exactly. There aren't enough jobs for the people who are currently considered capable of work, let alone a whole bunch more, where are these jobs going to magically appear from?

Lib Dems are pointless.

No they're not. They actually have policies and if people weren't brainwashed into believing we're in atwo party system they'd see that.
(apologise for use of 'brainwashed', couldn't think of a better word)

It's not a question of punishing disabled people, he's trying to punish people who pretend to be disabled.

We all agree benefit cheats should be punished, but that's not what I got from listening on the radio this morning. What I heard was a moving of the line that says "you are incapable of work", which would make life harder for people who already have it hard.

 

[Mad Cyril]

I don't see a problem with it, to be honest. He's not saying that he's going to force everybody, regardless of handicap, behind the counter of McDonalds, is he?

I've heard only anecdotal evidence about people who claim incapacity benefit when they're actually quite healthy, but I've heard enough of it to make it worth investigating.

It's not a question of punishing disabled people, he's trying to punish people who pretend to be disabled.

Presumably pretending to be disabled is not enough to claim incapacity benefit otherwise everyone who could put on a limp would be saving themselves the grief of signing on every fortnight, trousering an extra £25 a week and parking on double yellows with impunity.

Doctors have actually certified these people are unable to work yet the Conservatives want to raise the bar in order to save a few quid when it would be much more reasonable to imprison the Royal family and sell our assets to Roman Abramovic, Andrew Lloyd Webber and the Beckhams.

 

[MK Shrimper]

No they're not. They actually have policies and if people weren't brainwashed into believing we're in atwo party system they'd see that.
(apologise for use of 'brainwashed', couldn't think of a better word)

They will never be elected into Government in my life time. The only hope that Clegg has of some kind of power is in a hung parliament.

 

[number11]

We all agree benefit cheats should be punished, but that's not what I got from listening on the radio this morning. What I heard was a moving of the line that says "you are incapable of work", which would make life harder for people who already have it hard.

Everyone is obviously getting a different interpretation, but I understood it to mean the bit in bold. At the moment it is far to easy (and this is from direct experience) to be signed off work or get benefits when if they really wanted to they would be able to look for work.

 

[Bob Cratchitt]

How does a Doctor ascertain a back injury??

I know this as for 4 years my spinal injury was misdiagnosed. Only when i went private to a top neurosurgeon, who sent me for a MRI scan of my neck, was it spotted that my 6th disc was protruding into my spinal cord.

With the cost of MRI scans, I do feel this is why so many people get away with it, or the fact every dept has targets and if it means putting a long term unemployed person onto incapacity benefit then this will happen.

 

[Mad Cyril]

How does a Doctor ascertain a back injury??

How does a shadow Conservative minister ascertain a back injury?

 

[Jedi Shrimper]

They will never be elected into Government in my life time. The only hope that Clegg has of some kind of power is in a hung parliament.

In my time I've met plenty of people who said that they liked the Lib Dems policies but thought it was pointless voting for them, so would eventually A) choose between labour and tories or B) not vote. If all those people did vote for the Lib Dems, a hung parliment is exactly what we'd get. Annoys the hell out of me.

On a lighter note, Vince Cable was being interviewed around the time of the LB conference and was asked which party the Lib Dems would team up with in the event of a hung parliment, his answer... "That's like asking would you rather be hit by a train or a Truck". Brilliant.

 

[Aberdeen Shrimper]

How does a Doctor ascertain a back injury??

I know this as for 4 years my spinal injury was misdiagnosed. Only when i went private to a top neurosurgeon, who sent me for a MRI scan of my neck, was it spotted that my 6th disc was protruding into my spinal cord.

With the cost of MRI scans, I do feel this is why so many people get away with it, or the fact every dept has targets and if it means putting a long term unemployed person onto incapacity benefit then this will happen.

Can you claim if you are suffering from stress or post traumatic syndrome??

 

[Bob Cratchitt]

How does a shadow Conservative minister ascertain a back injury?

I am guessing he will not be a shadow if this is implemented.

I would say you charge the person 50% of the cost of an MRI scan, if the scan proves there is an injury, he is refunded the cost in his benefit. If not then hey they are a cheating scumbag and should be lucky they are only paying 50% of the MRI bill rather than facing Fraud charges at the nearest Crown Court.

 

[Mad Cyril]

I would say you charge the person 50% of the cost of an MRI scan, if the scan proves there is an injury, he is refunded the cost in his benefit. If not then hey they are a cheating scumbag

What if they have Munchausens disease?

 

[osymandus]

Can you claim if you are suffering from stress or post traumatic syndrome??

Only if affects your day to day well being .

DS : I totally agree on the LIB Dems people will make a difference however industry media etc are all tied up to teh other two , the reason a 3rd is ignored is becuase it brings in to radical a change and reall isnt one ("wait you mean the lib dems want a to overhaul teh tax system as well as have a sensible economic basis that allows the moany rich to leave but not adervsly affect the country Nooooo!)

MRI's are free on the NHS , the GP isnt supposed to diagnose the back complaint completly unless they are a spine specialist (good luck with that ). The pharmaceutical and medical industries are one of teh largest and most profitable in the world hence why the equipment is so expensive and treatments ... it need not be , thats teh choice of those who provide developemnt and manufacture these for teh industry.

 

[osymandus]

What if they have Munchausens disease?

Psych evaluation , plus they have discovered that people can will themselves symbotms and even produce some disorders.

So if Dave the common man wants this sorted we need to paye the medical staff more improve their working conditin sand remove the need for them to take 2 or more jobs or move to teh private sector.. oh wait Daves chums wouldnt like that

 

[Mad Cyril]

We all agree benefit cheats should be punished, but that's not what I got from listening on the radio this morning. What I heard was a moving of the line that says "you are incapable of work", which would make life harder for people who already have it hard.

That was the bit I heard/read.

If life on benefits was so easy no one would be doing 60 hour weeks.