Raggamuffin wrote:Fletch wrote:Raggamuffin wrote:Fletch wrote:
I suggest you ask government who came up with the idea.
What extra costs does a pensioner have? They receive a lot more than £73 per week.
A pension is different. You're talking about "benefits" generally, but this is specifically about PIP, which is not means tested. If everyone was told to ask the Government about their policies, there would be hardly any discussion on here.
Can you not think of any extra costs for someone housebound and possibly incapable of looking after themselves, even a danger to themselves? £73 JSA and now some ESA is deliberately punitive. Part of higher payment for those with extra needs is the removal of punitive elements. ie it's a more realistic figure to live on as are pensions. Things like higher fuel costs, diet requirements, travel not to mention any care for those unable to look after themselves mean a higher payment. Pensioners get higher payments too for disabilities, attendance allowance in their case.
For mental illness? Not really. For those with serious physical disabilities, wouldn't it be better to spend larger amounts so that someone can be more independent? Rollup was talking about a wheelchair which he bought himself, but I would have thought it would be more useful for someone who couldn't walk to get one for free rather than get an amount every week.
I can stand and walk but it's very hit and miss.
Walking makes me a danger to myself and others so I have to limit it.
The fact I still have some mobility meant I didn't qualify and was right at the back of the list.
I could just stay home.
It's not life saving to be able to go shopping with my wife.
I could easily have become housebound which is a quality of life issue.
I cannot propel myself very far in the standard chair and my wife can't push as I'm a big person and she's a little one.
It was accepted that there's no way she could push me very far.
So stay home it would have been.
Not an important enough issue now we have the austerity economy.