tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63845276443901715442024-11-08T15:31:00.711+00:00PartySpannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15891187860810016587noreply@blogger.comBlogger731999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-41832629770903129722012-06-25T11:14:00.004+01:002012-06-25T11:14:52.038+01:00

Dear Mr Cameron,  Please stop treating me like an idiot. I know enough NOT to get all snarly at the thought of a family claiming Income Support with 3 or more kids, because I know that many of those people lost work in this recession AFTER the children were born. I know that 25 does not mean you have not contributed, it can mean you have contributed for 9 years!.  I know that Housing

Diddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10488150837446755083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-51737769402839468512012-03-01T17:23:00.000+00:002012-03-01T17:34:54.277+00:00

We Believe You is a new campaign being spearheaded by Mumsnet which, simply, is about believing victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence and challenging destructive rape myths. We live in a culture whose default position is to immediately raise the issue of women who lie about rape even though false reporting of rape is generally less than false reporting of most other crimes.  The

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06823725053193503569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-9067258332036273662012-02-16T18:40:00.000+00:002012-02-24T17:03:00.013+00:00

We thought you might be interested in this position working nights at Tesco - for your £67 a week JSA, plus travel expenses. It's one of the 1,400 positions Tesco fills by using staff on 'workfare' schemes - that is, funded by taxpayers. They say that 300 of those obtained paid employment with the company. Tesco's financial report last year (record profits of £3.5bn) boasted that they

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-48243192438875203292012-02-14T20:07:00.000+00:002012-02-14T15:27:42.538+00:00

We have until the 16th May to petition the Government to drop their Health Bill and call for a re-think.For clues as to where the Health Bill will lead us in its present form, watch this Panorama report on America's underclass. Most ended up on the streets due to healthcare costs.Add your name to the Health Bill petition here:http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22670&amp

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-79925884743407803442012-02-02T18:18:00.003+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.617+00:00

It's hard to know what to write today.Yesterday was a day of opportunity, a chance to put the odious Welfare Reform Bill a little bit to rights with 7 small amendments proposed by the House of Lords. Yes, each one reduced the amount of total savings projected in upfront terms - but long term the opportunities they provided disabled people, single parents and the unemployed in expensive areas

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-20497747803521886322012-01-31T21:32:00.005+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.621+00:00

Here's where we are at the end of the House of Lords debates over the Welfare Reform Bill.Amendment 1: Setting Lower Rate DLA for children at no less than 2/3rds the rate for Higher Rate claimants.Amendment 12: Protecting housing benefit for social tenants deemed to have un-needed spare roomsAmendment 36a: Protecting young disabled people's eligibility for contributory Employment Support

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-1818534767739178792012-01-28T15:19:00.004+00:002012-02-13T11:36:11.086+00:00

That's right! I'm going to be cured with a stroke of a pen! I'll get right out of my wheelchair and be the same as everyone else! Yes, with a stroke of a pen, someone is going to cure what even science cannot cure. Damn lazy doctors, why did they not think of that? Under the proposed PIP (Personal Independent Payment) rules, wheelchair users will no longer be entitled to help as, apparently, a

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-15821211289845588832012-01-26T22:01:00.003+00:002012-02-13T11:36:43.540+00:00

An huge amount of modern protest is about writing letters and emails, and informing uninformed. However, there is still a place for a good old fashioned picket or act of civil disobedience - it makes headlines and if #frothers came together to do anything it was to make sure people knew what was going on to the welfare state we're so proud of.Feeling fiesty?Message from the Invisible wants you in

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-33534004098142800002012-01-25T11:21:00.002+00:002012-02-13T11:38:26.555+00:00

Today's debates cover scrapping the Social Care Fund Read here about why it will cause Britain's poorest people to spiral into debt or here about people who have used the social fund in the past and how they spent the money.As well as the changes from CSA to CMEC find out about how this will lead to LESS absent parents paying their fair share and why #frothers support Gingerbread's campaign to

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-11008619873450883842012-01-25T11:10:00.002+00:002012-02-13T11:38:56.784+00:00

Today the House of Lords is considering changes to the Child support Agency. Frother HuntyCat has already covered the changes to the CSA here. I would just like to highlight the statement by the charitable organization Gingerbread who support single parents. The failure to ensure that non-resident parent’s financially support their children is directly responsible for large numbers of children

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06823725053193503569noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-56903260523718326252012-01-25T09:04:00.007+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.645+00:00

Suddenly it all becomes clear......David Cameron is in fact Iggle Piggle....How on earth did we miss this before?Tory Colours? TickVacant look? TickNot making any sense? TickNo wonder this country is in trouble!

BlakeyBlake22http://www.blogger.com/profile/16137264560480127777noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-48549866491144751632012-01-24T21:06:00.010+00:002012-02-13T11:40:43.473+00:00

The Undeserving Poor are work-shy scroungers. They get paid more than the average family income to have dozens of kids and live with them in vast sprawling flats in Chelsea smoking fags and watching Sky on their flat screen tellies.Or are they?Yesterday it was decided in the House of Lords that the undeserving poor is anyone who recieves more than £26k in benefits. There are certain exclusions

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-47637043203569084302012-01-24T17:15:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:41:12.544+00:00

Mme Lindor's new blog post sums up why intended changes to the Social Fund will force hard-up Brits into spiralling debt, fuelled by short-term lenders charging up to 4,500% interest. Picture: Mumsnet Pay Day Loans, in case you have never come across them, are taken up by people who are unlikely to be awarded credit elsewhere. With incredibly high interest rates - pay-day loans can go from

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-51098134418096524622012-01-22T20:02:00.000+00:002012-01-22T20:07:45.467+00:00

From fellow Frothers, False Economy, on Vimeo.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-24864285911824694592012-01-17T15:40:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:27:35.994+00:00

There is a crisis in the UK. Not one that the media pays enough attention to but it’s a shocker. Here are the statistics: Picture: Shelter 1.8 million households on local authority registers 70,000 children spent this Christmas homeless 1.6 million children live in overcrowded, temporary or run down housing. Consecutive governments have failed to build enough social housing to meet needs.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-47376087046520842252012-01-15T21:51:00.001+00:002012-02-13T11:15:19.382+00:00

What's Disability Living Allowance? DLA is a payment to help people cope with disabilities. It is not an out-of-work benefit: if you need to use a wheelchair, for example, or someone to help you get out of bed and go to work, it helps towards the cost. If you're working but need expensive medication and/or transport to distant hospital appointments, your DLA softens the cost impact. How does it

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-44058992383491551622012-01-13T14:31:00.002+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.656+00:00

This post is intended to be a brief introduction to NHS Funding and its distribution.  It attempts to pull together some of the key elements of that regime in an understandable way, so that non-financial readers can understand how the money flows around the system.   The NHS.  Since it’s inception in 1942 the NHS has never ceased to be an organisation attracting great media

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-85753429861642376152012-01-12T16:52:00.001+00:002012-02-13T11:42:45.307+00:00

Last night, the Lords voted strongly against three aspects of the Welfare Reform Bill. They were: 1. Change the new time limit on contribution-based ESA from one year to a minimum of two years. The Government's proposal meant that anyone who's been sick for a year this April would immediately lose their benefit entitlement. With the Lords' amendment, they will have a year to find out how changes

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-15131264495236958052012-01-10T20:24:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:15:19.394+00:00

I've sent the following letter to my MPs, using WriteToThem.com, to draw their attention to the "Spartacus Report" which highlights that the Government broke the law in their eagerness to take money off sick people. There are links to the report in the post below this. When you write, please customise your letter to suit your views and circumstances. There's only a couple of days left - make

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-64913924391426781122012-01-10T17:48:00.005+00:002012-02-13T11:43:24.777+00:00

Yesterday's publication of the Spartacus Report, entitled Responsible Reform: A Report on the Proposed Changes to Disability Living Allowance went largely unnoticed by the mainstream media. As we told you yesterday, via the SaltandCaramel blog the Spartacus Report is “a consultation based on the answers from 523 groups – local authorities, national charities, legal groups, user led organisations,

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06823725053193503569noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-42486882007496063552012-01-09T11:58:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.666+00:00

When the government proposed to changed the benefit system, from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment, a consultation period was begun. The government itself has a code of practice for consultations, that it has quite clearly broken. It was two weeks shorter than recommended and took place over the Christmas holidays of 2010/2011. It was also not completed by the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-16622085227073466032012-01-07T14:51:00.000+00:002012-01-08T02:01:11.200+00:00

Bless him. He seems to have had a tweet removed and our accounts suspended. Here's my letter to Twitter Support:. I tweeted the following about a London Councillor: "@frothingangry: Too Many Cuts: toomanycuts.blogspot.com/2012/01/on-ele… Councillor Coleman: Benefit scrounger, Social Housing abuser, Tory bigwig. #frothers". This was a follow-up to our blog story about Clr Coleman here:

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-78805569490073886032012-01-06T20:39:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.671+00:00

Two of our Frother activists were suspended earlier today from the social networking website, Twitter. @frothingangry @headlesslamarr They have not yet been informed why Twitter has taken the very unusual decision to suspend their accounts, but we can only presume that it was because of this tweet (it is the only tweet that they can think may have been responsible). Councillor Coleman:

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-43698650498753291932012-01-06T16:07:00.006+00:002012-01-06T17:38:41.621+00:00

Every Child is Supposed to Matter. Right?During our earliest years a large part of the pattern for our future life is set. Investment in a child pays dividends in terms of health and educational outcomes and future life prospects. Investment in early support for families pays later dividends for society as a whole.This was exactly where Sure Start stepped in, aiming to ensure every child had the

BlakeyBlake22http://www.blogger.com/profile/16137264560480127777noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-44685867998799494322012-01-05T20:12:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.676+00:00

“I am afraid you have to live in the real world where the country has no money and residents will have to deal with their own issues rather than expecting 'the system' to sort their lives out.” This is the kind, generous and oh-so-sympathetic response of Barnet councillor Brian Coleman to a single mother worried about becoming homeless after a £150 increase in her rent. Coleman, who

Guest Frotherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15484193092857608765noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-78855965723604243842012-01-04T14:40:00.001+00:002012-02-13T11:45:25.103+00:00

"There are thousands of people who have a mobility car and are perfectly well. I know lots of people who are off sick on disability and manage to dance at parties and do the gardening".How often have you heard that? Is it really that easy to get Incapacity Benefit or its replacement Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA)? Alicia Duffy has a different experience.I

Alicia Duffyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00926520072943523899noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-34392583493570385692012-01-03T13:41:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.680+00:00

Why the breastfeeding issue is important to us all and why the Government's maternity cuts are so short-sighted. Health care costs money: a lot of money. In the UK, we are lucky enough to have a National Health Service (NHS), which means that the money for the treatment of most conditions comes from tax-payers' pockets. Of course, the system also relies on the Government doing their bit

Guest Frotherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15484193092857608765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-30933443252840662962012-01-02T08:30:00.003+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.000+00:00

The Fawcett society estimates that 70% of the austerity cuts will directly affect women because women disproportionately depend on the welfare state and social programs to meet their basic needs. Women frequently remain solely responsible for children, disabled or ill dependants and elderly family members. In our patriarchal society women are more likely to live in poverty, be lone parents,

Guest Frotherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15484193092857608765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-33387543628298306822012-01-01T11:55:00.024+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.005+00:00

I am what used to be known as a typical Liberal Democrat voter. I say "used to be" because the party is barely recognisable any more. Since they got into bed with the Tories there has been very little evidence of any of the Liberal Democrat manifesto making it into policy and because the Lib Dems and the Torys are all great mates these days, the traditional Lib Dem voice of dissent has been

Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-83840499992661225332011-12-30T15:57:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.685+00:00

I offered to write this blog based on my personal experience of living in “fuel poverty” and because we are about to have these new “smart meters” fitted.  I wanted the opportunity to explore precisely what a “smart meter” is and how it would impact on our family; hopefully alleviating our personal circumstances. What I found instead, was that we won’t ever lose the designation of “fuel

Guest Frotherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15484193092857608765noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-66109287588855176172011-12-30T08:00:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.010+00:00

Gold rings? Perhaps platinum rings embedded with priceless diamonds would be a more appropriate analogy when talking about the Olympics. Picture Credit  Not that I am against the Olympic games - I think that they are a great opportunity for the country, but for once I must (with gritted teeth) agree with the Daily Mail who wrote earlier this month about the rising costs of the games

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-69112651432350878012011-12-29T08:29:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.690+00:00

The unemployment statistics show a rise of 128,000, in the three months to October, meaning a total of 2.51 million people are officially unemployed in this country.  That is 8.3%, with dramatically bigger rises in London and the North East.  But do people know what the statistics actually mean?   Employment and Support Allowance is the controversial

Alicia Duffyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00926520072943523899noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-66805492945418204452011-12-28T01:00:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:25:04.781+00:00

I'm 36 years old, married with 2 children and I'm disabled. Photo: John Rowley/Life.com I have Herniated Discs, Degenerative Disc Disease, Facet Joint Syndrome and other illnesses that are yet to be diagnosed. I had a second MRI scan this week, following a series of losing consciousness and a constant tingling/loss of feeling in my left arm. I'm on heavy duty pain medication (MST morphine

BerthaBerserkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13264490586300627402noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-38450735023277392712011-12-27T12:30:00.001+00:002011-12-27T15:57:42.521+00:00

When the Conservatives and Lib Dems entered into the first British coalition government since Lloyd George, the British public held their breath.Would the junior partner, the Liberal Democrats be able to hold their own against the mighty Conservative party?Would the turtle doves, Dave and Nick, reign in harmony or would their political differences tear them apart?Pic CreditThe turtle doves are

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-10300117560288827692011-12-26T08:00:00.007+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.695+00:00

 Joe White walked into the kitchen on Christmas Eve and found his mother sitting at the kitchen table with her head in her hands. "What's the matter, Mum?" the teenager frowned and sat down next to her. "This," she said, passing a couple of sheets of paper to him.  It was a credit card bill.  All eight pages of it.  And the total balance was £34,000.  He whistled. "

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-21657216354615827132011-12-25T00:00:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.700+00:00

From all the Frothers, published and silent, to all Frothers rich, poor & squeezed-in-the-middle: Happy Christmas. Happiness is a choice and, luckily, a chicken is still cheap.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-55959275239970426812011-12-23T22:05:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.705+00:00

To the tune of Whilst Shepherds Watched Their Flocks Whilst mothers watched their babes by night, In mouldy and damp rooms, The government announced a plan, To save the land from doom. Fear not, said Smith, for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind. You will not starve, if you work hard, Tho your ESA was declined. For you, in London town, this day Will join the Workfare line

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-45659368633287645542011-12-22T03:26:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.016+00:00

So let's have a look at what these billions and trillions really mean. Most of us deal in singles and tens, or hundreds and thousands if we're well off. The billions & trillions of George Osborne's world tend not to register with us, except as "a lot". One million hours ago was Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Long-distance telephone was in use. One billion hours ago, people (homo

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-87399001272915688552011-12-21T13:16:00.002+00:002011-12-22T03:26:56.582+00:00

Robin Hood, as the song says, takes from the rich to give to the poor. George Osborne seems to be following the opposite strategy by refusing to take the tax rightfully owed by large corporations but clawing back the money they owe the Treasury through his cuts programme instead. At last, the Public Accounts Committee has begun shining a light on the work of the HMRC and their propensity

Guest Frotherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15484193092857608765noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-33003647949995356072011-12-20T19:53:00.001+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.711+00:00

Liberal Democrat and Secretary of State for Business, Vince Cable agreed to take part in a webchat on the Mumsnet daughter (or should that be mother) website, Gransnet. Some questions were asked by practising Frothers, and many other questions came from regular Gransnetters, touching on topics that we have covered on this blog. Here is a condensed version of the webchat, that you can read in

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-33565262330702287082011-12-20T11:17:00.009+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.715+00:00

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the HouseNot an MP was stirring, not even for grouse.The stockings were hung by the Speaker’s big chair,In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.The MPs were nestled all snug in their beds,While visions of luxury danced in their heads.And Dave in his cashmere and Gids dressed in silk,Thought not of the children from whom they stole

BerthaBerserkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13264490586300627402noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-31922869517971713162011-12-19T14:49:00.001+00:002011-12-19T14:50:20.078+00:00

Over the weekend there has been a flurry of articles, both on blogs and in main stream media about the true cost of the cuts. We shall try to share articles with you once a week, so if you see anything you think should be included, do let us know. It seems that the shouting from campaigners is finally bearing fruit, as the mainstream media are beginning to report on the cuts, particularly the

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-32815128533922615622011-12-19T10:00:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:48:15.908+00:00

My name is Lily , I’m fifteen and science is my thing. I really enjoy chemistry, physics and maths and I’ve always thought I would go to university and study something science based when I leave school. If you asked me today what that would be, I would say medicine. Now, the Government say to have the country in debt is a bad thing, and that it reflects negatively upon the nation to be in this

BerthaBerserkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13264490586300627402noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-66027395629841797742011-12-18T10:00:00.002+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.719+00:00

A Christmas PoemChristmas is comingThe geese are getting fatReady for the tablesOf Cameron and thatThe poor can have a burgerA reminder of despairA cheap and nasty fillingTo sustain them for Workfare.The children of the richWill smile with delightTo see the lovely goodiesThat Santa brings at nightThe children of the poorCan have their Sure Start cutThey don’t need any toysAnd libraries will

Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-49586304473474366842011-12-17T10:00:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:25:04.787+00:00

I live in one of the UK’s richer areas and I have become used to hearing about the dreadful benefit scroungers and bloody poor people causing all this global economy crap, but on a recent visit to my family who live in one of the poorest areas of Wales I was staggered to hear the same old myths being peddled there too. My family live in the Rhondda Cynon in South Wales. An area of high

Guest Frotherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15484193092857608765noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-22456315213204674442011-12-16T12:09:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.027+00:00

Play a game of word association with homeless and which words spring to mind? Probably words like alcoholic, addict, mentally ill and tramp. To be honest that’s what jumps into my mind, even now. Not that I judge. Mental heath is the Cinderella service of the NHS and it's shameful  that these people are allowed fall through the cracks to become homeless. This is not the issue I want to

Guest Frotherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15484193092857608765noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-30249512484079349992011-12-15T09:51:00.007+00:002012-02-13T11:30:44.724+00:00

With all the talk about "benefit scroungers" and people living on tax payers money, I would like to take a moment today to think about what the Welfare State means. In Britain a report published in 1942, the Beveridge Report became the blueprint for the welfare state as we have known and loved it for 70 years. From Cradle To Grave The report proposed that all working people should

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-15244244650582592062011-12-15T02:50:00.000+00:002012-02-16T21:55:00.065+00:00

It will take several posts to explain the Work Programme: it's hard to believe and the goalposts keep moving. The programme was introduced as part of the New Deal back-to-work initiative several years ago, with the aim of supporting the long-term unemployed and young jobseekers into regular employment. It is still described that way.. The element of 'support' has more or less disappeared now.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-61691633365918871052011-12-13T09:04:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:28:12.604+00:00

Every Disabled Child Matters is asking that you email David Cameron to ask that the government rethink its decision to cut disability premiums awarded to families with disabled children.  This campaign is supported by Mumsnet. I would also like to ask you to do this too.  For me, for my family and for the other thousands of families out there who will suffer real financial

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-58234361734118329352011-12-12T12:31:00.002+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.048+00:00

Spend any time with parents and eventually the discussion will get around to education. Whatever your view on the public vs private debate and wherever you stand on the subject of religious schools, the one thing we all agree on is the need for good, committed teachers. Teaching is a fine profession and one that can bring great job satisfaction. But as one who has spent a dozen years at

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-37877102351877415072011-12-12T10:43:00.006+00:002012-02-13T11:29:39.393+00:00

On a clear day he heads off for his daily walk, passing parks, stopping for basics, savouring the air before returning home. Alone. He watches the barometer creep slowly nearer the chill and remembers the previous two winters: the frost; the snow. Last winter he was isolated. Neighbours cleared his path but he feared falling on it. His own family live a fair distance away. At 93, his siblings

BerthaBerserkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13264490586300627402noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-35405469227851123592011-12-12T02:25:00.001+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.060+00:00

We've got so used to thinking of "claimants" as some separate species, we tend to lose sight of the bigger picture. I include myself in this, even though I am a claimant. I get knee-jerk reactions to stories in the papers about families getting £x,000 a week: I think "How much???!" without wondering why our parsimonious State deems them in such need. Some people have families with greater

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-81669316107204849662011-12-11T01:26:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.065+00:00

Yesterday I got two bizarre letters from the DWP about how I must choose between working (signing off benefits) and reducing my permitted work to less than £20-worth a week. Considering that I made a £1,900 loss on my work last year - and that they based their decision on my declared earnings for 2007-2008, which were zero and I wasn't even receiving any benefits - this is getting

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-17563281846325614122011-12-10T18:27:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.201+00:00

Diary of a Benefit Scrounger: Time Limiting ESA - Template Letter to Lords: Yesterday, I asked you all to write to a Lib Dem peer and plead with them to vote against time limiting ESA to just one year. Template let...

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-6190794396196212011-12-10T09:37:00.005+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.206+00:00

It was a simple call from a friend last week- 'have you had the letter about tax credits?', she said. 'We won't be entitled to Working Tax credit from April. We can't pay the mortgage'.Now, I knew about this one: had followed it since the budget as we knew it affected us. The change is simple- if you are in a couple then the minimum number of hours worked goes from 16 to 24 (12 must be with

Diddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10488150837446755083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-19938104867634048812011-12-09T11:07:00.002+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.212+00:00

If you haven't been following the inquiry into a series of highly controversial deals made by top brass at HMRC and big businesses then you have been missing out. It sounds utterly boring doesn't it? Yawn, Yawn, Yawn - until you start actually looking at the figures involved. David Hartnett (Permanent Secretary For Tax) is accused of lying to parliament about a deal he made with ginormous

PartySpannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15891187860810016587noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-54888770843994864822011-12-08T13:42:00.003+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.217+00:00

A lot of people are aware that the Government are planning big changes to the CSA, but most are unaware of the scope of these changes. It was announced on Friday 2nd December that there are plans to charge both parents an annual fee to use the CSA/CMEC. The fee would be £100, or £50 if you are in receipt of means-tested benefits. Which could mean that a PWC (Parent with Care) who is working,

HuntyCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04089814879135311013noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-74137701012178010642011-12-08T10:02:00.002+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.222+00:00

Sometimes the British feel it’s not their place to complain – if something doesn’t affect you directly, do you have the right to have an opinion on it? If you weren’t offended by a joke on television until a friend explained why you could be, does that mean you have no right to be offended at all?I’m not one of the most vulnerable in society. I am not elderly, nor the working poor or disabled. I

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-89984581828389091172011-12-07T10:49:00.002+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.227+00:00

The Housing Disaster set for January 2012 Housing benefit is set to be cut and capped in January 2012. The original plans were delayed by nine months to allow councils to prepare for an exodus of tenants from affluent, to less affluent areas. How likely is it really that Landlords will reduce their rents to meet the new LHA (Local Housing Allowance) caps? This is what the coalition

Lubeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15665415663950882185noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-13507722544507855792011-12-07T08:16:00.000+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.232+00:00

A sad and chillingly prescient speech from Neil Kinnock, from his general election campaign in 1983.  Just substitute the words 'Margaret Thatcher' for 'David Cameron' and 'George Osborne'.  Or even 'Nick Clegg' for the full hat trick: "If Margaret Thatcher is re-elected as prime minister on Thursday, I warn you.I warn you that you will have pain–when healing and relief depend upon

Alison Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05628479104757865175noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-69838514573977536042011-12-06T14:37:00.003+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.238+00:00

How many empty homes are there near where you live? There must be a couple, since it is estimated that there are around 350,000 long term empty houses in England.There are two million British families currently on waiting lists for a council or housing association home. According to last night's Channel4 documentary, many of these homes were emptied by the councils to make way for new, larger

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-21392591268071271562011-12-05T17:11:00.006+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.243+00:00

I have a 16 year old daughter. She is in her final year of school. What the hell is she going to be doing this time next year ?She wants to work. She would be a good, reliable worker. In the olden days (when I were a lass), she would have had a few interviews, impressed someone with her sparkling personality (if not her academic achievements) and been taken on into a permanent job at intake level

AFMumsnethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04666951474313404522noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-21432497086213657672011-12-05T13:22:00.012+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.249+00:00

It is being called the winter of discontent. The country being called to a stand still by power hungry unions, attacks on the working man etc.The public sector. Three words that can cause a sneer quicker than a dog turd on shag pile cream carpet.Since when did serving in the interests of the public become such a whipping boy? For the vast majority of the public sector their careers are vocations.

NorfolkNChancehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04158651385682328868noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-21859917478700362212011-12-05T09:46:00.004+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.255+00:00

Are you a single parent?If you are, and are resident parent, ie the children live with you, does your ex provide financial support for your children?A stunning THREE out of FIVE parents are estimated not to receive financial support from the non-resident parent. Three out of five.When I read that yesterday, on Frothers, I could hardly believe it. What on earth is wrong with our society that so

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-41582434245685162342011-12-04T23:42:00.003+00:002012-02-26T19:27:41.737+00:00

I used to give £50 notes to the homeless people on London pavements. I couldn't think why not: I was wearing £200 shoes and a £200 haircut, weaving my way from a £100 meal that my employers paid for to a £40 taxi home. It was a nice life. I could spare a few notes, and felt sure they weren't all spent on Carling and smack. What if they were, anyway? I spent mine on red wine and Chanel, hardly a

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-1855072633827285852011-12-04T21:07:00.017+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.266+00:00

HelloThere are some great posts on here and I don't think I can better them- well I am well known for being able to spout ATOS stats until I am blue in the face but I am of the mindset that people have switched off and are trying to protect themselves So, this is why I 'froth'. Not in it's entirety- I have frothed longer than I have known what frothing is- but I hope you will understand better

Diddyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10488150837446755083noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-24302266770699086132011-12-04T00:40:00.008+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.271+00:00

There are now a lot of new rules surrounding disability benefits. Since Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) was brought in, a lot of people that would have qualified for the old out-of-work disability benefit, Incapacity Benefit (IB), no longer qualify for the new out-of-work disability benefit, ESA.As they don’t qualify for ESA, these people with disabilities are told to claim Job Seekers

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-19782120678140543782011-12-03T18:34:00.002+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.275+00:00

More than 5 million households in England are now in fuel poverty. In other words, they have to spend 10% or more of their income to achieve adequate warmth and light.http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/dec/01/fuel-poverty-affects-quarter-householdsThe Government has a statutory obligation to eliminate fuel poverty by 2016, but the way the figures are rising makes it look like this will be

Alison Starrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05628479104757865175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-39032391016422723562011-12-03T05:53:00.002+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.280+00:00

Make them listen. Get frothing.http://www.facebook.com/frothers We the unheard have had enough of the unelected (ConDems) demolishing our welfare state and cutting all that is good and great. We are ordinary people who have reached the limit of what we are prepared to tolerate and it must stop. We are the #frothers.Post your insights, information, ideas. We promise, the more you look the more you

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-2220102566337455272011-12-02T11:50:00.001+00:002012-02-13T11:27:36.285+00:00

It was announced yesterday that the government plan to scrap the (toothless) Child Support Agency and replace it with the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission will bring with it new powers to deduct child maintenance directly from non resident payers' pay packets.Now, before we all get too excited (and by "we" I'm talking about the many thousands of lone parents who receive little or no

PartySpannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15891187860810016587noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-83964637180627928282011-12-01T23:59:00.000+00:002011-12-02T10:35:16.158+00:00

50 Still Nifty: Join the #frothers!: Anger and frustration with the coalition government is growing. The recent demonstrations/strikes by the unions, which saw 2 million worker...

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-53462414397646207182011-12-01T16:48:00.008+00:002011-12-13T14:14:21.239+00:00

When the Conservatives came to power last year, the only slight consolation was that there was a feeling amongst Labour voters that the party would be swept through. Out with the old, in with the new. New personalities, new policies, new ideas, a new beginning. Since then, the Tories have cut swathes through the heart of Britain. Slicing into the NHS, tax credits, benefits, Sure Start, DLA...

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6384527644390171544.post-11146951928313362942011-11-30T22:44:00.000+00:002011-12-02T10:35:48.711+00:00

Just off the top of my head: * Student fees * Public sector workers terms and conditions (otherwise known as moving the goal posts after the match has started) * Women (Report on Fawcett legal challenge result here) * Sure Start * NHS * Erosion of employment rights * Removal of EMA * Removal of universal child benefit * Unfair changes to DLA * Unfair changes to ESA assessment I am getting more

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1Everywhere in the UK.53.120405283106571 -1.4062534.383518283106568 -41.8359375 71.857292283106574 39.0234375