Its Not Our Fault
As I browse the news on yet another cold morning, sipping on a hot coffee. Everywhere I look, there seems to be some kind of attack on those with disabilities. Or those off work sick through no fault of their own, as I know only too well. Then, as I take another sip of coffee, which rises in price almost every week it seems. I just think to myself, it’s not our fault, we are not the problem here.
Looking back to when I was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 1994, it was even worse back then. I would get on the tube with my dialysis line covered in gauze, which would stick out in my neck. I was so physically exhausted after 4 hours of dialysis, sometimes I would need to sit on the floor if there were no seats. Passengers would move away from me, as they wondered what that was sticking out of my neck.
Why Blame us?
My point, I know how I have been treated over years. Whether off work, or in work. They just look at the outside and make assumptions about you, based on image. I see it happening all over again. As the media and the new Labour government, look to justify cuts that are coming. But again, I wonder, it’s now our fault, why are you blaming us?
The Conservative government, the Lib Dems in coalition ignored the problem. The Blair government before that, also ignored the problem. The problem, you may wonder? is rent. The Blair government did great work on the min wage. But what they did, was ignore rents alongside., as did the governments that followed. Now, a worker off sick as I was all those years ago. Can no longer put a roof over their head, earning that min wage, without some form of top up. That is a failure of government policy, yet they are looking to blame the claimant. The claimant who has faced a change of circumstance and risks losing everything.
Welfare Bill
That has led to an ever-rising welfare bill, in top ups and housing support. Billions going to buy to let landlords, acknowledged by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Then, talking about the Billions going to buy to let landlords and the burden on taxpayers. This was in June of 2022 and there have been high rent rises since. Now, the housing support bill and those off work, has caused even more strain on the welfare budget. Rents were never sustainable and it was inevitable that LHAs would need to be frozen, due to cost.
So, again you have the ask the question of this Labour government. Why are you blaming those off work sick, or with disabilities for the high welfare bill? When in my view, it’s a failed housing policy over many years. Combined with the fact many cannot help themselves, after a change of circumstance, because of the high cost of rents. I accept there are other costs as well, but it’s the governments choice to ignore rents, I take issue with.
The Problem of High Rents
The Average rent now is £1362 as of Nov 2024. The Min wage is currently £11.44, rising to £12.21 in April. When you put any top ups to one side, it’s not difficult to see where the problem is for so many working-class workers. Working in the everyday jobs I have done over the years. Those in warehouses and distribution centres, moving around the goods we all need.
Take Enfield as an example, as I know there are many warehouses and distribution centres in the area. When off work sick, the worker renting a 1 bed home privately. Will be paying around £1350 a month in rent, a very high amount I think many would agree. Now the worker is off work sick, perhaps mentally broken from having nothing left each month. The LHA rate for Enfield in his/her 1 bed home, is currently £1146.
Money in and Money Out
Not only does the worker off sick, need to find money from his or her benefits they have had to claim, to make up the difference in rent. There is now a very real risk of homelessness, due to that discrepancy in the budget. It pushes the worker off sick to have to turn to a food bank. Because the worker has had to pay money out that might have been used for food, on keeping the roof over their head. There is also a risk of losing their jobs, which makes it harder to turn their life around. Constantly worried about bills, is not a nice place to be, I have been there. Its can cause incredible stress and make your health much worse.
The Lack of Balance
Looking back at what I have seen in my own life, as well as with illness. It is vital that Politicians and decision makers, listen to many more views. Its not enough, to simply read about people like me, in the module of a social sciences degree. It’s not good enough that those from poverty charities and so on, sit on advisory panels. Advising Ministers, when they don’t have the lived experience or see things first hand. Its why so many are so angry, due to so many being out of touch. The reason the welfare bill is so high, is because of that collective failure and bad policy. Advised by people that don’t understand, therefore making everything worse.
It’s not about being against academics in anyway, merely that education comes in many forms. The lack of balance in society is so obvious and that must change. Rents must be addressed, so workers can help themselves. It will also help businesses employ the workers, as they will be able to take more jobs, due to being able to pay the rent. Its no good ministers hiding behind charity, to try and show they are doing something. Or, reacting to a headline when it all goes wrong. We need a proactive government that understand what people need. The, people can help themselves as I did, and have that security. I owe so much to social housing and fair rent. It has helped me to work and live within my means. As well as being that vital security as a transplant patient, so I can keep myself healthy.
I know what works, as well as so many others do. I just want people to have the chance we had, so they can help themselve. Thank you for taking the time to read this – Stuart