Thread by @BlokeOnWheels

Imagine being disabled to the extent where the DWP have already confirmed your inability to work and then suddenly having to go to the Job centre where a work coach who has never met you before and has no knowledge of you disability can say 'you can work now, and...1

If you don't start looking, you will be sanctioned.' Now this might seem ridiculous, but unless I'm reading it incorrectly, that is the reality of the system which the Tories are looking to introduce. I get that allowing people to try work while receiving benefits is a,,,

Good idea, however this system will punish those who absolutely have no prospect of working, the White Paper pledges that such individuals will indeed be protected, but in practice how will this happen when decisions are solely at the discretion of work coaches?It won't 3

So what we will end up with is a system where people are punished for not doing the impossible. Again, I'm not saying that disabled people feel that they can work shouldn't try, of course they should, and good for them, but there needs to be proper protections for people...4

who can't and while many of us live in fear under the current system even though we have that the DWP has accepted the fact that we can't enter the labour market, this will be worse under the new system, where no such protection will exist. 5

And of course, it goes without saying that the impact will vary wildly depending on one's work coach happens to be. If people get one who is understanding and empathetic, then hopefully they will be fine, however, if they get one who is obsessed with targets or...6

Just enjoys the fact that they have power over the lives of other people, then all I can see is that we will be subjected to the lives of hell and misery. It really doesn't have to be this way, the government could retain proper safeguards for people who can't work...7

But they won't because we cost too much. Also, I get the impression that unlike with the assessment system, people will not be able to appeal the decisions of work coaches (I could be wrong) but this will lead to people being subjected to completely inappropriate requirements...8

And the at the risk of being sanctioned severely if, as I said earlier, they don't comply with the impossible. I really hope I am wrong about this, but I don't think I am I don't want to be accused of scaring people either , that's not my intention, the fact is I am...9

Deeply worried and this thread sets out why. It won't happen for years, but if and when it does, our lives could become even more painful than they already are. 10 #DisabilityRights #DisabilityBenefits #Sanctions #UniversalCredit