A Modest Proposal: Walking a mile in disabling shoes

The current government are keen to reduce spending on certain allowances
and benefits, the current qualification for which depends upon the
claimant having impairments, disabilities, diseases or conditions of
such seriousness that they are prevented from leading a “normal” life.
They must face considerable challenges in such areas as washing,
dressing, eating, cooking, walking, working or taking part in “everyday
social activities”. If you have a temporary back-ache or a bad
day/week/month at work you would certainly NOT be able to get “free
money” from The State.

If you are unfortunate enough to have a seriously limiting physical and/or
mental condition you are expected to complete a series of extensive,
in-depth forms and provide copious amounts of evidence (from doctors,
specialists, physiotherapists, counsellors, carers and/or those who
provide you with physical assistance) to support your claim. You are
also, in most cases,  required to attend a face-to-face “independent
assessment” with an approved assessor who may or may not have any
understanding of the condition which causes you problems. All these
forms, the evidence you’ve provided, the evidence your own medical
practioners have provided and the assessor’s conclusion then go to a
“Decision Maker” who decides whether or not you fit into their
interpretations of the statutory guidelines. Then you’re told whether or
not you can receive payments, at what level and for how long.

If you are turned down and feel you have a strong enough case (and have
the energy to fight another battle), you can then launch into the
appeals process. Most people win their appeals, if they have
professional representation from, for example, the Citizens’ Advice
Bureau.

So, as I said at the top, this government are taking steps to increase the
qualifying criteria for all benefits in respect of long-term sickness or
disability. They are also planning to abolish some allowances (DLA,
ILF) and replace them them with one named (Personal Independence
Payments) and (perhaps) one as yet un-named allowance. I honestly don’t
think that the majority of MPs are anywhere near qualified to tinker
around with these things, so I’ve got a suggestion to make.

For the next year every MP, Minister and Government Advisor should be
fitted with equipment which mimics the effects of a disabling condition.

One day in the next couple of weeks they should all turn up at Westminster
to be issued with their disability at random. The equipment exists. I’ve
seen it used in programmes on television and in films. Splints which
restrict movement in particular limbs to mimic the effect of physical
impairments. Special glasses to replicate various sight impairments.
Ear-plugs or intentionally-badly-adjusted hearing aids for hearing
impairments. Thick gloves would cover loss of sensation or dexterity.
All sorts of clever tricks! Electric shock generators set to random to
give a hint of how some conditions plague suffers with pain. I don’t
think that there’s anything which would safely replicate the “like a
cold ice-pick” or “like a red-hot knitting needle” or “a burning,
tearing sensation” that some musculo-skeletal or nerve-pressure
conditions treat us to. We could just use ice-picks and knitting
needles... perhaps better not! And I’m not sure how you’d replicate
amnesia or lack of reasoning capability. (Pick your own joke here ;-))

The rules of the “game” would also include: no simply paying someone out of
your generous public salary and expenses or your private wealth to
carry things, cook for you, dress you, help you move around, drive,
read, write or any other “normal everyday activity”. They only get to
keep a free travel-pass if they qualify for a Local Authority one
already for reasons of age or existing disability. And no cheating!

If they feel their “disability” limits their mobility so much that they
need a wheelchair, white-stick, walking aid, special software etc., they
should check the criteria for getting a Local Health Authority issue
one or aids or adaptions courtesy of the Local Authority. Then, if they
find they wouldn’t qualify or would have to wait too long for the
assessment, buy (or hire) a suitable equipment out of their salary which
could then be returned, sold or donated at the end of their
participation.

When it all gets a bit too much for them they can ask for exemption, for
which they qualify by: filling in the application forms for ESA, DLA,
Access to Work and also being checking to see whether their “disability”
would qualify them for any support according to the rules of their
local authority. They would be given the forms to fill in there and
then. A random small proportion of them would be given a copy of one of
the free guides published by CAB, DIAL or other relevent advice
organisation but not
the detailed guides that HMSO publish. They are excused from attempting
to claim Independent Living Fund support because that’s been closed to
new claimants since June this year.

The decisions to grant or deny their claims should be made by DWP staff in training or competency testing. I’m sure they do
competency testing... don’t they? If I could make our elected
representatives carry out this experiment while living entirely on
randomly assigned wage levels (including minimum wage or Jobseekers
Allowance) in ratios proportionate to the sources of income of the
general public then I would but that would be really wandering into a dream world!

I wonder how they’d feel about abolishing benefits and allowances or
restricting their availability once they had some experience of
attempting to walk a mile in disabling shoes?

Originally posted here