Work to reduce the benefits for ‘terrified’ British veterans in the last offer for savings | United Kingdom | News

A military veteran has urged Sir Keir Starmer to spend a day in his “lonely and scared” life as the disability benefit progresses.

The Government is looking to reduce the number of people who claim disability benefits, currently 3.7 million working age, through possible changes in work capacity evaluations and the payment of personal independence (PIP) and a repression of benefit fraud.

Nick Wilson, 48, who served in Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Iraq before leaving with an injury to the degenerative column, is among the “terrified” e -preserves people of the plans.

While applauding the focus on scammers, the 48 -year -old said that he scares him that the government “has become benefits for disabilities to save money” without considering how vulnerable patriots like him would affect him.

Wilson, who suffers from Tept, told The Express: “Billions of pounds have been wasted in projects such as HS2; So much money has been discarded in ridiculous things and looks where they will find more funds.

“I think the money that is currently spent on well -being is a ridiculous amount. I understand that money should be saved somewhere and the economy in the tank. But surely there are other places that we can look at before attacking people like me.

“Many of us do not trust the government as it is. Go for scammers, absolutely, but leave us alone. “

The disability benefits of spending totaled around £ 39 billion in 2023/4, an amount that the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said it could increase to £ 58 billion in 2028/9.

The Labor and Pension Department (DWP) It is expected to describe a proposal to reform benefits of disease and disability in spring, addressing an “excessive expense of £ 8 billion” by the previous conservative government.

The Treasury could reduce around 5 billion of well -being spending, the Times reported this week, with Foreign Minister Rachel Reeves with the hope of directing savings towards other services while the Secretary of Labor and Pensions Liz Kendall fights to invest again In programs back to work for the patient in the long term.

In addition to fighting with his mental health since his time at the Royal Logistics Corp, Wilson, who lives in Towcester, Northambtonshire, was homeless 16 months ago when the owner of his floor decided to sell.

The advice told him that there were no access properties for available wheelchairs, and that he was assigned a small floor in a retirement complex, where he has had to remove all the doors to move and still can reach the sink of The kitchen.

He added: “My chair leaves french fries in the doors and walls. I had to sell my sofa because there was no room for it. And I’m surrounded by 90 -year -old children, ”he said. “It is not a community for someone of my age.”

The West Northambtanshire council said it does not comment on individual cases. Even so, he was “committed to finding adequate homes for vulnerable residents, despite seeing a local and national shortage of accessible housing available.”

“My housing benefit pays for this place, and I get £ 270 pip for daily and improved mobility, as well as a war pension, which is £ 250 per month,” Wilson said. “If it weren’t for the war pension, I would really be fighting and I can’t afford a normal life as it is.

“I don’t go anywhere. Worsens things, be socially isolated and lonely. I have no friends and I don’t spend money to get out and socialize. I couldn’t afford. The last time I bought new clothes was about three years ago. “

Natural Enterpriser, the 48 -year -old has begun to forge a income flow as a creator of online content under the “disabled adventurer” of the mango and recently worked with the National Trust to create accessibility videos for his paths and paths.

However, if any of its benefits were reduced, he would be forced to stop working because he could no longer afford to invent a reduction in his right of benefits linked to his work status despite not being able to pay himself.

The government messaging, to be “ruthless” in reducing spending, betrays a “cavernous disconnection” with the disabled community, including other veterans that Wilson said they share their concerns.

“It is a very frightening rhetoric for someone in my situation to listen, and I know that many of my followers feel the same. Every day it is already hard. You would not believe the level of stress, depression and anxiety that we feel when we are grouped with people who are scammers and lazy. “

“I don’t know how they can think about making cuts when there are so many disabled people who only allow their food and invoices to be paid,” Wilson added. “They are making it sound as if we were in thousands of pounds a month with our feet.

“I would like to invite Mr. Starmer to come and spend a day in a wheelchair with me, and I will show him what it really is. If the prime minister spent time with disabled people and saw all the small and incredibly difficult things with those who have to deal every day, I have no doubt that he would be surprised. “

“The government would win many more hearts and minds if they told us and put better infrastructure instead of making these quick cash accelerators,” he said.

“Much of how the world works is not designed for disabled people, especially wheelchair users. I think we have to be sensible in what we ask to change: there is not enough money for the advice to believe many fallen curbs. But where I live, no taxis will take a wheelchair. It is difficult to get on the bus. Especially in rural areas, it is simply not possible for people to leave the house, much less go to work. ”

According to the reports, the “greater repression of fraud in a generation” of work could also include giving access to the accounts of the claimants of well -being, according to the reports.

Wilson is not enthusiastic about the perspective that their financial records are exposed to scrutiny. “It is really scary because it is very complex. It lends itself to this black and white approach that could damage people like me. And does not solve the problem that the government is so disconnected from the disabled people anyway. ”

Sasha Misra, of the beneficial organization of armed services, aid for heroes, echoed the frustration of Mr. Wilson, emphasizing that “the well -being reform must recognize the sacrifices made by veterans and place their often complex needs in the heart of any change. “

“Through our work, we know that many are at a disadvantage for the current system,” he added. “For veterans, well -being support is not only a security network, but a bridge towards stability, recovery and when possible, employment.”

The beneficial organization has urged the government to “directly commit to veterans and veteran organizations to achieve this”, as well as “explore how veteran health and rehabilitation services could be integrated into the strategies of the workforce.”

Hannah Pearce, director of campaigns, policies and research at the Royal British Legion, said the beneficial national veteran organization is also “concerned about the possible cuts that affect the support available for those of the community of the Armed Forces.”

“The 2021 census data show that 32% of veterans in England and Wales are disabled, so the cuts to benefits such as PIP could undermine the support system in which many of our veterans and their families trust,” He said to The Express.

“The Government must ensure that the benefit system works for the unique needs of the community of the Armed Forces, which may have specific mental and physical health problems and difficulty accessing health services, so they are provided Adequate resources to live complete and decent lives. . “

A government spokesman said: “We are deeply proud of our veterans for the contribution they make to our country. His is the best public service, and his professionalism and courage are respected with reason throughout the world.

“On the basis of our White Book Get Britain that works, we will present proposals to reform the health and disability benefits system in a matter of weeks so that we can build a better welfare system for all, and we are working closely with disabled people, Disability organizations and health people. Conditions for your views and voices to be in the heart of our plans. “