kelpforestdweller:

clatterbane:

wetwareproblem:

thefibrodiaries:

fogblogger:

fightinginthenameofnothing:

thefibrodiaries:

if abled people spent even half the amount of time supporting disabled people that they spend ‘calling out the fakes’ the world would be a much a better place for disabled people.

I don’t see how it’s unsupportive to expose people utilizing resources and garnering false sympathies who do not need those resources or sympathies. If anything it frees up those services for people who legitimately need them.

Of course! But the problem is that people take it upon themselves to go after absolutely anyone who is disabled and requires services, and us disabled people end up having to constantly (literally on a daily basis) explain and justify our needs. I think people think it’s very easy to get gov assistance, when that is completely not the case. It takes years, a lot of money and time, and a whole lot of proof. It’s super stressful to go through the whole process, and then every year/few years you gotta do it all again and reprove yourself. Most people have no issue with the gov keeping tabs on it all, since we don’t want people misusing it, but when regular people try to do the governments job, that’s where I have a problem.

Plus, they’re never kind about it! It’s always done in a horribly rude and sometimes actually scary way. You shouldn’t be forced to divulge your whole medical history to every person on the street (or in whatever institution you need access too, even though it’s illegal, people don’t care and do it anyways). 💜

@fightinginthenameofnothing I understand what you are saying, if someone is genuinely faking an illness to use resources they don’t need and you are 1000% sure they are not genuine then sure, expose them, call them out. 

The problem with this whole “exposing the fake disabled” culture, like @fogblogger says, is that people are going after anyone on disability, anyone using disabled badges or getting any extra help/support etc. 

I have been attacked for using my disabled badge, harassed when people see me walking because that must mean I am not disabled. I am in constant fear of people accusing me of lying and just being a lazy scrounger (all these things have been said to me in the past) and I even have severe anxiety as a result. People have taken this whole thing too far and so many genuinely disabled people are being harassed and abused because of it. This may have started with good intentions but is turning into a hate crime against the disabled.

 People are even being investigated by the government because they’ve been reported as falsely claiming benefits. The governments own figures show that most of the people reported are genuine and they’ve just wasted all that tax payer money investigating someone who didn’t deserve to be investigated in the first place. 

Obviously I would like the people who are not genuine and taking resources from those who need it to be caught out but if I had choose between protecting the disabled community as a whole or trying to catch out the 0.7% (actual figure of people in the UK fraudulently claiming benefits). I would rather one person get away with benefit fraud than risk hurting thousands of disabled people in a witch hunt to “catch out the fakes”

The public have no right to judge every single disabled person who needs help. It is not up to them to decide who is or isn’t disabled. We go through enough stress trying to prove that we need the help in the first place. We undergo assessments, Appeals, medical tests.

 This is culture is not even helping to stop benefit fraud, it is just harming the most vulnerable people in society. disabled people don’t deserve this constant harassment and fear of losing their support just because some asshole on a power trip thinks that they can stop benefit fraud by going after vulnerable people.

Instead of trying to make sure “fakes” aren’t taking up limited resources, why not spend that same time and effort building more resources?

Also looking at the UK, with its ongoing austerity dumpster fire and encouraged easy anonymous reporting:

Only 7% Of Benefit Fraud Allegations Are Substantiated (Covering all benefits, BTW.)

DWP also admit they don’t record how many people make malicious allegations – mainly due to the anonymity they provide accusers – and take no action (legal or otherwise against those who do.

Meanwhile:

There seems to be a large disparity between this and public perception: an Ipsos Mori survey in 2013 found the public believed 24% of benefits were fraudulently claimed – 34 times greater than the level seen in official statistics.

From last month (October 2017), and not at all unconnected:

Disability Hate Crime Reports Surge, And Campaigners Think Media Portrayals Have ‘Demonised’ People (‘Disabled people on benefits are portrayed as scroungers.’)

Of course, it’s not as if the ones harassing and assaulting disabled strangers can even know who may or may not be receiving benefits at all, much less how legitimately. Just being disabled in public is plenty. Scroungers by default. It’s an unfortunately socially acceptable excuse for abusive behavior wrapped up in resentment. Self-righteousness can be one hell of a drug.

And letting other people go about their business without interrogation and harassment should be the default. That includes everyone.

(Though sometimes they don’t even bother with that pretense. Also from last month: Hate crimes against disabled children rise 150 per cent in two years)

To reiterate wetwareproblem’s point:

Instead of trying to make sure “fakes” aren’t taking up limited resources, why not spend the same time and effort building more resources?

I mean, there are some obvious reasons the government would prefer to scapegoat us all as drains on society, but “concerned citizens” really don’t need to do so much of the dirty work for them. It’s really not in anyone’s best interest to keep squabbling over crumbs.

the searingly shitty thing about this in the UK in particular is that incomprehensible amounts in benefits go unclaimed while thousands of people just fucking die because the process of applying for disability payments is so traumatic and designed to grind you down until you give up.

this is what this culture of calling people fakers gets you. this attitude literally kills disabled people while resources that have already been allocated for welfare go to waste.

we could literally afford to give all those unclaimed benefits to all the nonexistent “fakers” and still have the same amount to give to everyone else.

and listen. I’m sure a few people are just dicks but in most cases if you are faking a disability to try to get welfare, I’d be willing to bet you seriously need that money. it’s a torturous system to engage with even if you have the most obvious, undeniable type of disability. going up against it fraudulently is an act of enormous desperation.

we need real social safety nets (basic income guarantee, anyone?) so no one ever needs to get that desperate, not more policing of disabled people that literally kills us.