Disabled mother 'already struggling' ahead of cuts

A disabled woman says she is "barely making ends meet", ahead of changes to benefits and tax allowances.

Mother-of-two Loreta Khamess, who is out of work because of her disability, says the plans have left her feeling "worried, stressed and anxious".

From 1 April, non-working households in Slough will have to pay council tax for the first time – having previously been exempt.

Ms Khames also fears government plans to change who qualifies for for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and to reduce Disability Living Allowance for children could affect her.

Slough Borough Council leaders voted earlier this year to cut council tax discounts for families on low incomes.

The discounts are awarded on a sliding scale based on household income, and until this week families where no one is in work were exempt from paying.

Council leaders have approved a hardship fund of £350,000 to help people facing "exceptional hardship" and said it will work with the voluntary sector to ensure support reaches people with disabilities.

Ms Khamess used to work as a carer but had to stop due to a worsening epilepsy condition.

She said she woud "love to go back to work" but frequent seizures leave her exhausted and mean employers are reluctant to take her on.

She explained that she has just over £1,100 a month to try and support her family.

She said: "I'm behind with gas and electric, I'm behind with the water, I can't afford to pay that much.

"If my kids want me to buy something even an ice lolly from Poundland, I have to say 'I can't, I don't have money' and the kids don't understand."

She said: "I'm on PIP and I could lose everything, I won't be able to pay the bills because the gas and electric is expensive.

"I've heard they might cut the Disability Living Allowance for children, which I receive for my daughter who has autism and is being assessed for ADHD.

"She ruins and cuts her clothes when she gets agitated so I'm going to struggle a lot."

Under the new plans, the government will make it harder to qualify for PIP but people currently on it said the assessments are "already stressful".

Steve Harris from Datchet receives PIP because he has multiple sclerosis and trigeminal neuralgia, a condition that can cause sharp, chronic pain in the face.

He described the assessment process as "degrading"and said he'd been marked down in his most recent one for being able to maintain eye contact with the assessor and for being able to name all his medication.

Mr Harris said: "With MS you can have really good days and really bad days and the assessment doesn't take that into consideration."

He said he uses his PIP to pay for a walking aid and for travel to MS therapy which is an extra costs that non-disabled people don't have to pay for.

Working as a graphic designer, he said he and his wife may still manage to get by but he knows others won't.

"If I wasn't working and just relying on PIP that would become an issue," he said.

"It's one of those things where you're one pay cheque away from becoming homeless."

If the government changes are approved, they will take effect in November next year.

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