When Benefits Become a Weapon Against Disabled People:
When Benefits Become a Weapon Against Disabled People:
What disabled people have to put up with online is genuinely exhausting. Today someone commented that anybody receiving benefits should remember “who’s paying for them” and be grateful, and that attitude is exactly the problem. Benefits are not charity handed out personally by random strangers. They are part of a social security system designed to support people through disability, illness, unemployment and hardship, because any one of us could need that support at some point in our lives.
Receiving benefits does not mean somebody else owns you, gets to speak down to you or gets to decide how grateful you should be. It also ignores how much disabled people contribute, including through work that is completely unpaid. I spend a huge amount of time advocating, supporting communities, creating resources, raising awareness and helping people navigate difficult systems. Disabled people volunteer, care for others, run support groups, campaign, create and contribute in countless ways that never appear on a payslip.
At the same time, disabled people can face significant barriers to employment and a continuing disability pay gap when they do work. So instead of asking disabled people “who is paying for you?”, maybe we should be asking why disabled people are still expected to constantly prove their worth simply because they need support.
Social security should provide dignity, not become ammunition for strangers to shame people online. Disabled people do not owe anyone silence, submission or performative gratitude for being allowed to survive. We contribute, we have rights, and we deserve the same basic respect as everyone else.
Sarah Wingfield
Actress • Author • Advocate
KawaiiDollDecora.uk
#DisabilityRights #DisabilityAdvocacy #Ableism #ChallengeAbleism #BenefitsStigma #WelfareStigma #DisabledPeople #DisabilityAwareness #SocialSecurity #UnpaidLabour #DisabilityPayGap #Equality #HumanRights #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #Accessibility #Advocate #SarahWingfield #KawaiiDollDecora
Alt text:
Colourful glittery graphic featuring a screenshot of an online exchange. Janet Bray writes, “Anybody on benefits just needs to remember whose paying for them and be grateful.” Sarah Wingfield replies that the commenter does not personally pay for or own her, explains that she works three unpaid jobs, and challenges the government over unpaid labour and the disability wage gap. The screenshot is set against a bright multicoloured sparkling background, with “KawaiiDollDecora.uk” vertically along the left and Sarah Wingfield’s pink “Actress | Author | Advocate” signature branding across the bottom.
