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, cam...
