MS Patients 'Cutting Spending On Essentials Due To Disability Benefit Changes'
Almost a third of Scots with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been forced to cut their spending on basic essentials because of changes to disability benefits, a report has found.
Almost a third of Scots with multiple sclerosis (MS) have been forced to cut their spending on basic essentials because of changes to disability benefits, a report has found.
The study by the MS Society in Scotland found that 30% of people with the condition have had to reduce spending on food, while 25% have cut back on gas and electricity due to benefit changes.
And one in 10 have had to reduce spending on attending hospital appointments as a result of the changes, the study concluded.
The findings were released as part of the charity's new campaign - MS: Enough: Make welfare make sense.
Its report looking at the picture for people with MS in Scotland stated: Respondents to the survey suggested that changes to disability benefits have caused stress, anxiety and financial difficulties which affect their ability to remain socially active and indeed their health and wellbeing.
In Scotland, 50% of our survey respondents agreed that changes to disability benefits have had a negative impact on them.''
Scotland has one of the highest incidence rates of MS in the world, and around 11,000 people north of the border live with the lifelong condition, which attacks the nervous system. Symptoms include sight loss, pain, fatigue, incontinence and disability.
The MS Society said that people with the condition need access to benefits to help them take care of themselves.
The Scottish survey revealed that 65% of respondents agreed that, without disability benefits, they would be unable to afford essential items such as food and heating.
Some 85% said that, without disability benefits, their independence would be negatively impacted and 91% found the process of claiming benefits stressful.
Almost 90% of those questioned feel that the public negatively judge those who claim disability benefits, and nearly a third said they do not claim all the benefits they need because of stigma''.
The charity is calling on the UK Government to recognise the reality of living with MS'' as it outlined its hopes for a welfare systemthat does not threaten the financial security of people affected by MS''.
Morna Simpkins, director of the MS Society Scotland, said: It is simply not good enough that people in Scotland who have MS are being forced to make difficult choices between heating their homes or attending hospital appointments.
People with MS need and deserve more from their welfare system.
The UK Government needs to recognise the reality of living with MS and make basic, common sense changes, fast. We also need the Scottish Government to join our fight for those who face poverty, inequalities and discrimination due to the failures of the current system.''
Scotland's Social Justice Secretary, Alex Neil, said: Where we have responsibility, we are investing to support vulnerable people. We are providing significant mitigation resources but recognise it is impossible to fully mitigate the cuts without control over the welfare system.
We will do all we can with the new powers coming to the Scottish Parliament to improve outcomes for the people of Scotland.''
A spokesman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: ''We understand that going through the assessment process can be difficult for people suffering from conditions such as MS and our staff work hard to make it as straightforward as possible.
''The purpose of an assessment is to identify the support that a claimant needs and they are carried out by registered and experienced health professionals.
''Our staff receive training and guidance for a range of medical conditions including fluctuating conditions such as MS.''
:: The charity surveyed 1,780 people with MS across the UK about their experiences of claiming disability benefits. A total of 242 responses were from within Scotland.