Mar 212025
#WelfareNotWarfareMy name’s Ben, I am a member of Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) and of the Socialist Party Disability Caucus. 13 years ago I organised a number of protests against the ATOS assessments in Swansea, covered extensively in the local paper. As a PIP benefit claimant, I’ve been in front of a judge four times in appeals, going all the way up to the upper tribunal, and I’m going through another reassessment now!The cuts recently announced by the government are absolutely brutal – such as abolishing disability benefits entirely for under-22s – and disabled people around the country are getting ready to oppose them.Here are two events coming up in Swansea that I hope you can attend, including a virtual planning meeting on Monday and a protest on Wednesday.I’ve tried to pick a time that most people can make, but apologies to those that can’t. Even so, if you want to email me any information I can make sure it’s circulated to everyone in the notes afterwards.Virtual / Zoom planning meeting – 6.30pm Monday 24th March 2025(Instructions how to join to follow soon)As a first meeting, this will be a fairly informal 45 minute planning meeting covering the following topics. You can take part by voice & video, or type in the chat, or send me an email. Everyone is welcome!
- Introductions – if you want, introduce yourself and say why the issue is important to you
- Preparation for the protest Wednesday
- Plans for future meetings and protests
I really hope you can attend if possible, and I’ll take notes for people who can’t make it.The priority for this meeting will be the protest on Wednesday, but in future meetings, we should definitely discuss:
- Officially forming a Swansea Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) group
- Election of roles
Protest – Swansea Castle Square – 1pm Wednesday 26th March 2025Note – please get there early if you can!This is to coincide with a national day of action called by DPAC.There have been many great suggestions for protest targets – such as the Swansea West MP, Labour Party meetings, the Job Centre, and the disability assessment centre. For a first protest, I chose Castle Square because it has benches for sitting on.I’ll send more details, promotional graphics etc. about this soon and organise a Facebook event and a link. I will also be reaching out to other organisations for support, and organising a press release.That’s all for now so as not to overwhelm with info, but I’ll share more in the coming days, and I hope to meet you as we fight together to defeat these cruel disability cuts. Please forward this email to anyone who might be interested, and please email me if you have any information to share or any feedback.Many thanks,Ben
Hi there, firstly, thank you for uour work you have done, and for your fighting the DVLA. I have just found this place by viewing about PIP cuts of billions by 2029 and forcing job hunting for disabled people when there are no jobs hardly out there, for one and for another, this is meant for disabled people to help live independently, which is disgusting as it costs a lot more to do so, as now we will pay much more fir taxis etc. As I am physically disabled and have depression and anxiety it’s v important and seriously, how, if we are capable of work, we need to have a safe vehicle to do so! I lost my Driving license in 2016. I hadn’t committed any offence, this unknown GP at my so called practice apparently thought that I was too ill to drive! I had the flu and I had to have a health assessment. I had a motability car but because I refused due to ill health the GP without my knowledge, told the DVLA to revolk my driving license! I am 55 years old and have a full left hip replacement and suffer from arthritis, and I now need to get my driving license back. As I cannot afford taxis and I live alone. Can you give me any advise on how to get my full driving license back please? I feel like a hermit, I cannot walk very far and my world has shrunk very badly. Yours with Great admiration, and Great full Gratitude Georgina
Hello, I will be coming from Blaina in South wales. Can you put link to Facebook group pls?
Hi sorry for late reply.
Swansea DPAC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swansea.dpac.9
Swansea DPAC Linktree: https://linktr.ee/swanseaDPAC
hi where are the instructions on how to join?
Hi, sorry for late reply.
Please email swanseadpac@gmail.com to ask about Zoom meetings. You can also stay in touch at https://linktr.ee/swanseaDPAC
That would be good if we could ask Torsten Bell and Tonia to attend
Glad you’re doing this. Have posted on Facebook. Will try to make it on Wes. Evenings and Zoom too tiring for me, so will pass on that Regards Phil