£30 a week could change my life
I'm Sam, I'm 25 and I live on the Isle of Wight with my Nan. Today I spoke at Parliament, which is where MPs meet to make important decisions that can impact people's life. I shared my fears over changes to benefits and told politicians how I might be affected if they are cut.
I was there for a discussion called a Parliamentary review. The discussion was about the planned cut of £30 a week from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) for those in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG). The review was led by independent Peers in the House of Lords - Lord Low of Dalston, Baroness Meacher and Baroness Grey-Thompson, it was supported by Mencap and other charities.
ESA is important to me because the money helps me to stay independent, if it was cut I'm worried that I'd become isolated. I use some of my personal budget to go to Haylands Farm, a day service which is part of the Isle of Wight Mencap. I go four days a week.
I have autism and a moderate learning disability; I also have slight joint problems - I can still walk but find it difficult if I have to walk for a long period of time and I wear special insoles from the hospital.
I'd like to work. I'm good at talking to people and I always dress smartly. I'm enthusiastic and I will always see things through. But there aren't many jobs round here - there's very high unemployment on the Isle of Wight. You've got about 50 people applying for each job.
I can't remember exactly when I was moved across to ESA. I think it was in 2010 or 2011 when I was invited to an assessment. It wasn't very good, and they decided I didn't have enough points for the support group so wanted to put me in the work related activity group. I know they have to do generic tests but because of my autism and the way my brain works I did brilliantly on some of the questions, but they didn't find out much about the things I find harder.
I had a social worker at the time and they helped me to appeal and I ended up in the support group. I had another medical in August this year and again, I didn't get enough points. We wrote letters, but because of all the cuts I don't have a social worker anymore. I ended up in the work related activity group.
After the assessment I wasn't sent any information and then suddenly I got a letter from the job centre saying I had to go to interviews every two weeks or they would sanction my benefits.
I was really shocked; it was a bit like dropping a bomb. I went into a bit of a meltdown and I wouldn't leave the house. Nichola, who is my support worker from Haylands Farm, had to go to the Job Centre and explain that I was in a state.
I have to pay £20 towards my council tax every month. My Nan gets council tax support but because I don't get income related ESA and my Nan doesn't claim DLA there's a reduction in that council tax support award.
So I'm paying about £162.24 a month towards what the council charge me and £20 a month on top of that towards council tax.
If I lost another £30 a week off my benefits it would make a massive difference. I pay £40.56 towards my personal budget at the moment and I don't think I could afford to do that anymore. If I didn't pay towards my budget I'd probably lose it altogether. That would mean losing Haylands Farm, all my activities and taxis to help me get around.
I know the government need to make cuts but they keep cutting off people who need the money. When I got that letter I just went into thinking, "What if?" "What if I lose all my money?" "What if I stop getting support?"