Sunny day in Glasgow I hope you are also enjoying the sunshine in your area

Hi everyone and thank you for trying to write to the UK government on our behalf, the changes have affected me as an asylum seeker it is very difficult to access any benefits and living on a low income budget has truly affected me and my family, even when you are granted status to bring your children it is not easy. It's hard for me as an asylum seeker to continue to live in these conditions, please help us request for a change on this issue, thank you

Changes to Brexit made it impossible to find any one who was adequately qualified or experienced to be a personal care assistant for me (paid through direct payments), so my partner had to give up his job with the council and take a pay cut to take that position instead - and I had to fight the LA in order to get them to agree to this, or go without care or receive substandard care. If more people from the EU or anywhere else are pushed into not being able to settle with their families then I will struggle to find future carers - because we have a huge skills gap in this area across the country and the government doesn’t seem to see that many UK citizens just won’t take these low paying jobs because it won’t allow them a standard of living they’re used to. Almost all of my best care staff have not been from the UK - and whilst it doesn’t affect my family’s security as we are all UK citizens it has massive implications on our lives in terms of being able to gain future support, and further attacks on the status of people wanting to stay in the UK feeds into growing levels of xenophobia - and ableism, homophobia and transphobia are things we have to deal with on a near daily basis.

We need solidarity not division.

Happy to see some sunshine although its still cold. The kids are happy to be getting out to play again

It would affect me by increasing uncertainty about living and planning my future in the UK, especially if the rules become tougher or the allowed duration of stay is extended. It might also impact my daily life due to added pressure on services and changes in how migrants are perceived or treated, which would affect my overall feeling of stability and belonging.

I was talking to my daughter last night about how when you have no money you just switch off wanting anything and needing anything. You see other people buying stuff and it just all seems so surplus to requirement and doesn't make sense. She said that because you end up only spending money on things you need like food or travel something like a doughnut becomes a treat or a luxury. She said but then you remember your friends buy clothes, shoes, eat out, go away or get tickets to a concert as a treat-and that's normal. A doughnut is not a treat she said.

Things are just rising terms of cost of living sometimes I get so stressed and then I say "why? just leave it in Gods hands".

I am not sure but I find the whole process daunting

I think people that are going through mental health should also be considered for PIP because they are struggling to put their life together, to go for therapy and also mental health rehab. It's also a struggle and also I think I don’t know when PIP was introduced because I just came into the country six years ago but for me I think the government should make it easier. Like for people that are claiming PIP there should be an office where they can go and then somewhere they can complain. I’m not claiming PIP but just my suggestion. Thank you Changing Realities for everything, you guys are the best

As someone who have a friend that is trying to apply for PIP, it’s very difficult. Sometimes they tell you that your evidence and your situation or your disability is not enough evidence for them to grant you the PIP and it’s quite unfortunate that the people that really need it are not getting it and it makes them sad which is not good. I think they should be an easier way for people that want to apply for PIP if you have disability can see because sometimes the question alone they will ask you do you walk when you say you walk? It becomes a problem. They just want you to be completely ill. For them to know that it is serious case and some people submit application up to 5 times and I worry that when we grow up and try to go for PIP, the condition is worse and it’s going to cause so much trouble

It should continue. Without my PIP, I wouldn't be able to have the opportunity to have support around the additional financial costs of my disability, and sometimes I have to pay for private emotional mental health. I'll go to see a chiropractor who helps reset my nervous system, but I had to fight two years from with the support of the local church, charity, benefits officer. Otherwise I've got it. It was very exhausting, very hard. But PIP should reflect the emotional and mental health, and neurodiversity complexities. If you've got that medical evidence, you can prove they have those challenges. It should meet the criteria. Because if people were able to access the emotional mental health support through the NHS. Sometimes you don't need the medical model. Sometimes you need more practical or alternative therapies such as massage, touch, holistic are just as important.

Because for me, if I don't keep my emotional mental health stable, who's going to care for my son? So yes, PIP should reflect the modern-day emotional and mental health needs of the 2026. As we've had COVID and we were in lockdown so this has been exacerbated.

Thank you.

Sunshine today and I attended the local Community hub, it was very welcoming and really friendly. Warm cuppa offered soup but also a toastie. The community hub also had a clothes swap happening for adults and children. I managed to be kindly gifted some trainers (I was wearing my son’s trainers he outgrew but had holes in). At first I felt proud and offended but the volunteer was so kind and compassionate. I bet you never “treat yourself “, so I have a pair gifted trainers for lovely and no wet tiptoes for me xx