Where the hell do we start with this story of shame and horror, apart from making every single Salford councillor and MP, and every single ConDem Government lackey sit down and read the experience of Mary Robson.
Let's take it back to the beginning of last year when Mary discovered that the transport to take her severely disabled son Michael to his day centre was being axed by Salford City Council as part of its cuts.
Just looking after Michael, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, would be enough of a strain for most people. Now Mary had to fight for Michael to get a bus to a day centre. And fight she did, joining another parent in taking the Council to two court cases with another appeal possibly looming (see previous Salford Star articles click here and click here).
Meanwhile, years of physically looking after Michael as a lone parent took its toll on Mary's arms and in December she had to have major painful surgery which involved repairing a tendon in her arm and shaving the bones in her shoulder. During the operation and recovery Michael, who needs constant care, had to go into temporary supported tenancy accommodation. And that's where the horror after the transport cut kicks in even further...
Because Mary wasn't looking after Michael for 35 hours a week, her Carers Allowance of £61 a week was stopped. She was then living on £45 a week Income Support but then that was stopped because she wasn't claiming Carers Allowance. Instead, Mary had to put a claim in for Employment Support Allowance - which takes weeks to process; and then it's paid in arrears.
So now Mary has no money at all coming in.
"...Nothing" she says "And to top it all I've got to pay Bedroom Tax because Michael is not living at home full time at the moment...and more Council Tax because Salford Council has cut the support grant for that. I still have to keep the house running even though Michael's not there. The gas and electric is £95 a month. It's just crazy."
Despite the constant pain in her arms from the operation, Mary has been advised to apply for Job Seekers Allowance by the Citizens Advice Bureau... "I asked them what I was expected to do and they said I might be able to get a job tapping things in with my fingers."
We laugh but it really isn't funny, it's a kind of gallows humour... "I asked the man at the DWP [Department of Work and Pensions] if he could live on £45 a week and he said `It's better than nothing' but now I am getting nothing" she adds "The money stopped last week and I'm living on help from family and friends. That can't carry on..."
Meanwhile, Michael hasn't settled into his shared supported tenancy accommodation where he's been for two months with another two months, possibly more, to follow as Mary recovers from her operation.
Because of shocking pay and conditions, carers tend not to stick around long, and those who come can't always deal with Michael's condition...
"There's new staff all the time who he doesn't know and he's stuck with them all night" Mary explains "It's supposed to be 24 hour care but it takes two people to move him around. After Michael comes home from the day centre someone comes in at 4pm to help put him on the toilet but if he doesn't need to go it's tough, he has to wait until 9pm as the carer is on her own. Last Sunday I had to put him on the toilet myself with a friend."
Mary has also had to resort to bringing in food for Michael (paid from his allowance) most days after some horrendous meal experiences, while she is expected to help furnish the house where he is only staying for a short while... "It's all a nightmare" she sighs "I don't know how I'm going to cope."
Mary and Michael are living in the epicentre of a perfect storm raining care and benefit cuts. Theirs is just one of thousands of nightmares going off in Salford and the UK. They usually happen below the radar of the media and the spotlight of Politics with a capital `P'...But every single politician, whether Salford councillor or Cabinet Minister, needs to look at themselves in the mirror. And hang their head in shame.
To follow: The Community Care In Salford Blog...more eye-opening revelations
See also Salford Labour Council's New Tory Style Dickensian DIY Welfare - click here
Main photo by Steven Speed
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