#Personal payments

[mifymeenakshi]

As additional individuals go to charge cards for their buys, state run administrations and banks are setting up rules to shield customers and keep the monetary framework stable. These actions remember drawing certain lines for financing costs, ensuring Visa terms are straightforward, and safeguarding individuals from unjustifiable practices like secret charges or deceiving promoting. Accordingly, Visa organizations might change their contributions, holding back nothing and offering instructive assets to assist individuals with dealing with their funds better. These activities intend to establish a more pleasant and safer climate for utilizing charge cards.

[atoriv-art]

older designs for my specialest guy

[arcane-gold]

hi darlings i hate asking for help but i’m in a pickle this month trying to balance paying rent and prepping for a hurricane, all while going out of town next week. if you could share this i would really appreciate it 😭

i had a check coming in from a publisher that fell through, and now i have to come up with that $500 before next thursday, all while i will be in wyoming. stress

anyway thank you for your time, i appreciate you so much

thank you!! here is da link

[cassolotl]

UK government planning to scrap a major disability benefit

I'm only just scraping by and the government are proposing to take away PIP (a disability benefit), which would be HALF of my income wiped out.

"Reforms to personal independence payments (PIP) could include stopping regular cash payments, and instead offering claimants one-off grants for things like home adaptations." -- "Disabled people face end to monthly benefits cash", BBC News, 29 April 2024

And:

"The plans, which will be consulted on over the coming months, also include proposals to “move away from a fixed cash benefit system”, meaning people with some conditions will no longer receive regular payments, but instead access to treatment if their condition does not involve extra costs." -- "People with depression or anxiety could lose sickness benefits, says UK minister", Guardian, 29 April 2024

That's what the NHS is supposed to be doing...

Genuinely absolutely terrifying.

Can anyone living in the UK join in with an (hopefully!) overwhelming cascade of unique emails to their MP opposing this? WriteToThem.com makes it very quick and easy.

They're proposing to replace it with one-off grants that the individual can apply for, which is absurd and horrifying, so feel free to point out how that won't work as well!

Here's what I'm writing, and do not just copy-paste my letter/email, because that makes it less legit. Do your own thing, even just one sentence telling your MP that you're opposed is enough if that's all you can manage. Whatever you want to say is what your MP needs to hear.

Dear [MP's name], Today I learned that the government plan to scrap PIP, and maybe replace it with something like a one-off grant application process, before the next election. ("Disabled people face end to monthly benefits cash", BBC News, 29 April 2024: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0ry09d50wo) PIP is about half of my income (about 44%). I don't spend it on occasional large purchases, I spend it on countless things that are more expensive for me than they are for other people. PIP is in place to acknowledge, as it says in the above article, that disabled people's lives are more expensive than non-disabled people's lives by hundreds of pounds per week. ("Previous research from Scope suggests households with at least one disabled adult or child face an estimated average extra cost of £975 a month to have the same standard of living as non-disabled households." That's £225 per week, and the maximum amount of PIP you can get is £184.) So firstly, it could be argued that PIP doesn't even cover the additional expenses of the average disabled household. And next, the cost of implementing an alternative system would be worse for disabled people, totally unsuited to its purpose, and more expensive to run. Worse for disabled people: Currently PIP acknowledges that being disabled takes a lot more work to maintain a comparable standard of living, and as it's an amount of work that the claimant cannot sustainably do, they are given money so that they can pay someone else to do it. These costs are distributed across all living expenses, in addition to occasional one-off purchases of e.g. mobility aids. Having to apply for one-off payments for expenses would be more work on top of that, so if the disabled person isn't able to do it (which is very likely) they will either have to work less in their day jobs in order to spend more time applying for one-off grants, or they will have to also apply for one-off payments to pay someone to apply for more one-off payments. This is self-evidently a waste of energy and time, and totally impractical, as well as being counter to the entire point of disability benefits. It would also be extremely undignified for the disabled people, and arguably against human rights (right to private life and dignity), to have to justify each purchase to the government. Totally unsuited to its purpose: One off-grants are not suited to ongoing higher expenses such as having to buy more prepared food (e.g. carrot batons are more expensive than raw carrots and go off much more quickly). Does this policy assume that disabled people's PIP is only for things like wheelchairs and walking sticks? More expensive to run: The system for PIP applications is already fairly backlogged, in that my last application took over 6 months to complete. I was awarded PIP for 10 years. If every application for a one-off grant had to be accompanied by an application of a similar scale that wouldn't be workable, so presumably an initial PIP application like the current system's would still be required to qualify for the system in the first place, and then following that, numerous smaller applications for money (e.g. for taxis, pre-chopped veg, painkillers, specialist clothing, etc.) would be carried out per person per month. The disability benefits system would have to be scaled up significantly, and it would be much more expensive. It is far cheaper to give people a set amount of money based on their needs; it's the same money that you would be giving them in grants anyway, but without having to process each purchase/one-off application. I implore you to oppose this proposal. It is blatantly unworkable to the level of absurdity, but more importantly it is inhumane. I look forward to your reply detailing your stance. Many thanks in advance. Yours sincerely, [My name]

But, again, if you can't manage anything long or complicated like that, your best is good enough. Even if they're not all perfectly written and detailed, we want to bowl them over with sheer quantity of emails.

[disillusioneddanny]

Friendly reminder; if you are trying to get art commissions, this is not how you do it. Do not go onto a persons fanfic and make them feel good about their story only to come back and say "this will be a paid partnership."

I am writing this story for free I am not asking you to create art for my story. If you want to create art for a story of mine, you have permission. But if you're trying to get someone to pay you to make art for their story that they are already putting in free labor and time into, this is not how you do it.

Now, if I approach an artist and ask them to create art, then yes, I am absolutely going to pay for it. I'm the one asking for that art piece based on my works.

but this ^^^ this is just soliciting and spammy and rude asf. don't do this.

[backpackingspace]

I am once again thinking about how odysseus who witnessed the horrors that the captured women went through (one of his main duties in the iliad was taking the women back home and making sure they were as comfortable as possible and safe because he was the only one trusted not to violate them further due to his devotion to penelope. And in the odyssey part of the reason circe sent him to the underworld was so that he'd have to listen to all these women's stories (before he could talk to the prophet) ). Who was one of the few that saw women as people and respected their space and opinions. And was then put in those exact same situations. I don't have the motivation right now to do a full literary analysis of this (I'll site the sources too) but oh man one day I'm going to write a full essay on this.

[pfhwrittes]

hello again.

i’m sorry i’ve been quiet and i know the timing for so many of you is terrible but if you have the time i’d really appreciate some help paying my bills or buying groceries

(the first link will take you to my ko-fi, the second link will take you to my throne wishlist which has gift cards to one of the big supermarkets near me)

thank you to all of you for sticking with me and for your help so far this year. i love you all very much 💜

[averixus]

To anyone who gets Personal Independence Payment (UK disability benefit) and has trouble with the types of communication they usually use (e.g. phone): I have just successfully got the DWP to promise that they will contact me by email only. If you want to do this, or need other adjustments in communication for disability reasons, email the address format.pip@dwp.gov.uk.

The magic formula to include in your email is:

"I am writing to request a reasonable adjustment in communication." (that's the legal jargon for them meeting your needs)

"I have [condition/s] and am defined as disabled under the Equality Act 2010." (that's the law that forces them to comply - you don't need specific diagnoses but can say e.g. "auditory processing issues" or whatever brief summary describes you)

"Due to my disabilities I am unable to communicate with the DWP by phonecall [or give any other communication types or formats you can't do]." (be brief but specific, you don't need to explain exactly why this need follows from your disabilities as long as you state that it does)

"Therefore, I need [your specific communication requirements] when communicating with the DWP." (tell them exactly what you actually need - for example, I said that I need asynchronous text-based communication such as email for both when the DWP contacts me and when I need to contact them directly. I specified that this includes assessments as well as any other contact about my PIP status or application. This means no in-person assessments!)

"Please contact me to confirm that the DWP will [meet your needs as requested]." (always ask for receipts)

"[Your full name], [your National Insurance number]." (make sure they can find your case)

And please feel free to share this info with anyone you think may need it! No need to refer to me or anything, just get it out there 👍 It's actually illega for them to not have already made this info public alongside their phone numbers and postal addresses, so.

[vesrimm]

What colors would a god machine bleed? Be it some dream or nightmare?

[yesterdayiwrote]

Ummm Carmen released a book now?!

Lol, yes, so it seems!

I mean... I haven't exactly hidden the fact I'm not a fan of hers or of wag culture in general, but I saw this and... it really sums up what it is that bugs me about the whole thing.

Not to be patronising but I really hope people realise - This isn't a book, it's a recruitment scam ploy for Female Invest. It's not a book with a reduced subscription, it's a reduced subscription package with a free 'e book'. You can't buy this book on it's own, or without giving your personal details to their company. You also will be auto-enrolled into an auto-renew subscription that will be £99 a year after the first year.

I'm not going g to tell people what to do with their money but just... please don't go rushing in to buying this just because it has her name on it. It's bad enough when WAGS are selling you overconsumption and overpriced designer shit you don't need but... I'm really uncomfortable with this one, because there's incredibly mixed reviews on Female Invest as a company (some positive but an awful lot not - I'd advise you to do your research on them), and also not much clarity on her own credentials. Having a famous boyfriend, a 500k insta and a LinkedIn really isn't enough to go on when offering around financial advice to people.

Obviously it's everyone's personal choice to make, but... I'd definitely tread carefully here. It's very... grifty and full of red flags. Companies don't tend to just offer you memberships at less than 50% their alleged market value... the fact you're getting an extra thrown in suggests neither of the end products are worth that in the first place 😬😬

[sixseasonsofodestawithatardis]

Explaining PIP, the reforms and how YOU can help!

Recently, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride announced measures to reform PIP (Personal Independence Payment). It's a benefit given to disabled people, whether they are employed or not, to help provide support for the extra costs incurred due to being disabled. PIP can be paid on anything you need, such as a carer, adaptions, your bills or a night out (yes, disabled people are entitled to a social life I'm NOT arguing with anyone about this!) On top of the changes to sick notes, the announced reforms are an assault on disabled people to desperately cling to power!

Below is an explanation of PIP and the reforms so people can answer the open consultations, call for evidence, and sign a petition. We need as many people in the UK as possible to answer both to try to stop these reforms from happening.

What is PIP?

The Tories are saying PIP is a one-size-fits-all benefit, which again is a lie as PIP is designed to look at how your disability affects your daily life and how difficult it makes it for you to participate in society, not whether you have this specific disability so it only affects you in these ways! It doesn't matter whether you're diagnosed or not, either. There are two categories they look at throughout, known as the 'Daily Living Component' and the 'Mobility component' The process involves 50 pages you have to fill out (link to Turn2US for proof https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/claiming-personal-independence-payment-pip/fill-in-the-personal-independence-payment-pip-form#:~:text=You%20usually%20get%20the%20paper,it%20is%2050%20pages%20long.)

With hundreds of letters from Doctors as proof of your condition! And then an assessment in which you will answer all sorts of demeaning questions, give in-depth answers that you don't feel comfortable sharing, and hope the assessor has understood how it affects your life and written it down properly and that you'll get the right amount of money at the end of this assessment or re-assessment.

To get the standard rate in both components, you need 8 points; to get the enhanced rate, you need 12 points.

They'll then give you two, three, five, or ten years (10 years is known as a fixed-term award and a light-touch review) to undergo the terror of the PIP assessment again.

The reforms proposed and why they're terrifying!

The reforms they've suggested so far are

One-off grants for aids and appliances

receipts to then be claimed back at a later date

the changing of eligibility for PIP or the category 'Long Term sickness'

Vouchers instead of cash payments

If you've read those four options and thought they were cruel, infantilising and impossible to make work, then you'd be right.

As a disabled person, bills don't magically disappear. You still have council tax and rent to pay or a carer. Will landlords and councils accept these vouchers? A one-off grant won't work here either. The vouchers also signal that we can't be trusted to pay for our own needs and aren't responsible—which is far from the truth!

Aids and treatments are already covered by the NHS, so this is redundant and will be futile, especially when you consider the long waiting lists for mental health treatment (and just generally) on the NHS—and even if they aren't, we do know that and will use PIP to save up for it, etc. It's easier and more economical to give us cash payments.

To have the receipts to claim back expenses, we need to have the money to spend on said expenses.

Changing the eligibility will (much like these other suggestions) put more disabled people at risk. If you want mental health to improve: Fix the NHS, wages, sort out the cost of living crisis and fund the research/support for Long Covid sufferers.

How you can help! - UK-based people, plz sign everyone else. Please reblog & signal boost!

If you live in the UK, there are currently two consultations open ( the sick note one closes on 8 July 2024, and the PIP one closes on 22 July 2024). Ideally, the responses will be used to decide whether these reforms go ahead.

Here are links to the two reforms for PIP and changes to the sick note process.

Please note that the PIP consultation ( the first link) is 6 pages long and must be completed in one go. It's also filled with typos, repeated questions, and very difficult wording in many places, so be on the lookout for that! People are rightfully complaining about its accessibility, so the link and end date may change. I will update this post if this happens. I also know answering stuff like this is overwhelming, so here is a thread by PeachyInWales on Twitter about how they approached the consultation. If I see any samples by any disability activists or organisations, I will post them here, too!

This second link is the second consultation or call to evidence. Which GPs are being stripped of the ability to sign sicknotes for people on benefits, which is again ridiculous!

And the last link is a petition from SCOPE to stop the government from demonising disabled people further.

Ultimately, we're trying to stop a benefit that is difficult to get and barely covers costs for many applicants from getting worse.

If I've missed anything then let me know! I'm sorry the post was so long, but it's a lot to go through! Again, UK-based people, please share your thoughts if you can and sign the petition! If you are not currently living in the UK, please share these links or the post so other UK-based users can see this and try to help.

Thank you!

[nicorobinphd]

it’s the way that, in direct response to sabo’s “death,” ace literally went “i neither can nor want i to continue being the same aggressive beast that i have been pretending i am for all 12 years of my life, i have to be something kinder” & people will still go “okay but sabo had no impact on ace he was just kind of there.”

it’s the way it’s made pretty clear that if ace had lost sabo & had nobody else who he loved & who loved him, he would have literally fucking killed himself. ace, who was screaming at the world that he wanted to carve out his place in it, would have destroyed any chance of such in a second after sabo died if it weren’t for luffy because he would have been losing the only person he’d ever loved.

it’s the way ace probably only had the emotional tools believe that luffy loved him & wanted him because sabo did first.

like the asl trio do not have one of if not the best op backstories for people to act like that’s not what went down. and sabo & ace knew each other for years & were already planning on running off together by the time we “meet” them in post-mf, like they were clearly already very deeply close.

why does ace sobbing on a cliffside before immediately performing the heel-face turn of the entire series mean nothing to you?

(also, while we’re here, yes ace’s hat is a mix of he & luffy’s colours. but his shorts are brown [ie. a mix of the primary colours] & his knife-thingy is green [ie. sabo blue + luffy yellow] like the colour symbolism does not preclude sabo being majorly impactful to ace’s psyche it just isn’t depicted as obviously.)

[tapeworrmart]

Look at this sick tatt a person got of my Adam/David Saw 0.5 art????

[prince-liest]

I got a government grant from a clean air project for turning in my '97 Corolla for a very hefty chunk of money off of a new (or new-ish) hybrid vehicle from an approved dealership, finally went to purchase my new car today with my dad, and ended up getting a 2025 Toyota Camry SE.

Sorry, Alastor, I think I'm with Vox on the front of technological advancement, ahaha. It's almost a 30 year jump in car technologies and I damn well feel like I've upgraded into the new century (or, well - millennium, technically)! This car does so many things and they all manage to feel like they are actually convenient rather than useless technology bloat. I think this is technically what Nietzsche meant when he said that to live is to suffer, LOL. Can't appreciate the good stuff if you haven't experienced the alternative! Also, y'know. My breaks lost pressure on me in the middle of a winding mountain road with no cell service last month, so. That was the sign to move on.

It's so wild to go from a car that's got a plain metal key, a phone charger operated through the cigarette lighter that only succeeds in making my phone lose charge more slowly, an AC system that would vibrate the whole dashboard alarmingly if it had to work too hard, and music that I played through a casette tape with bluetooth connectivity...to a car where I get in, put my phone down on the wireless charging pad, and watch the touchscreen automatically turn on with my Spotify and Google maps. Never again am I going to accidentally leave my headlights on and drain my car battery, LOL. Thanks, battery-attached jumper cables, you served me well. The car is so damn quiet and smooth, too.

Also, it's a very pretty car! I got it in white. Sorry, "windchill pearl."

Anyway, I'm just experiencing a delightful bit of awe and joy. Happy graduation and early birthday to me! <3

[starrystevie]

make me melt | written by rogersharringtons on ao3

he's pulling up in his engine, watching robin step out of her ambulance with her medical bag in hand, and his captain back at the station is chattering over the radio about what the situation is but all steve can think about is seeing eddie again. being in his house for a less than romantic reason. being afraid of what he might see when he goes in. he really should have been listening to his captain in the truck as he explained why steve was there. if he had been listening, he would have been less surprised by what he finds. he would have had time to prepare his heart not to explode as he lays his eyes on eddie, naked, flushed pretty pink all over, handcuffed to his own bed.

explicit | 3.7k

tags: modern au, firefighter steve harrington, good wingman robin buckley, mutual masterbation, handcuffs, spreader bars, fucking machines, spit kink, unrealistic unprofessionalism as a plot device

[queerautism]

Okay, the call was really stressful and hearing my deadname sucked, but they've paused the closing of my benefits and are gonna send another form for us.

They did ask if we sent it via recorded delivery and like?? No I was a fucking fool and used the freepost envelope they gave me with the form. Which of course was a trap. Fucking hate this shit