New UC rules to force both partners to work ??

[Citrusmuffin]

I can’t find anything online about this but have heard it’s being changed as previously there had to be a certain number of hours worked but this could be by just one partner but now it’s being changed to make both work even though the total household hours don’t change??

This seems very unfair and taking away choice for some families in difficult circumstances. I just can’t find the official guidance is anyone able to link to it ? Thanks

@beefroysters DS won’t receive any money but in order to establish LCWRA now he, or you on his behalf, can make a New Style ESA claim in order to establish LCWRA now. Contact have lots of helpful information about this on their website here and on their booklet here.

Presumably DS has an EHCP so educational provision can continue until 25, or 26 in some cases.

This was only recently announced in the spring budget. It is in the very early stages of being passed through legislation and if we have a change of government it may not happen at all. basically it is years away from happening. There is no 'very soon' about it.

I have just had a quick read of the spring box sheet fact sheet and the likely date is 2025 not 2027 so not that long off.

The legislation hasn't even been passed yet. We could have a new government and it never gets passed. It could take years if it even happens at all. I wouldn't worry about it yet. Look how long managed migration has taken , it takes years for any changes to be implemented. They still have millions of people on tax credits to migrate across this year and next, so I don't think any major changes with other parts of UC will happen anytime soon, the system wouldn't cope !

Yes I guess you are right I flipping hope we have a new government. I claim pip but not UC but I hate they are making out this will benefit people, pip is so hard to get.

I am going to get hates for this but why would you not work if you get PIP? You should not be found automatically not fit for work ion UC. PIP is there to give people with disabilities an even footing with those without disabilities (financial help to get support and aids).
PIP should not be a reason not to work, any more than having a disability should be a reason not to work. Obviously employers need to be onboard with support, as it’s a legal requirement for employers to make reasonable adjustments or face legal action. being disabled is not a reason not to work. FYI i am disabled and work.

being disabled is not a reason not to work

Clearly it sometimes is, and it is ignorant to pretend otherwise.

Clearly there are varying degrees of disability. Technically I could class myself as disabled yet I work but someone else might struggle.

Are you talking to me? If so I don't work because 1) my dh earns enough to support our fanily so I don't need to work.
2) I don't claim UC so have no opportunity to fail the work capability although I definitely would.
3) same as 2 really my health and disability are simply to poor for me to hold down a job.
4) if 1 was not true claiming UC and not working would absolutely be the right thing to do.
5) I really question the intelligence of someone who thinks because you as one disabled person works every disabled person is able to. You have the reasoning of an infant school child.

And if this is a general question then read the spring budget fact sheet it clearly states the
pip assement will in future if this bill is passed show if a claimant is fit for work or not.

I could work on my own unreasonable terms - ie when I'm not at the hospital or when I'm sick. I know there are laws in place but would you really employ someone who calls in sick several times a month because they're sick again or not being able to come in because they've got hospital again? I wouldn't.

You are aware that your disabilities aren't the same as everyone else?

I don’t think that is what it states. Claiming PIP won’t automatically mean someone doesn’t have work commitments, it will be looked at individually, just that PIP will be the basis for receiving the health element.

I think it is worrying. Those that already have PIP, so already get that extra money will automatically also get the health element on UC even if they are able to work. Those that have been turned down for PIP or don't qualify wont even have the option of being able to get any extra on UC so will have to survive on the basic Uc of £80 a week ? There will be potentially thousands more people making applications for PIP, being turned down , going to tribunal, the system will be even more overwhelmed that it already is. I can see them making the criteria for getting PIP even harder and currently there are huge waiting lists to see Consultants to be diagnosed and actually have the medical evidence you need to claim PIP.

Yes my concern would be if they just end up modifying the PIP assessment making it harder to claim as they are just incorporating the UC health assessment. They’ll make it sound as if they are doing it to help but actually make getting PIP harder

I completely agree there will be more PIP applications and some will fall through the cracks. I also worry if it is left to individual work coaches as stated there will be even more subjectivity in the process than there currently is.

They don’t plan to incorporate the UC WCA assessment into the PIP assessment. They plan to scrap it completely and only have the PIP assessment and then work commitments decided individually by work coaches.

Yes they do read the spring budget fact sheet its states pip will be a passported benefit. You are getting confused with the dwp "supporting" other disabled claimants into work.

@FloatingBean

• *How will the new Universal Credit health element work?The new UC health element will be awarded to people who are receiving the UC standard allowance and any PIP element. In effect PIP will therefore act as a passporting benefit for this new UC health element.
• We will set the award rate of the new UC health element at the same level as is currently awarded to those people determined to have Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity (LCWRA).
• This will abolish the need to be found to have limited capability for work to access additional means-tested support and remove this barrier to work. We will therefore get rid of the categories “limited capability for work and work related activity” and “limited capability for work”.*

The health element is the same amount of money as the LCWRA.

If you read my post with more intelligence than a child throwing it’s toys out of the pram, I’m not saying that all disabled people should work, clearly stating that just because you get PIP you are not excluded from working and rightly so! This is why under the current system getting PIP is not automatically a pass to LCWRA or even LCW on UC. Like I said I am disabled and would be horrified if some one decided I could not work when I can and I do!

So anybody receiving any level of PIP would be entitled to be excluded from work requirements for UC? That makes no sense given many people claim PIP but are able to work. Unless they would also be planning to change requirements for PIP to exclude more people from that who are currently eligible...

The purposes of them are different. PIP is meant to cover the additional costs of disability (it doesn't, it would need to at least double, but that's the idea). To then use it as a proxy work assessment is odd. Would they then say if someone can work they shouldn't have PIP after all?

@NewNovember No, I’m not getting confused, thank you. What you quoted is what I said. There won’t be a WCA assessment as there is now. The LWC/LCWRA element is being replaced with a health element based on PIP. That isn’t incorporating the WCA into the PIP assessment. I’m aware the health element is the same as the LCWRA element, but that doesn’t mean the WCA assessment will become part of the PIP assessment. It won’t.

Actually you did. You posted “being disabled is not a reason not to work”.

I agree. Same situation.

This sounds like it is conflating two very different things and I question to motivations of the change.

So anybody receiving any level of PIP would be entitled to be excluded from work requirements for UC?

No that’s not how it will work. Anyone in receipt of PIP will get the health element. But, that won’t mean all in receipt of PIP will not have work commitments, that will be decided individually.