To let you all know that disabled are having their benefits cut

[AndNowItsSeven]

The DWP has today launched a consultation aimed at cutting the number of people eligible for the daily living component of personal independence payment (PIP) by up to 35%. The cuts will be aimed at claimants who qualify for PIP because of their use of aids and appliances and may include replacing awards with discretionary voucher payments.
The press release and consultation document published today claim that 35% of all daily living allowance awards are based solely on the claimant’s need to use aids and appliances.
This is flawed as
A)often disabled people require assistant, however Atos are only scoring then as needing an aid.
B) even if you disability needs listed in the pip form can be met by aids most people will have many other needs not mentioned on the form.
To suggest the only extra cost of being disabled for those claimants, is the cost of aids is absurd and insulting.
The consultation ends on 29 January 2016, conveniently over the Christmas New year Period.
Please if you can take the time to respond.

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/484217/pip-consultation-on-aids-and-appliances.pdft

what i dont get is with my claim for PIP they must have deemed me not needing a medical as theirs was a paper decision one but it took nearly 10 mths to decide that,got enhanced living no mobility which is fare enough

madness

I've spent the last 5 days filling in my PIP form. My DLA runs out in March. I feel sick now and wish I'd not bothered. My house is heavily adapted because DH is in the RAF and this allows him to keep working and me to be safe at home.

I knew that the cost of the TC cuts would fall in the lap of the disabled and I'm really angry about it. My MP is Alan Duncan, he won't give a toss, I will email him. He only ever comes out to our village to join in the hunt.

"I cant even apply for PIP as I cannot use a telephone or textphone"
wtf?? so what if you can't talk, or use your hands??

Samcro I assume for most people who can't talk or use a textphone somebody would have power of attorney for them and that person would be legally entitled to phone up and make the initial application.

On the topic of the proposed cuts, this is horrific, and I fear my elderly granddad with severe MS would be one of those adversely affected, and that would have a knock-on effect on my elderly nan who is his full-time carer. The tories make me feel sick.

Lunch no blue badge free parking is not universal.
Also I don't think you understand these changes are not going to affect people " just" missing a limb. Many claimants are being marked down as only needing aids when in fact they require assistance from another person.
People with Me, arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, cfs, cpod, Ms . All those people could well lose their pip payments and everything that goes with it.
Also the pip form unlike dla does not allow you mention other things for example I have to use a stair lift to go upstairs 0 points for that, my daughter needs supervision due to frequent suicide attempts 0 points for that, an epileptic needs supervision while bathing to prevent drowning whilst having a fit 0 points for that.

Person with epilepsy not an epileptic sorry my meds make my brain fuzzy at times.

samcro then tough you can't claim. Because DWP don't recognise multiple needs and will no longer allow someone to make a call on a claimants behalf and refuse to send anyone a non claim specific form.

The reason was some shit about claimants being overwhealmed with the large forms and by doing a mini medical on the phone that helps streamline the form for claimants

Unless that's changed in the last two weeks (I know someone transferring at the moment and that's what's happened to them).

No one has power of attorney for me and I cant use a telephone or use my hands and so can't apply (I don't know if it's different for people who have someone with power of attorney). Before there was no problem with my social worker phoning them but that's no longer allowed either.

Someone else can call on your behalf, but you’ll need to be with them when they call. You can also write asking for a form to send the above information by post (this can delay the decision on your claim).
Dated nov 2015 from gov

Becca or your sw or friend could write and ask for a paper pip1 form.
Or pm me if you like and I will write and ask for you. Please please don't not claim.

You are with them and they ask for you to be put on the phone to answer security questions! The other person cannot answer the security questions on your behalf. BUT I'll look at the site as that might be after my social worker tried (was in November). I know at the time they were definitely told no, I must answer the security questions over the telephone.

Sorry for slight derail OP!

I can't pm at the moment (MN tech are on the case), but will do at a later date. Thankyou for your help.

At the moment I get DLA and am awaiting transfer, not sure if I want to do it now though social worker wants me to (they think I'll get everything enhanced with no problem - they are overly optimistic about everything so I'm a bit about that to be honest).

What technology are you using to mumsnet becca? I have a relative with limited dexterity in their hands who can't use speech to text software so would be interested to know of an alternative

This consultation came up on my Facebook newsfeed earlier today. I clicked on it and immediately noticed that it said "This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology" Anyone else see the irony in that?

I use an iPad and rely on autocorrect a lot, which needs a lot of training!!
I Also I use Siri (rarely) though appreciate that wouldn't work for your relative.

You have my full empathy I had a Tory MP untill the last GE when our constituency decided to get rid, most people didn't know who the hell he was

TBF we have a labour MP that no one has seen. No canvassing or anything, ever.

We are a safe Labour seat so I guess they don't think they have to. Their majority at the last election however was halved.

Becca19962014 but what if you are the recognised apointee? ( I am my dd's as she can't talk has Ld's and so on)

Firstly wish to say I loathe this government with a vengeance.

However DD was transferred from Middle Rate Care & Low Mobility DLA to PIP. Within a month of applying she is now receiving PIP high care and high mobility. I am staggered as I thought I would have a fight due to Camerarse and cronies.

What also annoys me is I can no longer claim carers allowance as I now receive a state pension!! Have I stopped caring!!!!

I get PIP my son gets dla he's only 9 I've also got a blue badge due to mobility problems.

Can some explain in simple terms what is wrong with this?

If a person requires aids and appliances and there are no other costs associated with the disability, doesn't it make more sense to provide the aids and appliances or money to get them instead of paying a monthly allowance that realistically isn't going to be used to fund aids and appliances as people aren't going to be buying new ones every month.

Apparently when you have a medical assessment at home the person sent is not all what it seems. If you have a clean tidy home with everything in its place then they can deem you to be adequate enough to look after yourself. Therefore not in need of support or care needs!

This is terrifying me! I have a mobility condition whivhbat the moment is kild but will worsen as I age. My main criteria is mh conditions. I'm on DLA at the moment which helps with cost of extra cleaning products as I get through so much, extra laundry (Inc heating water costs), I would become extremely distressed if I didn't always have hot water. Also for taxis as I can't always cope with public transport - that's if I'm leaving the house at all! I have spells of agoraphobia too.

Sounds like NONE of that will be considered.

In addition I have several friends who have conditions like fibro, me, arthritis etc. As with several pps their claim being official as it were means their employers are more accommodating and covers some costs associated with working as a disabled person.

I HATE THIS GOVT!!!!

This is awful . I get PIP and my DD gets DLA but as she is 16 I expect she'll have to apply for PIP next year even though she has an indefinite award. I don't use any aids and appliances and enhanced PIP was still awarded so there are ways to get it even without showing the need for them, but I had to submit so much evidence from consultants and hospital. I worry so much for DD in the future, she is in a special school and won't be able to live independently or work, yet many people have no clue how severe disability can affect someone and assume that they just need encouragement to get a job and that they are just being lazy if they have to rely on benefits.

I know the govt are chipping away at all disability benefits so even though we've managed to continue getting PIP and support group ESA and avoided the benefit cap, at some point something is going to be cut. I will definitely be responding to the consultation!

Kessy read my above post, it's not about just paying for aids it paints a picture of greater needs to acknowledged on the form.
Also many many times claimants require assistance yet are only scored as needing aids.
Do you honestly think that someone who required aids to wash, cook, go the toilet and dress themselves. ( you would need to qualify on all four grounds to revive pip purely due to aids) would not be so disabled that they have significant costs related to their disability.

Not! Acknowledged on form.
And receive not revive.