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

As with ESA, this will just hit those who can't understand or work the system. You need to think like a bureaucrat, not a human being.

Someone with terrible physical limitations manages to focus enough to crudely write their name

WE THINK: "How brave, the spirit, how noble the soul. What an inspiration of the power of will overcoming such hardship. What can we do to help and support this frail example of humanity."

THEY THINK: "Good. They can write. Sign on for secretarial work, and get them to pay for privilege."

The New Statesman was a prophecy, not a comedy .

You're not wrong Lurking

I really think one of the more useful things to learn in school would be "understanding how the country you live in works", since few people do, and it makes it easy to shaft those that don't.

Things you never learn (and never will) in school:

1. How the law works
2. How the electoral system works
3. Common everyday laws you can easily break if unaware
4. How the tax and benefit system works
5. Your rights and obligations in a liberal democracy

Not only are we not taught them - we've succumbed to a blinding outflanking move by the mass media that anyone who "knows their rights" is actually a troublemaker, rather than an engaged citizen.

In what other country in the world is "I know my rights" considered a bad thing ?

It took me years to understand the benefits system - I missed out on at least ten years of disability benefits for me, and 9 years of disability benefits for DD and we were just struggling on income support before then. We are doing OK now, I get enhanced PIP and high rate care DLA for DD. But the system is changing now anyway, and I've had to learn again about PIP when it was DLA before, and next we'll transfer to Universal Credit.

So even if they taught students at school, the whole system will get changed again when they need to claim. I spend a LOT of time reading blogs, FB groups and forums to keep up with all the changes and potential pitfalls - it becomes an occupation when it's something you know you have to rely on.

So even if they taught students at school

They won't, never fear. One distinctive hallmark in the British class system is that knowledge of those things I listed tends to separate lower and middle classes. I doubt the middle classes would give up their core advantage so easily.

They do learn about it, it's called citizenship classes here and is taught in years 7-9.

It horrifies me that people are so so easily left to rot in this system.

I come from a (dysfunctional) family that values education. I am a Cambridge graduate with a masters. I spent years working on the culture of institutions and how international bureaucracies and systems work. That was literally my job. I have a (mostly) supportive husband who earns good money.

Not boasting, just telling you that I have every imaginable advantage over people who come from a different sort of position.

I become ill and realise that NO ONE is in a position to advocate for me. My husband doesn't understand my illness or how to manage institutions, plus he has a FT job. The doctors just see you when your appointment comes around. Oh, your letter got lost? Or no one told you that YOU need to make that appointment? Or, no one informed you that your blood tests are back? Or no one is going to help you figure out how to get to your appointment when you aren't well enough to drive? It is always always my job to figure that out and chase and follow things up.

And that is just when you are trying to get better. As well as looking after a family and household. Before you realise you might not get better.

Struggling financially? Doctors and consultants have no understanding of what needs to happen there are far as I can tell. Not one pointed me in the right direction or suggested I apply for benefits. Should we gave sold our house and downsized? Would that have possibly made my health worse? No one to advise.

You have to advocate for yourself and fight for yourself all the time. Whilst being very very sick. If it was in ANYONE'S interest to make me get better, I would feel a lot more secure. But I am no one's responsibility.

So imagine how awful all of that is for people who are then having to fight for every penny of benefits they can get too. Oh, your letter got lost? Oh, your assessment is on the same day as your dad's funeral? Oh, your child got sick and you have no partner so you might have to miss this appointment and fear getting sanctioned and not being able to eat? Every single hiccup, up to you to sort out, whilst being really ill. And managing a family and household on a hugely tight budget.

Preaching to the converted here, I'm sure. But I feel slightly better for saying it.

I applied for PIP and didn't get it. I have been too ill to fight it. I just manage with the money our family have.

cleaty that's the case for a lot of people, especially in rural areas where organisations that could help like CAB have closed due to no funding.

Cleaty do you mind me asking what your disability is? Is there still time to appeal. Are they no specific organisations that could help you?

Most people are refused at first. The advice I had was to accept that this will happen and accept that you will have to appeal. Another awful hurdle for the VERY ILL.

I'm on ESA and cannot work. I'm worried as I've never applied for PIP (or before that DLA). I don't know if not applying for/ being on PIP will jeopardise my ESA in the future.
I was originally placed in WRAG, and had to appeal (later placed in SG but the stress nearly broke me. My doctor told me to apply for DLA some time ago, I got the forms and thought, 'I just can't face it...' and put it off. Anxiety about applying increased after the ESA appeal. I also have depression and suffer extreme anxiety, so I 'cope' as things are with mum and friend's help.

I do not use aids or appliances. My condition fluctuates, and I only go out (accompanied) when I feel able to and a close friend drives me in their car to doc's appointments /shops / time at their home. I've no other friends (exc one who lives miles away and is sick too).

I live with and rely very heavily on my mum. She works part time (her only income) and has never applied for carer's allowance (anyway, she's almost as phobic about forms me). She cooks, cleans, does laundry, shopping and helps and supports me. Without my mum and my friend, I would have no choice but to try for PIP (with them...I have managed to avoid it up to now).
Mum and I are fortunate in that her and dad's mortgage insurance paid out after dad passed, and my condition is such that I cannot stand the house too hot as it exacerbates some of my symptoms (cold worsens others but I'd rather wear 2 soft fleece layers for warmth). I know right now I am better off than some.
I am worried that because I have been too anxious/ overwhelmed to apply for PIP my ESA I may be found not to need it when I have my next medical...especially as I don't use aids.
This is a horrible time for people who are sick, vulnerable or disabled. It feels like those who want to work but can't are being blamed for being sick... :(

...sorry, that should have said 'I'm worried because I've not applied for PIP I may not be deemed sick enough to remain on ESA SG when I am next 'assessed' especially as I don't use aids and my condition fluctuates, though I am never 'well'.

ShmooBooMoo if you apply for pip they will use you a ESA assessment as extra "medical" evidence.
As you are in the support group this will help your pip application. Please apply , you will not be affected by this consultation.
If you needed prompting due to depression to eat/ wash/ get dressed out of pjs, make budgeting decisions and engage with others then you will be awarded pip. You don't need to score points in every category above.

ShmooBooMoo using aids goes against you it is better that you can't rely on aids.
If you don't apply for pip it will not affect ESA. However you sound like you would be entitled to it from your post.

so if your due a review for ESA and are getting PIP do they also look at your PIP claim ??

i thought the two were completely separate and didnt use the other for info

They can and do use ESA medical info for PIP claims and, the PIP for ESA. The form you sign allows them to do this. They are separate benefits but it didn't stop them doing it as they are both 'disability benefits'. Yes I know the criteria and questions are very different.

interestng,thank you

I am in the ESA support group, I didn't know this would go in my favour for PIP (currently still on DLA lowest rate care).

Because of my illness (ME/CFS), DH does have to remind me about medication, bring it to me, plus I have an alarm and tick chart to remind me (neither of which are failsafe if I don't go in the kitchen or don't do it immediately), I also have a daily box so I can remember if I have taken tablet that day. DH also needs to encourage me to have a shower as it uses a lot of energy I don't want to waste, he also tells me I need to go out as apart from taking DCs to school, I'd sit at home all the time. At the moment I can't manage the housework at all (which is driving me mad as I like a clean and tidy home). I don't use any aids (apart from a pill box but don't know if that counts) but I do often feel like I could do with a stick but I'm trying to resist (don't want the stares and questions from people that know me and see me everyday without it). I honestly don't think I'd qualify although I will try. What do people think?

It's funny that the gits denied my pip yet i was granted my esa almost immediately as they could see i was unwell.
The people who do esa are they doctors?
The people who do pip, do they have to be or have medical training?

I have trouble walking, use a wheelchair at times, can't cook but can use a microwave to cook ready made meals, can't have a bath or shower without help but can use a flannel to wipe my body, can't do housework, can drive and park outside a small local shop and get food but cant go to a supermarket unless in wheelchair and have bladder incontinence, but can change pads myself.
But I have no mental health problems and don't need reminding of anything. So am not eligible for PIP.

Kali esa medical are not currently being used for pip , they may be but it's not guaranteed. Recent proposals mean they will have to be used as extra evidence.
All assessors for ESA or pip are hcp but that can mean physios , ots, nurses very few will be doctors.
Why were you refused pip, could I ask what your disability is? Are you appealing?

Cleaty, no from what you have written you may be eligible for pip. Assistance in shower or bath is worth 2-3 points, using a microwave 2 points however you also have to be able to prepare a meal using fresh ingredients if you can't do that without an aid it's 2 points or 4 points if you need assistance. Do you need to use a dosette box for beds if so 1 point. How about dressing that could be another two points. incontinence pads are two points as a toiletting aid. It sounds like you could get 8 points.

They assess on if you could do things using aids even if you don't have the aids, same with medication. I know someone who has lost benefit because of the assessor saying they could move the required distance for low mobility if they used a wheelchair.

I lost my first application (not PIP) on the grounds they only assessed my depression and Im not on antidepressants. I cannot take any antidepressant medications due to another medical condition but that wasn't taken into account.

I know someone who failed their medical because they weren't taking what was deemed the correct pain medication and were told to see a pain clinic first, be assessed and were then refused because they were able to travel to the pain clinic (the nearest pain clinic is several hours away), despite being hospitalised due to the pain and pain clinic doing nothing. Eventually mine was granted, but my friends was not, she is currently waiting for a tribunal.

Becca that doesn't make sense a wheelchair is not an aid. If your friend could only move the required distance in a wheelchair she would have qualified for pip.
It is only esa where a theoretical wheelchair is used.