To be concerned about what Liz Kendall is up to with disability benefits?

[Locutus2000]

The Times reporting just how enthusiastic Labour are about targeting the disabled.

I can only hope they are getting the worst ideas out there first, if not I dread to think what is coming in the upcoming review.

I was confident Labour would at worst be no worse than the Tories.

I was wrong.

Free archive link here.

Actually many do. My BIL spent most of his late teens/early 20s off his head on smack. Left him with mental health issues. Does sweet FA refuses to take part in counselling because it’s “too hard” literally sits on his arse all day - his elderly dad has to manage his money for him etc. If he didn’t get that support then he might have to get work.

No doubt here are people who can’t work, but there are many who just deem it too difficult to sort themselves out and take sm easy route.

@FreedomandPeace But how are they going to decide who is able and unable to work amongst the people who claim disability benefits, that's what worries me? My dh is in the ESA Support Group, LCWRA group and gets standard daily rate PIP. He's already had to jump through hoops to get these benefits, interviews, DWP have been to our home on a number of occasions and interviewed him for various things, we've had to provide extensive medical evidence, copies of prescriptions, letter from CMHT, copies of his social care assessment, details of his Psychiatrist, therapy he's had/having etc What more are they going to want from us, it's terrifying. Everyone on disability benefits has to provide all this evidence, how are they going to decide who has to go to work and who doesn't?

I usually hesitate to post anything Youtube related due to the amount of false information, but there's a good documentary on the history of the welfare state in relation to where we are in 2025.

Everything I've read so far suggests the primary focus will be upon new claimants. For now anyway.

How have you gone from your BIL to many? Re counselling those who make attempts on their life struggle to get anything so I doubt CMHT are falling over themselves to throw therapy at him.

Also many ND people are left to self medicate with food alcohol, drugs etc. Long wait lists are contributing to this problem.

@Feelingathomenow If he's on UC he will have work requirements to fulfil in order not to get sanctioned, unless he's been awarded LCWRA and if he's been awarded that then he will have had to provide extensive medical evidence to get it. If he's in receipt of PIP for mental health issues then you not only have to provide extensive medical evidence, you have to state what therapy you are receiving or have received since your last award. You have to provide names of therapists, counsellors etc If he's refused to engage in counselling, surely this would go against him? I just don't believe that it's so easy to claim and continue to receive disability benefits if you are just too lazy to work and don't have a genuine reason.

What about the ones who can’t work and are in receipt of pip but want to work. Are you saying they are planning to take the very money that will help those not working into work? That would be nuts.

She’s made another announcement about sickness benefit, UC and PIP/DLA:
🙄

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dwp-sick-benefits-universal-credit-pip-assessment-b2690289.html

He lives in a residential placement so the daily living component of pip isn’t paid (I can claim it for him when he’s at home on a visit though as he’s still entitled to it). He does get mobility which is £303 per month and that is pretty much taken up with transport and mileage costs fir outings.. It’s just frustrating because to reduce behaviours he needs to be kept very busy so is out most days and those things cost money even if it’s something very cheap. The contribution is way too much and it’s almost impossible to get it reduced.

Perhaps the people on the lower disability allowance ?

You can believe what you like, but he refuses to engage with therapists, there’s always a reason why he can’t do it. It’s pathetic.

I have PTSD and adhd, depression and anxiety. I work, and sometimes it’s so fucking difficult, I often have to use weekends to catch up. There’s no reason he can’t work. I could easily give up and do what he does but I would never do that!

No. I’m not saying that !
and it would be mad to go down that path not least because it goes against their policy of getting people into work.

The criteria for both benefits is different. And being on the lower allowance doesn't mean we can work. I for one would constantly be calling in sick because I've got a migraine or I've had a shit night's sleep because of the medication I'm on or because I've had another asthma flare up.

@EarlyM0rnibg My dh is lucky to see his CMHT Caseworker once a month. He was under the Psychosis team for the maximum 3 years and they visited fortnightly. However, the CMHT are so overstretched that he's been on a waiting list for one type of therapy (PTSD) for nearly 2 years. His Caseworkers are constantly leaving due to stress and the new ones never know anything about him, they haven't even read his notes sometimes as they are too busy. Until you are in this mental health "world" you haven't a clue how badly everything is run and how little funding and help there is.

Yes he is .

Yep we’re in it too.

But how are they going to decide who is able and unable to work amongst the people who claim disability benefits, that's what worries me?

And there lies the dilemma! Who knows best?

It's easy to assume the person concerned but the reality is that they do not always know better because often, you don't know how you'd cope until you try. Because sometimes, the reasons for not coping aren't just just the disability.

So who decides?

Not everyone is the same though. My cousin has the lowest allowance but works full time and has three kids.
There will always be people on these allowances that for one reason or another can or can’t work.
It’s sorting out those people that is, perhaps, the challenge.

Then Labour need to decide what to do from there.

Similar story. I think people would be horrified if they knew how dire provision is. It impacts work for the whole family. It’s been a battle to hold down our jobs throughout it all , let alone get our dc into work and an education alongside fighting for provision.

Mass exodus isn't going to happen. Major strike action will, though. And racing to the bottom on pensions will have serious consequences for the public purse. It's an incredibly stupid idea.

@FreedomandPeace I'm assuming you mean standard daily rate of PIP? If so, then my husband will be required to work. Completing the PIP reassessment form is such a nightmare that each time he gets awarded standard daily rate we just accept it gratefully. It's too stressful to argue with them that he should be awarded the higher rate. You are actually threatened with having your lower award taken away completely if you dare to challenge the rate you are awarded. If this is the bar they are going to set then there will be a lot of people who are genuinely unfit to work being forced into a situation where they will become either homeless, be thrust into poverty or will commit suicide.

The Independent article is based upon the Times article on 1st February.

So I suppose one of the big questions highlighted in this article is

What will those requirements be?

Any thoughts MN ?

If your BIL didn't have that support, he would most likely be street homeless and quite possibly be committing crimes, at a huge cost to the taxpayer.

Who would employ him?