Benefit cuts proposal

[Charliechoosecarefully]

I just wanted it to have a specific thread:-

Kendall says government to consult on merging JSA and ESA benefits.

Kendall says WCA being scrapped, with Pip assessment process being used instead - will be scrapped in 2028.

Kendall says 'right to try' will let people on sickness benefits try work without immediately having benefits cut.

Kendall says UC payments being rebalanced, with standard rate going up, and some health top-ups frozen or cut.

Kendall says reassessments for people on universal credit with health top-ups to be beefed up

Kendall says universal credit claimants with most severe disabilities will not face reassessment

Kendall confirms Pip eligibility rules to be tightened, and assessment process to be reviewed - 4 pointed needed in one descriptor.

Kendall says under-22s could be prevented from claiming health top-up for universal credit

Sourced from the guardian.

I think the proposal for under 22,s is utterly disgusting. My dd attends a special school , the vast majority of the pupils there will never be able to work , it feel like these young people and their families are being punished.

I think it's time we all started weening ourselves off top-ups and UC to be honest. Best to try and earn enough not to need it. We've been on it for 30 years now and they can take it away at any time.

I agree with the proposals. I can see what they’re doing - making it much harder to claim for MH reasons, particularly younger people who haven’t even done a days work yet. But hopefully ringfencing the severely disabled so they won’t face reassessment. This is basically what I wanted, so I’m satisfied with it. I hope this starts to reverse the trend.

And where are all these jobs that people can do?

I think it was rather balanced, it wasn’t as bad as suggested but covers a broad range.

My child is severely disabled and unlikely to work so it’ll be interesting to see if the “under 22” is a blanket rule or if there’s exceptions to the rules as obviously some children/young people will never work and that’s just reality.

Guess we’ll have to see what happens going forward.

I agree. The most vulnerable, many of whom can’t understand or speak are being punished for Sally with anxiety taking the mick.

Way to kick families while they’re down.

I was worried but I don't think it's too bad considering all the hysteria in the media. Admittedly I don't have a child under 22 to worry about though. What they've otherwise said makes sense.

@Charliechoosecarefully did they not say they were going to propose a new premium for people with lifelong conditions that prevent them from working? I’m sure I read that in one of the reports.

I honestly don’t think it looks horrendously bad, especially considering some of the suggestions that have been in the media over the last few weeks & months debating what it could be.

I'm claiming for physical health reasons and will lose the daily living component of PIP under the new criteria. This will halve my payments and therefore take away the money I need for everything from wheelchair maintenance to basic daily living equipment. I'm moderately impaired across several areas, and the cumulative effect is very much disabling. But I don't get four points on any one area.

Correct me if I'm wrong but won't those pupils be able to claim PIP instead?

It's six billion pounds worth of welfare cuts. In what world does that happen in in which it won't be so bad?

It's not an either/ or thing

Correct me if I'm wrong but won't those pupils be able to claim PIP instead?

PIP and UC can be claimed at the same time atm for everyone who qualifies

Then employers need to pay more - the question is will they?

It’s no good crying about it now. People (not Tory voters) have been warning about this for months. The Tories were bad but Labour are a disaster.

Now, you have a Labour government implementing change the Tories would never dare do. Meanwhile, there is no opposition to balance the argument. The sad result is - people will get caught out who really need help.

People were falling over themselves to cheerlead Starmer and excuse everything the government were doing. Many people could see what they were doing was insanity. Scaring off business from recruiting (economy now shrinking) whilst alienating higher earners. All to the tune of off you fuck, smallest violin, tax the rich, haha school fees, etc. The rich are now leaving, higher earners are reducing hours (so tax take) alongside the private sector freezing hiring and making redundancies. This has reduced significantly any headroom and is a direct result of the budget. Net contributors start changing behaviour - less for everyone.

The people who blindly voted Labour and cheered them on ‘taxing the rich’ have themselves to blame for this 100%. They were not paying attention. The sad thing is - people who need the help will be caught up.

The merging of contributions base ESA and JSA will have a massive impact on families where one partner is working and one isn't.

Currently contributions based don't take your partners income into account if you are in the support group.

The mention of time limiting the new combination replacement suggests that after the time limit it would be UC, which does take household income into account.

Right so under 22s may still be able to claim something via PIP but not as much as before? Is that right?

It was my way of saying it could be a lot lot worse.

I don't quite understand what they have outlined apart from the 4 points thing which is clear.

I think that's more likely to impact 'mild" physical conditions claiming than the mental health issues everyone is so cross about.

No because it doesn’t apply to the mobility element.

I'm gutted. I work part time and have multiple chronic conditions so I get PIP on both daily living and mobility. But I got 2 in 5 areas and 8 in mobility so I'd only get mobility undr the new rules. I really can't manage working full time and the pip payments have really helped our family. It's the only benefit we receive - we aren't like the stereotype relying on every benefit we can.

I was expecting/would have liked to see more to be honest.

I would try not to worry because if a child goes to a special school there is significant needs there. Do she have an EHCP? I assume so, so I don’t think it aimed at us parents in this situation. It shouldn’t be!

It's a start but there will need to be more. The number of claimants is ballooning out of control.