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.

So everyone is lying to psychiatrists and psychologists and they’re not seeing through it? Ummm ok. Btw “suicidal ideation” is less severe than “being suicidal”

The increase in deaths by suicides and suicide attempts would indicate sufferers seeking mental health treatment are not lying and in fact, we have a health crisis not an over diagnosis because of liars crisis.

They are not taking away the top ups for low paid working people unless they also have LCWRA on their claim in which case that will be reducing for new claims from 2026 I think.

I agree, usually autism scores quite highly in the social commjnication areas, which I hope doesn't change, but people with physical difficulties may now lose out.

They have provided zero carrots. And what work is there available for people whose health conditions make them unreliable or inconsistant workers

I receive contributions based ESA and I’m in the Support Group. I’m having trouble understanding what this merger means. Am I going to lose all my ESA?

Well yes, which is why the home office regularly target employers of illegal immigrants. What more do you expect them to do exactly?

The over 22 thing is worrying me the most. I have 2 young adult dc claiming high rate PIP, one has physical disabilities as well as autism and is about to leave uni (which has been a huge struggle and she’s now on AD’s and not coping), my other dd is in specialist provision and will likely leave education before she’s 22, she is severely autistic and I can’t see her ever working (she needs 24 hour care). I’m currently not working as I’m caring for dd2, adult services are trying to help me get care for dd2 so I can return to work. At the moment we rely on UC and PIP to survive.

I worry as dd1 will not be old enough to claim any health benefits from UC when she finishes uni in May, she will struggle to find employment due to her physical disabilities as well as her autism, we also live in the middle of nowhere and she can’t drive so work placements are limited unless she can work from home. I can’t see her coping with a full time job but she hopes to work part time.

I understand cuts need to be made due to the amount of people claiming but it’s going to hit some people hard. A lot of work places are not disabled friendly, a lot of work places won’t want to employ someone who will need time off for illness and appointments so where are all these jobs going to come from?

People lie and exaggerate their symptoms

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/shameless-benefit-cheat-mum-claimed-9404424

There isn't any reliable data. The 0% figure isn't even close to plausible and there is clearly no methodology that has been used to make it accurate.

I know the PIP process well. I also know what counts as medical evidence for conditions like anxiety, depression etc. If you go to your doctor reporting symptoms of these conditions then they are more than likely going to believe you. There is no mechanism that can be used to prove that you're lying.

Not offer free housing and food.

Apologies again if I have worded things wrongly. I think most people on the thread know what I mean.

DenhamElliott11 So we all "work harder" and wont need tops? In what world does this happen then? The world of "Im doing OK everyone else go hang?" Honestly does no one cares about people like the lady on Breakfast TV BBC1 this morning ,who uses her PIP to pay a carer 32 hours. so she can wash and dress.or people who are stuck on Min wages .Wouldnt we all like to be running ICI if we could? Get real and be grateful you dont have to worry! BTW I am not claiming any benefits, (Husband has a generous pension ,I have a small pension and my DS is an Ind chemist earning 50k plus bonus ! Still think of others less fortunate!

I doubt it will affect existing claimants but they seem to be saying that in the future a merged contributions based JSA and ESA will be more generous but time limited.

She is one of the 0.1% of PIP recipients who commit fraud,

How can they have a blanket ban? Could she go the occupational health route and have it as a reasonable adjustment?

The bottom line is that it is going to be harder to access things like PIP, they are raising the bar- yes, that is what is happening. But that’s what is needed, when you look at the figures for the amount of new PIP claims DAILY it is quite obvious that we needed to make the bar higher, we can’t afford not to.

It isn't even being brought in until next year I think so she'll be 23 then.

Not sure on this but it sounds like a big change. Time limited sounds like it just stops and then what

My grandson is severely autistic, nonverbal etc… I worry for his and my daughters futures

I'll tell that to my severely learning disabled DS.

@Letmecallyouback your Pip award letter says for how long you got the award and when it’s going to be reassessed.

The 0.1% number is straight from the government report on fraud across all benefits. Tell me are you similarly dismissive of the other fraud %s?

Yes i guess it stops and you would have to then claim means tested benefits like UC instead if you qualify.

Where have I said everyone is doing this? Where have I even suggested most people are doing this? Suicidal ideation and suicidal intent are different but the latter also may not end in a suicide attempt. It is complex.

Two things can be true at the same time. There can be a genuine increase in mental health issues and some people will hijack this to fraudulently claim benefits they're not entitled to knowing that it's extremely difficult to prove fraud in these scenarios.