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’m a centre left voter and yes I think it needed tightening up in some areas to actually be able to help and support those in real need far more , particularly the severely physically disabled and those who will never be able to work in a month of Sundays regardless of any support. People always say it’s not easy to get PIP - my son who has ADHD ( adult diagnosed) was told by others to apply - but as he works full time and is medicated and it doesn’t really affect any costs or day to day living he has he didn’t think that was right and feels strongly that it’s money better spent on those in genuine need and not as a nice little ‘extra bonus’ for being a little different.

This is so important: employers also need a culture change.

The government could have a huge impact here:

• All civil service jobs should be flexible by default (part time/choice of home-base).
• All NHS jobs also flexible by default (").

All the above also subject to six-month probation period (because (a) it would give employees the chance to see how it works for them and (b) it would give employers proper time to assess if they are the right person for the job - unlike in the NHS when you just have to get through the door and can then be as shit as you like).

I was given three '4s' but only after an appeal - I think there will be even more appeals.

I had hoped that Labour would take this opportunity to stand back, reassess and look at the bigger - interlinked - picture. eg Why are those aged 18-22 struggling with employment? Labout wants them in work & off benefits. OK; are they 'lazy' or having higher levels of MH (& some levels of physical health) issues?

Well, in the case of my 20 y/o YP his GCSE's / A levels were completely messed up by Covid (made worse as he is severely Dyslexic and couldn't access educational support. EHCP put on hold then timed out, repeatedly).
He is also Autistic and his social development was really held back at a criitical time. This has impacted him hugely. He is now clinically anxious. He had Covid caused Myocarditis heart failure& has POTS/ long covid symptoms as a result.
I DO NOT want 'a life on benefits' for him - it's stressful, boring and very lonely.
He needs a purpose to his day. That could be a voluntary post so he can gain self esteem & countribute to society that way. You do not have to be 'an economic unit' to have purpose. Or, better for him (and Labour!) a paid position.
What real support will be offered to people in his position to get to that point? What is his position if it is not achieveable?

I am his Carer. I would very much like to be able work (I had to stop my last f/t job due to his needs) and know that, if he was unable to cope (because sod all support services for him if I am not here) then I could keep Carers entitlement in the background to return to. That is a great idea if it's as it seems.

I can only talk about this circumstance and I appreciate that it is of limited interest and that there are many other cirucmstances. Also, it's not a quick fix.
But I am concerned that Labour seem to be applying a broad brush approach
I think it's pretty shameful that they are using terms like 'the deserving poor' (& therefore the undeserving) now also in terms of the disabled, who are already reliant on a not fit for purpose NHS and social care system that barely exists.

Mental health claims are crippling the system and that has to change. I had a colleague whose partner claimed he could not work. His self described poor mental health didn’t prevent him from living a full social life, controlling all of her activity and travelling to the other end of the country to try and get access to his kids. Says access was removed when he was found guilty and imprisoned for child cruelty.
It was a happy day when the scales fell from her eyes and she LTB. No doubt he’s still claiming though.

You should know then that a brief summary in GP notes will by no means be enough.

Case notes, MDT meeting minutes, admission details, ward meetings, letters from specialist NHS professionals, diagnosis reports, a long
well documented history, prescriptions, Crisis support, CMHT and specialist dep notes, psych assessments….

are but a few that are used.

'We've been on it'

Okay.

As a single disabled person, I'll try weaning myself off my degenerative disabling condition.

There’s no reliable data to support your assertions.

You don’t sound like you know anything about the PIP process: what counts as evidence of depression or anxiety - eg a psychiatrist’s letter diagnosing either or both - doesn’t count for anything on a PIP form. Whether the psychiatrist believes them is irrelevant. It’s about how that mental health condition affects people - and they have to be very severely affected to qualify for PIP.

Is there anyone else who doesn't really understand what has been said/proposed? Well, I understand it but i'm clearly too thick to figure out how it is going to affect me.

I’m baffled as to why people think that people lying to get PIP doesn’t happen, as if it’s some watertight system. It’s far from it and some posts on here are just completely inaccurate.

Can’t apply without an application form, must send evidence with your application, can’t exaggerate…in total nonsense.

I know 😞I have a friend who has severe epilepsy and in between attacks,she's wiped out for days 😔

I don't necessarily agree with the cuts but I also don't know how we can afford the increasing costs or what a realistic solution would look like. Our governments are not known for long term planning so investing in early years, health, education, housing, infrastructure etc that doesn't deliver immediately won't be options. I don't think they will truly do anything that will help people to get back to work

They are planning to no longer re-assess the most severely disabled so I'm guessing there will be a reduction in appeals for this group of claimants. Also they are going to be recording all assessments which should help to perhaps avoid many more cases going to tribunal?

He wouldn’t have got it. I have adhd and autism and have always worked . I’d never qualify. I have zero evidence I need it. My daughter however has folders full.

@Longsummerdays25 if you can't understand then you've obviously lead a very privileged life. Which you should be thankful for.

I thought Kendall’s announcement was protecting the income of those disabled and not able to work.
Is my understanding incorrect

I appreciate your comment and it’s great your son doesn’t feel like he needs it, he may have not qualified anyway as it’s about how the diagnosis affects you.

Neurodivergency and mental health issues are a huge spectrum, some will cope well, others will need adjustments to cope, others wouldn’t and some will never work.

People keep talking about how depression isn’t serious, when I trained as a MH nurse I saw someone so depressed she was physically unable to do anything. She needed basically electric therapy to help her symptoms which is pretty extreme.

So you want those women who's ex's actually pay maintenance to suffer just as much as those women who unfortunately have an ex who is dodging their responsibilities? Nice. Maybe we could make the NRP actually support their children properly! Maintenance is calculated on NRP income (after pension contributions) and yet you are suggesting a RP shouldn't get help if their income is also low?

I know it is from their website but it is still complete BS! How do you think they have accurately calculated how many fraudulent claims are submitted for disability benefits? What sensible methodology do you think they have used to root out those who shouldn't claim at all or have exaggerated their claims? It doesn't take much critical thinking to realise that they have no way of even getting close to calculating an accurate number. It would require surveillance and intrusion into people's lives and homes to see if they were lying or exaggerating.

Other benefits are different because there is often a paper trail that can prove fraud. Child benefit for example can be proven by evidence of earnings and whether the child actually exists. Housing Benefit again looks at documented evidence. It isn't reliant on spying on people in their day to day lives unless there are claims around couples living together and making false claims. I also think that this is a fraud that is vastly under reported too though for what it's worth.

Then you are privileged tbh.

It’s not a privileged life. We have worked extremely hard every day for the last 35 years…

People can always exaggerate. But if the medical evidence does not support the exaggeration they won’t qualify.

Im not saying some people don’t lie to get PIP. It’s been proven that some do. But it’s usually relating to mobility - they say they can’t stand/walk when they can. Those cases make people think it’s easier to fake than it is and it’s easier to qualify than it is.

I thought they could?
Ww currently claim for our severely autistic son who goes to a special school for children with severe and profound learning disabilities, we also get UC for him untill he is 19 after 19 he could claim it in his right ,he will be at " college" untill he is 25
If its true he won't be able ti claim UC it's a significant amount of money he loses he can't work ,he's completely non verbal, has very limited understanding of the world around him etc etc.

Not all people who don’t get benefits are leading a privileged life.
Presumanly they are just working people.