The future for the disabled claiming UC/ESA, etc - budget march 2023

apple85

So it sounds like no one will be exempt from work related stuff

surely there has to be exemptions for those who clearly can’t?

also if there are 2.4m people (don’t quote me on the number) currently not able to do work related activities that’s a huge amount more work coaches needed

Also a few years back they were axing work coaches that specialist in disability’s (for esa) and moving them over to uc one size fits all model - are they going to train specialist disability work coaches again (they should if dwp staff are going to have a much larger say of whether we are disabled or not)

im very happy it’s going to be a few years before this hits (I thought it was going to be within the year) but once implemented it does sound much worse than right now and I don’t know if health professionals and tribunal judges will be able to protect us as much as they do now on this new system 

worried33

I expect terminally ill (and the current WCA no further review group) would be possible exemption, and work coaches I think will have the ability to do it on a case by case basis.

JBS2022

worried33 said:

I expect terminally ill (and the current WCA no further review group) would be possible exemption, and work coaches I think will have the ability to do it on a case by case basis.

I agree people who are exempted from reviews will have no job requirements 

apple85

Votadini said:

poppy123456 said:

 We also have a general election coming in 2024...

Much as I'd like to believe that would change anything, Jonathan Ashworth for Labour has been coming out with largely the same language as the government about disability benefit reform for months, even going so far as accusing them of stealing his ideas. It's tempting to think Labour would be more humane and reasonable than the Tories when it comes to benefits but their last stint in power showed they were anything but. I'd still vote for them though given the alternative.

There’s a lot of backlash on twitter about the disability stuff - labour has by no means won the next election and even if they do they have a uphill struggle winning the one after that (labour will only win because the tories are so corrupt & rubbish - in 5 years the public will easily forgot all that and be ready to give the tories another go) so yes labour would have to earn trust and actually be decent to stay in power - I think there’s a little more wiggle room with labour (also who says it will be ashworth in that position if labour get in - the last shadow minister Jonathan Reynolds seemed really clued in and it was a shame for us he got promoted but perhaps there are others like him) - may be worth making our thoughts to labour clear on social media before the next election 
 

calcotti

There are announcements on other issues
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/spring-budget-2023-speech

Plans will abolish the Work Capability Assessment in Great Britain and separate benefit entitlement from an individual’s ability to work. As a result, disabled benefit claimants will always be able to seek work without fear of losing financial support.

(Obviously what this will means when it is carried  will not be understood until then.)

In the short term it appears that "for those working low hours, we will increase the Administrative Earnings Threshold from the equivalent of 15 hours to 18 hours at National Living Wage for an individual claimant, meaning that anyone working below this level will receive more work coach support alongside a more intensive conditionality regime". I understand that to mean the AET for couple is removed, the AET figure applies to each individual - I haven't seen if that sops now or later. Need to do some more exploring.

It also appears that the SDP transitional element will be increased (but again I haven't found it in the documentation yet). {EDIT - I read this somewhere earlier but now I can't find it again!}

The maximum childcare available for UC claimants will increase to £951 for one child and £1,630 for two children, an increase of almost 50%. (I again I haven't seen the start date yet.)

Ray212

I don't think WCA is scrapped until this has been bought in?

Ray212

https://twitter.com/danbloom1/status/1636020826032992256

apple85

The other thing that hasn’t been pointed out is a huge amount of what happens to each individual is going to be down the the work coach assigned - so basically a (postcode) lottery

for example if we are paired with someone who has firsthand experience of a condition or a family member with it then there’s a good chance we would get compassion, be able to go at our own pace and the gov help may actually be….well helpful

at the other end, if an assigned work coach graduated from ‘Therese Coffey’s School of Evil’ then they’d probably accuse you of lying about your disability, sanction you and send you to the workhouses (I’M JOKING…….I hope, touch wood)

but dumb luck may play a huge part on how the reform affects the individual 

poppy123456

bobby123 said:

poppy123456 said:

bobby123 said:

Can anyone summarise the white paper

In summary... These reforms would be rolled out, to new claims only, on a staged, geographical basis from no earlier than 2026/27. We would expect the new claims roll-out to be completed within three years (so by 2029 at the earliest), when we would then begin to move the existing caseload on to the new system.

We are only the 3rd month into 2023. The exact details haven't been published and it's unlikely they will be anytime soon. We also have a general election coming in 2024...

So does this mean people on LCWRA now get it until 2026 seeing as wca have been scrapped

They haven’t been scrapped yet. Reviews are still suspended anyway.

jamrumples

Would also like to know the answer to this….. bobby123 said:

poppy123456 said:

bobby123 said:

Can anyone summarise the white paper

In summary... These reforms would be rolled out, to new claims only, on a staged, geographical basis from no earlier than 2026/27. We would expect the new claims roll-out to be completed within three years (so by 2029 at the earliest), when we would then begin to move the existing caseload on to the new system.

We are only the 3rd month into 2023. The exact details haven't been published and it's unlikely they will be anytime soon. We also have a general election coming in 2024...

So does this mean people on LCWRA now get it until 2026 seeing as wca have been scrapped

Rheumgirl59

I wonder what effect it will have on people getting the esa that is not means tested. My understanding is that universal credit is means tested. I know if it happens it is some years off but am curious. As someone facing a wca assessment I like the idea of not having that but I fear what they give with one hand they will take back double!

Votadini

Hunt’s disability plans put 1m at risk of losing £350 a month, IFS says

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/15/hunts-disability-plans-put-1m-at-risk-of-losing-350-a-month-ifs-says

The Institute for Fiscal Studies said up to 1 million people currently on incapacity benefits could lose about £350 a month as a result of dropping the work capability assessment (WCA), which assesses capacity for work, and using the personal independence payment (Pip) test, which measures only the extra living costs of disability.

It said the logic of the plan meant those who have conditions that prevent them working – such as people with short-term or fluctuating illnesses – but who do not claim Pip, or incur major additional living costs, would no longer receive extra support. Pip tests are also widely distrusted and currently take 14 weeks to process.

worried33

Charities and disability campaigners broadly welcomed the proposals to scrap the much-hated WCA

Wish they were named why are they welcoming the disqualification of so many sick people.

Cartini

poppy123456 said:

Isn't this thread supposed to be related to the WCA for UC and ESA? Now it seems to be related to the whole of the budget. You've lost me completely here with so many comments related to something completely different.

Agreed.  The OP seems to have a bee in his bonnet about everything, not just the "possible" (it may never happen) changes to WCA.

Votadini

Cartini said:

Agreed.  The OP seems to have a bee in his bonnet about everything, not just the "possible" (it may never happen) changes to WCA.

If you don't mind me saying that seems uncalled for. The OP provided a thread which allowed people to discuss their views on the white paper and ask questions which I, for one, appreciated.

JessieJ

A huge thank you to those that have posted manageable chunks of the budget & also to those that have clarified some of the points as far as they can be at the moment & from what has come out so far. 👍

Luna51

I think I speak for everyone when I say that all people want is to feel confident that the process will be fair, that all considerations are given to claimants and most importantly, the assessors are actually qualified to do the job.

It's really not too much to ask for is it? 

apple85

http://enablemagazine.co.uk/disabled-peoples-organisations-react-to-the-spring-budget/

Of topic but Had to laugh about the telegraphs (very pro Tory paper) headline take on this policy

MadCow1

Hi

Just a bit confused, I've read on the forum that it will be a few years yet before the new UC system will be implemented,but I've also read on 2 reports that says it will start spring 2023,but won't be rolled out nationally until 2024. Which is the right one?

poppy123456

MadCow1 said:

Hi

Just a bit confused, I've read on the forum that it will be a few years yet before the new UC system will be implemented,but I've also read on 2 reports that says it will start spring 2023,but won't be rolled out nationally until 2024. Which is the right one?

You're confusing it with the UC managed migration, which is completely different. What was announced today with the budget will not be introduced until at least 2026.