Heads up - new sickness/disability benefit changes may be announced this week

apple85

Stride is going after those on esa/uc who are affected by the the ‘substantial risk’ rule (aka a good chunk of us only have our award because of that)

https://askcpag.org.uk/content/207488/substantial-risk-and-the-wca

this is very bad

Jimm_Scope

I can understand the worry of anyone under WCA. Though, if you are already on WCA they would have to implement the changes (2025) and then re-review you I imagine. It's certainly a worry for people going for WCA in 2 years time.

However, considering there can be legal action against such changes that can delay it and the earliest it can proceed even without legal action is 2025 I'm not very confident they can make these changes happen prior to an election.

apple85

Thanks Jimm 

I don’t know about others but I’m in a hell of a lot of trouble if this goes ahead 

(also the substantial rule is there to protect others as well as the public, we know the dwp have no problem [Removed by moderator.]  but have they thought of the other possible consequence even if the percentage is low)

Jimm_Scope

Another issue I see with WCA having an uptick in claimants is that the NHS backlog means more people are getting ill, and more severely, before getting help.

This, personally, feels like trying to fix a single symptom of a wider issue.

Jimm_Scope

Hi @apple85, I understand your frustration but I had to remove a small section of your post. I'm sorry if this upsets you but there are lines we cannot have crossed when it comes to topics like that. Again however, I totally understand the anger and frustration at what is being done.

apple85

Jimm_Scope said:

I can understand the worry of anyone under WCA. Though, if you are already on WCA they would have to implement the changes (2025) and then re-review you I imagine. It's certainly a worry for people going for WCA in 2 years time.

However, considering there can be legal action against such changes that can delay it and the earliest it can proceed even without legal action is 2025 I'm not very confident they can make these changes happen prior to an election.

The problem is that the tories are on course for a huge loss next election and at this point they will throw the kitchen sink at whoever they think will keep them in power

i got a feeling this may be very popular with the public and if allowed (obviously courts may get involved in the meantime) I wouldn’t be surprised if this is push 1st half of 2024 (unless stride said the 2025 in set in stone terms?)

problem is the majority of people on esa or the disability elements of uc haven’t been reassessed/had a wca since before the pandemic -  95% are likely overdue so unless the dwp rush through the reassessments backlog in the next 6-18 months many of us will fall victim to Stride’s nasty plans from the get go

apple85

https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/disability-benefit-changes-people-mental-health-conditions-work-minister-2594321

apple85

Jimm_Scope said:

Hi @apple85, I understand your frustration but I had to remove a small section of your post. I'm sorry if this upsets you but there are lines we cannot have crossed when it comes to topics like that. Again however, I totally understand the anger and frustration at what is being done.

It doesn’t upset me, I was trying to type it as discreetly as possible but I guess there’s no good way to put it - between you and me let’s hope I was talking rubbish

but yes I’m very very scared and I hope the charities and lawyers will be working against this in a major way very soon

apple85

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-announces-new-welfare-reforms-to-help-thousands-into-work

@jimm - was a 2025 start date actually said be stride or were you making an educated guess?

edit: it says 2025 in this gov doc so unless they move forward that date you are looking post election as the election can be held no later than jan 2025

although that does bring in the rather vile prospect that the tories may use this as a policy/reason why they should be voted back in next election

apple85

Here’s the whole gov consultation doc:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1182410/work-capability-assessment-activities-and-descriptors-consultation.pdf

Tazzie

WHen I first got DLA, I could call and speak to the decision maker... it was so easy. Now, it's like mapping a minefield. They waste so much money trying to prevent a few people from scamming the system... I worked briefly for the company doing the ESA assessments because I wanted to learn how they worked- it's ridiculous. You are supposed to be a trained professional, but unless there is a referral or document to prove what the person has- even if their diagnosis and treatment records indicate a clear problem- you can't say that problem exists.

Had one gent once- he was raging psychotic. Long history of mental illness, but had decided he was sick of the professionals and was no longer in care. So, he's no longer getting help so must be cured, right? Sigh. 

No matter what they do, it will always be based in trying to prove disabled people aren't worth what they are getting. 

WelshBlue

Ok then .. my last comment makes me look very ignorant ... hand up to that.

Not reading full facts. 

Apologies for trying to be flippant over something so worrying to people, and can't see how they can use the working from home argument ... there can only be so many jobs available ?  And a lot would need experience ?

Again apologies

Jimm_Scope

@apple85 2025 was what Stride said in Commons during his statement. He said there was little chance of it being any sooner when another tory MP asked if it could be moved up.

There was little sign of more funding actually being allocated to support these people who would be falling outside of WCA. I'm surprised no opposition MPs asked, maybe I missed it if they did.

I'd recommend everyone respond to the consultation when available. We can perhaps hope they listen and consider the feedback.

apple85

I think most of us can agree that this is a step in the wrong direction - I’ve already posted the ‘Work Capability Assessment: Activities and Descriptors Consultation Consultation Paper’ link above which is encouraging people to send in opinions via email (I personally think the dwp have already decided what they are doing so this could be just for show - but if legit then prehaps we should all make an effect to answer their questions and poke holes through it/make better suggestions)

Honestly I’m scared I’ll break my screen if I watch everything stride said (officially up there as one of the cruelest w&p ministers now I think……..I honestly thought they could get worse than Coffey which was dumb of me)

this big issue article makes the same points you have Jimm 
https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/dwp-welfare-reforms-work-capability-assessment-plans-reaction/
(Is it just me or the big issue recently got a bee in their bonnet about dwp strategies? - I mean good for them and also the mirror as they’ve been hugely on our community’s side as well)

I think liz Kendall said a few things but nothing to make you think she’s going to be a major disability rights advocate going forward

the good news is that this is being covered my national news articles and the initial conclusion is this cruel rather than helpful

https://www.itv.com/news/2023-09-05/sickness-benefits-overhaul-could-make-disabled-people-more-ill-charity-warns

apple85

Just a quick add on:

can I get passed on a huge thank you to James Taylor and all the staff at scope - they are really sticking their necks out and fighting for a fairer future for all the ill & disabled and certainly one of the most vocal charity’s on this 🫶🫶🫶

on a ‘catty’ note - would any of those ‘lefty lawyers’ giving suella braverman so much trouble come help us fight this move too 😼

Ray212

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/09/05/sickness-benefits-crackdown-will-not-be-in-force-until-2025/

apple85

The daily mail comments are actually quite interesting (if you go past the the ones that make you want to curl up in a ball)

a lot of people are against this is another certain issue isn’t improved on first.

it’s scary how many people have bought the govs smears on the disabled/ill (as scrougers and faking conditions) as 100% the truth but at the same time mps have been actively using many of the big uk newspapers to print their narrative but I’ve haven’t read many detailed accounts of the other side (only that it’s cruel but not explaining why it is so)

as I’ve said many times before the disabled community needs to get much more vocal as the gov keeps seeing us as easy targets and right now we are and that won’t change unless the public are made aware of all the facts of being on sickness benefits

we know that the tories will u turn if public outcry is loud enough (I’m not sure they will with this but prehaps it’s more important to get labour to rethink their own dwp plans as unlike the tories they will have to fight harder and get more right in order to get a 2nd and 3rd term in power (tories being the default uk majority vote))

apple85

Ray212 said:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/09/05/sickness-benefits-crackdown-will-not-be-in-force-until-2025/

That telegraph article is very sobering:

” However, despite the costs and repeated pledges to address the situation, there has been speculation that the Government is wary of tackling sensitive issues before the election.

The delay also means that if Labour wins the election, as polls currently predict, it would have to decide whether to go ahead with changes, which are likely to prove controversial with some of their supporters but popular with the public.”

apple85

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/09/05/bold-plan-long-term-sick-back-workforce/

“ There’s something special about September. Autumn is on its way as the nation shifts back into ‘work mode’.

Sometimes the benefits of work are easy to take for granted. Yes, employment is about providing financial security, and growing our economy.

But it also changes lives – giving us life-long friends, a sense of purpose, better physical and mental health. That’s why my mission is to ensure that employment opportunities are open to everyone and that no one is blocked from the advantages work brings.

This week, I am taking bold action so that people on disability benefits who can work are not unfairly written off, or permanently written out of this country’s strong labour market story. It’s a story that has seen nearly four million more people in employment since 2010. And over the last decade, two million more disabled people in work.

Although the number of people who are neither in work nor looking for a job – the ‘economically inactive’ – has fallen from its pandemic peak, there remain over 2.5 million people who are inactive because of long-term sickness.

Proposals will bring system up to date

We need to do more so that no one who could work is left behind. The consultation I published on Tuesday sets out proposals to bring the disability benefits system up to date to better recognise and reflect some of the changes in the world of work. These changes have opened up more opportunities for disabled people and those with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in the workforce.

Those getting back into the swing of things this week are returning to workplaces that look and feel very different to how they did just a few years ago. There are now much greater opportunities for flexible and home working and many employers have improved their approach to accessibility and providing reasonable adjustments for staff.

Many on disability benefits want to work

Improved understanding around mental health conditions and neurodiversity has helped employers to identify opportunities to adapt job roles and the way disabled people and people with health conditions work. Many people on disability benefits say they want to work – and with modern working practices could manage their condition effectively while working.

Instead, they are stuck on benefits with no help to prepare for work. The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) descriptors used to assess what work someone could do – and the support they need – were last reviewed over a decade ago. The plans we are consulting on aim to reflect this shift in working practices.

They include taking account of the fact that people with mobility problems, or who suffer anxiety within the workplace, have better access to employment opportunities from the rise in flexible and home working.

These proposals come on the back of an extra £2 billion of investment we are making to help disabled people and those with health conditions back into work. This includes radical new employment support programmes, such as Universal Support and the Workwell pilot programme.

Plans will enable more fundamental reforms

Our plans will pave the way for our more fundamental reforms to the health and disability benefits system we set out in March in the Health and Disability White Paper, which will see the WCA abolished altogether.

This will take time to implement, so the steps set out in our consultation are important interim measures we can take more quickly to ensure those on disability benefits who could work are given the support and opportunity to move off benefits and towards the jobs market.

We are consulting over the next eight weeks to seek the views of disabled people, employers, charities and others about our proposed changes. It is not right or fair that so many people are left without support or the opportunity to reap the rewards of work.

It’s time to focus on what people can do – not what they can’t. It’s time to share the opportunities of work far more fairly. And it’s time for work to be truly available to all those who can benefit from it. It’s time to get Britain working.”

MJ81

Hi everyone, my first post here, sorry it had to be on a negative note.

I was quite horrified to see this article in the Daily Fail this morning:-

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12484217/One-million-people-sickness-benefits-forced-jobs.html

Now I only JUST got my first PIP award after fighting for over a decade to get it, and I see the Tories already want to take it away?

My question for the community is, will these Tory plans likely affect my existing award in any way shape or form? Or is it for new claims / re-applications only?

Id like to think the Torys really are toast next GE, but I personally know enough bigoted Mail readers to make me think its far from a full gone conclusion....

thanks in advance