Say your bit! Government Consultation on Work Capability Assessment

Grissom123

These proposals are a disgrace.
The people in the LCWRA group are some of the most vulnerable people on benefits, and their idea of 'helping' them is to strip away that award and place them in a group where they would be subject to sanctions?
Have they even considered the potential consequences of this? Let's face it, there almost certainly will be seriously ill people who get forced into work related activities when they're in no condition to do so. Even if people responding to the consultation point this out, they'll just ignore it and push it through anyway because they simply don't care about the distress they cause.

shellbell20

Biblioklept said:

Bettahm said:

Ok I dont understand all this political stuff but I got my LCWRA for finding being around people psychologically distressing due to autism, undiagnosed most of my life and believe mh issues I have now are result. 
So am I in danger of losing some of my benefit now?

I know people say not to worry but absolutely you should. I hate to cause fear and as an anxiety sufferer myself I know how awful it can be. BUT it's SO verrrryyy important that you know that you are exactly the sort of people these proposals will impact. 

Social engagement and substantial risk (so those who find it too distressing) are two of the four areas they are specifically looking to reform and take away LCWRA from. Please give feedback to the form if you're able. They've buried it and made it look really daunting but you respond here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/work-capability-assessment-activities-and-descriptors scroll down under all the links and documents and it will say 'ways to respond' and it's questions 3 and 6 that most impact you. 

Well, that's me, I have severe social anxiety.  I just wanted not to scaremonger, because I wrote something yesterday and I was kindly told not to worry about things that haven't happened, but I am worried, very worried, so now I have worry on worry. lol  I guess we will find out more in their November statement.

shellbell20

Biblioklept said:

Bettahm said:

Ok I dont understand all this political stuff but I got my LCWRA for finding being around people psychologically distressing due to autism, undiagnosed most of my life and believe mh issues I have now are result. 
So am I in danger of losing some of my benefit now?

I know people say not to worry but absolutely you should. I hate to cause fear and as an anxiety sufferer myself I know how awful it can be. BUT it's SO verrrryyy important that you know that you are exactly the sort of people these proposals will impact. 

Social engagement and substantial risk (so those who find it too distressing) are two of the four areas they are specifically looking to reform and take away LCWRA from. Please give feedback to the form if you're able. They've buried it and made it look really daunting but you respond here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/work-capability-assessment-activities-and-descriptors scroll down under all the links and documents and it will say 'ways to respond' and it's questions 3 and 6 that most impact you. 

Ive just filled out the online form

shellbell20

Grissom123 said:

These proposals are a disgrace.
The people in the LCWRA group are some of the most vulnerable people on benefits, and their idea of 'helping' them is to strip away that award and place them in a group where they would be subject to sanctions?
Have they even considered the potential consequences of this? Let's face it, there almost certainly will be seriously ill people who get forced into work related activities when they're in no condition to do so. Even if people responding to the consultation point this out, they'll just ignore it and push it through anyway because they simply don't care about the distress they cause.

Absolutely, they don't give a "Flying Fig" about the people who voted them in, they are nothing but bullies. I remember the Margaret Thatcher regime and it was much the same thing. I cried tears of joy when she was ousted, when she became to dictorial for her own good, I think it was over the Poll Tax that a lot of people couldn't afford and some were sent to prison if I recall for sticking up for their principles and refusing to pay it.

Bettahm

Biblioklept said:

Bettahm said:

Ok I dont understand all this political stuff but I got my LCWRA for finding being around people psychologically distressing due to autism, undiagnosed most of my life and believe mh issues I have now are result. 
So am I in danger of losing some of my benefit now?

I know people say not to worry but absolutely you should. I hate to cause fear and as an anxiety sufferer myself I know how awful it can be. BUT it's SO verrrryyy important that you know that you are exactly the sort of people these proposals will impact. 

Social engagement and substantial risk (so those who find it too distressing) are two of the four areas they are specifically looking to reform and take away LCWRA from. Please give feedback to the form if you're able. They've buried it and made it look really daunting but you respond here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/work-capability-assessment-activities-and-descriptors scroll down under all the links and documents and it will say 'ways to respond' and it's questions 3 and 6 that most impact you. 

Ok thanks for this
I just had a look at ways to respond and will come back to it when I'm sure of what to put.
How it impacts me I suppose.
Dwp got my autism diagnosis report plus the aq50 and my personal notes plus the PIP tribunal report so they basically know all this. How I got LCWRA in the first place. 
Nothing has changed there except my mh has got worse.
I knew something was going on but no TV or radio, get the news online and guess all this isnt making headlines.
Thank you for the info.

kreacher

shellbell20 said:

Grissom123 said:

These proposals are a disgrace.
The people in the LCWRA group are some of the most vulnerable people on benefits, and their idea of 'helping' them is to strip away that award and place them in a group where they would be subject to sanctions?
Have they even considered the potential consequences of this? Let's face it, there almost certainly will be seriously ill people who get forced into work related activities when they're in no condition to do so. Even if people responding to the consultation point this out, they'll just ignore it and push it through anyway because they simply don't care about the distress they cause.

Absolutely, they don't give a "Flying Fig" about the people who voted them in, they are nothing but bullies. I remember the Margaret Thatcher regime and it was much the same thing. I cried tears of joy when she was ousted, when she became to dictorial for her own good, I think it was over the Poll Tax that a lot of people couldn't afford and some were sent to prison if I recall for sticking up for their principles and refusing to pay it.

so what they are proposing is insane, the bits i get my benefits for they are getting rid of, i would love to tell them what i think but i find form filling in  horrendous as i can't put onto paper what i want to as i can't find the right words

shellbell20

It's not just insane, it's abhorrent and cruel.  Not a lot we can do other than fill in the online form with our views and use our electoral vote wisely,  the rest is in the hands of the Gods, but at least we can take comfort we are all in it together, whatever the outcome.

Grissom123

shellbell20 said:

Grissom123 said:

These proposals are a disgrace.
The people in the LCWRA group are some of the most vulnerable people on benefits, and their idea of 'helping' them is to strip away that award and place them in a group where they would be subject to sanctions?
Have they even considered the potential consequences of this? Let's face it, there almost certainly will be seriously ill people who get forced into work related activities when they're in no condition to do so. Even if people responding to the consultation point this out, they'll just ignore it and push it through anyway because they simply don't care about the distress they cause.

Absolutely, they don't give a "Flying Fig" about the people who voted them in, they are nothing but bullies. I remember the Margaret Thatcher regime and it was much the same thing. I cried tears of joy when she was ousted, when she became to dictorial for her own good, I think it was over the Poll Tax that a lot of people couldn't afford and some were sent to prison if I recall for sticking up for their principles and refusing to pay it.

I think I'll be crying tears of joy if and when the Tories are finally removed from power. 
But I don't really share many people's hopes about Labour winning the next election; seems no matter what they do the Tories always get voted back in, so I won't be holding my breath.
And from what I've read and what some other people have written, I don't even know if Labour would actually be that different.

Jimm_Scope

My main issue with these changes is that the WCA is due to be scrapped anyway. So why bother paying for a consultation, paying for admin changes, paying for re-training, all to re-assess a small % of people on WCA before it's scrapped anyway.

It doesn't sound like it will save any money, which is what it's actually about.

Grissom123

Jimm_Scope said:

My main issue with these changes is that the WCA is due to be scrapped anyway. So why bother paying for a consultation, paying for admin changes, paying for re-training, all to re-assess a small % of people on WCA before it's scrapped anyway.

It doesn't sound like it will save any money, which is what it's actually about.

I was thinking the same thing. My conclusion is that they are just trying to get more people on their side and to vote for them in the coming election by appearing tough on benefits claimants. The whole thing strikes me as really badly thought out and will almost certainly be a complete shambles if and when it is implemented.

OSCAR1

Just be careful who you vote for i,ve heard a lot of people saying they would vote reform uk but mr farage is part of that party and i,m sure many of you have seen the clips of mr farage dancing and singing with priti patel at the end of the tory conference party...why would a member of an a opposing party be there my reckoning and it is my reckoning that it could be a hung parliment with the conservatives and reform working together like in 2010 with the tories and lib dems if this is the case i,m off

judie

Can you imagine? In the small hours I already wonder if the Grand Plan is to bring back the Workhouse and, for people like me, the mental asylums. Disabled people don't appear to have any value or basic rights according to this lot

shellbell20

@judie You aren't far from the truth, the last time we were under a Conservative government with  Margaret Thatcher at the helm she declared she wanted all single parents/mothers to be put in accommodation where they would be made to work. I remember it well because I was a single parent at the time. I remember thinking your arrogance would get you booted out and she was ousted over the Poll Tax and not before time. 

Bettahm

Read something in all the government stuff where they were saying that in the workplace mental health issues and neuro diversity were now better understood so implying reasonable adjustments would be made...
Not my experience in life especially over last five years as my mental health has deteriorated. Cant work but health visits, gp, dentist, clinics etc.
No, total lack of understanding or tolerance. I cant deal with my gp any more.
But just saying the government are out of touch with reality here.

AtlasShoulders

The Government has just published it's response to the WCA Consultation:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/work-capability-assessment-activities-and-descriptors/outcome/government-response-to-the-work-capability-assessment-activities-and-descriptors-consultation

Very interesting the last sentence says: "The commitment that no one with an existing LCWRA decision today will be reassessed, except in a few limited circumstances, means that they can try work without fear of losing their LCWRA financial support."

I find it peculiar that they use the word "today" when talking about changes occurring in 2025. Would that suggest that LCWRA reassessments are permanently suspended? I know they are supposed to resume in the New Year. 

carbow32

AtlasShoulders said:

The Government has just published it's response to the WCA Consultation:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/work-capability-assessment-activities-and-descriptors/outcome/government-response-to-the-work-capability-assessment-activities-and-descriptors-consultation

Very interesting the last sentence says: "The commitment that no one with an existing LCWRA decision today will be reassessed, except in a few limited circumstances, means that they can try work without fear of losing their LCWRA financial support."

I find it peculiar that they use the word "today" when talking about changes occurring in 2025. Would that suggest that LCWRA reassessments are permanently suspended? I know they are supposed to resume in the New Year. 

Confusing isn't on one hand it's saying changes in 2025 and on the other makes it sound like existing claimants (as in the here and now) won't be reassessed. 

It is either poorly written or they are angling for our vote by being "nice" to us.

Hopefully there is some clarity over the next few days.

I will still sleep anxious tonight as always.

shadow66

I realise these proposals have only just come out and it will take time to digest and analyse them; but nowhere in any of the material published about this issue, do the Govt say where these hundreds of thousands of mythical jobs and disability-friendly employers are going to come from.

Yes there are some work from home jobs, but not enough on the scale they are talking about, to get the numbers of disabled back into work.  Of the ones that do allow it, most are hybrid, so you would be expected to go into the workplace at least 3 days a week.  

Then there is the issue of the attitudes of employers; it's already difficult enough finding an employer who is going to be accommodating (even though it's the law) and understanding. How are the Govt proposing to enforce companies to take people with disabilities on?

The numbers do not add up.

Albus_Scope

True @shadow66 many of the work from home jobs I've seen online are either for working in care homes, or are work from home, but with some days in the office.  So unless they vet every vacancy classed as work from home, things are going to get very messy.