Jeremy Hunts plans.

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Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    2oldcodgers said:
    Ralph said:
    We can’t do anything about people coming to retirement age unless you want to increase that again. As for sick and disabled people there is no magic wand. 
    Increasing funding to the NHS would help so that sick people aren’t waiting years for treatments which if successful could allow people to work again if they are able. 
    The current government has decreased funding year over year making the record waiting lists much worse. 
    Austerity also causes more sickness due to cold homes, bad diet and mental health problems. Again made much worse by the current regime.
    Starving and freezing the sick and disabled is not working, obviously, so we just have to accept there is going to be a percentage of the population who are unable to work. We should give support to those who wish to return to work and are able to do so not threaten them.

    Should extra money be paid to pensioners who simply are already financially comfortable?
    Should they get all of the add on's - heating allowance etc or even increases to the State Pension?
    Should it not be for the applicant to prove any and all illnesses/disabilities that would stop them from carrying out some paid work and why?


    Are you seriously joking? In a previous thread you said that you actually give away your PIP daily living payments because you have no care needs and you don't need the money.. sometimes your comments are a little beyond a joke.
  • Ralph
    Ralph Online Community Member Posts: 146 Empowering
    I think we are being trolled. 
  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 16,797 Championing
    Perhaps 2oldcodgers will personally help the economy by giving back his £500 Pension Credit overpayment, & then the care component of PIP (& even ?DLA) that they haven't needed for years. Otherwise please note that their comments are both insensitive & inappropriate in breach of this community's house rules.
  • honestjon
    honestjon Online Community Member Posts: 173 Empowering
    chiarieds said:
    Perhaps 2oldcodgers will personally help the economy by giving back his £500 Pension Credit overpayment, & then the care component of PIP (& even ?DLA) that they haven't needed for years. Otherwise please note that their comments are both insensitive & inappropriate in breach of this community's house rules.
    I would agree.
    I find scope to be a supportive environment and I urge the admin to try to keep it this way.
    Freedom of speech is one thing but when you use that freedom carelessly you can and should expect consequences.
    Insensitive  comments can be excused but deliberately making them is another issue.
  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 3,864 Championing
    edited November 2023

    Should it not be for the applicant to prove any and all illnesses/disabilities that would stop them from carrying out some paid work and why?

    2oldcodgers, that is already the case. The onus is on DWP to prove a claimant no longer meets the criteria for disability benefits but it's easier to just cancel an existing award and force an appeal.  

    While there are school-leavers and young people in need of direction and discipline to apply for jobs and support themselves, those with long-term incapacity and employment experience are not being spared. The rules were drastically changed in 2016 because too many of us qualified for ESA and no other reason. 

    I didn't come from a workless household, I have trade qualifications and a long medical history but all my data disappeared itself so computer says no. It's akin to the Windrush scandal - booted out of the old system, don't show on the new system. 

    Manager of the Job Centre told me way back "There is no such thing as social security.." and it is starting to look that way, sadly 
      


  • honestjon
    honestjon Online Community Member Posts: 173 Empowering
    2oldcodgers said:
    Well something has to be done to try to curtail the ever expanding welfare bill. Maybe this is the time for us benefit claimants to come up with a plan that will achieve the same end?
    Anyone who has got spare money and doesn't actually need benefits should hand the money back to the dwp.
    That would curtail the bill a bit.
    Do you know anyone who might help?
  • 2oldcodgers
    2oldcodgers Posts: 739 Connected
    chiarieds said:
     Otherwise please note that their comments are both insensitive & inappropriate in breach of this community's house rules.
    But actually true and factual!
  • 2oldcodgers
    2oldcodgers Posts: 739 Connected
    poppy123456 said:
    2oldcodgers said:
    Should extra money be paid to pensioners who simply are already financially comfortable?
    Should they get all of the add on's - heating allowance etc or even increases to the State Pension?
    Should it not be for the applicant to prove any and all illnesses/disabilities that would stop them from carrying out some paid work and why?


    Are you seriously joking? In a previous thread you said that you actually give away your PIP daily living payments because you have no care needs and you don't need the money.. sometimes your comments are a little beyond a joke.
    Yes I did. But we are looking at what could be done to reduce the overall costs of the Welfare budget.
    It should be of no consequence  to those that simply don't need the increases or add on's - me included!
    Take the State Pension increase and if we are given 7.6%, my increase across the board will be 6.08% due to the fact that I have to pay 20% tax on any increase with a further reduction in the Pension Credit award.
    We are due another £500 this month. My fuel account is already well in credit and I monitor what we use on a weekly basis. Do I need it - no! 
    So if there was some sort of means testing involved, even though our income is already means tested via Pension Credit then all of the extra £500's from those that have no use for it could be spent on increasing the NHS budget or making substantial payments to the food banks.

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 3,864 Championing


    Woodbine, the Welfare Reform Act 2007 has been wrung almost dry and it happened right under our noses. DWP operations cost billions; it's not people like you or me (not retired). They're only recently out of their 'Test and Learn' phase of the 'Discovery Phase' of the UC Programme...TINY pilots, trials, tests since 2013, still not fit for purpose yet the cap on numbers is now gone and AI will remove all accountability. Neil Couling's contract ends next month. There's apparently nobody knowledgeable enough to replace him in the event of illness or worse.  
    I will also fight until I draw my last breath  ;)  



  • Tumilty
    Tumilty Online Community Member Posts: 258 Empowering
    What do people think about what he said? Something like if people looking for work haven't found anything in 18 months will be put a mandatory work placement & if they refuse they will have benefits taken away.. People on disability benefits aren't looking for work though i guess. 
  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 9,709 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    We have a post dedicated to talking about the Autumn Statement here  if anyone wants to join in. 

    Tumilty said:
    What do people think about what he said? Something like if people looking for work haven't found anything in 18 months will be put a mandatory work placement & if they refuse they will have benefits taken away.. People on disability benefits aren't looking for work though i guess. 


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