The Autumn Statement 2023

carbow32

Thanks for the info.  So it is limbo land at its finest.  I do keep an eye on the B and W thread.  I would say at the moment ppl that are saying they have a reassessment were possibly triggered by the system pre 22/11/23.

I really don't know what to do about this crafting items online.

Dave1993

The DWP says: “We will specify the circumstances, and physical and mental health conditions, for which LCWRA Substantial Risk should apply. This will include protecting and safeguarding the most vulnerable, including people in crisis and those with active psychotic illness. We will work with clinicians to define the criteria and what medical evidence is required from claimants and people involved in their care, to ensure the process is safe, fair, and clear. 

Does this mean i wont be forced to work i have schizophrenia?

poppy123456

Dave1993 said:

The DWP says: “We will specify the circumstances, and physical and mental health conditions, for which LCWRA Substantial Risk should apply. This will include protecting and safeguarding the most vulnerable, including people in crisis and those with active psychotic illness. We will work with clinicians to define the criteria and what medical evidence is required from claimants and people involved in their care, to ensure the process is safe, fair, and clear. 

Does this mean i wont be forced to work i have schizophrenia?

No one really knows exactly what any of it means yet because no further details have been announced.

worried33

carbow32 said:

Thanks for the info.  So it is limbo land at its finest.  I do keep an eye on the B and W thread.  I would say at the moment ppl that are saying they have a reassessment were possibly triggered by the system pre 22/11/23.

I really don't know what to do about this crafting items online.

Seems B&W got an answer, the assessments are to continue until the changes in 2025.

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/reassessments-for-support-group-and-lcwra-have-not-stopped

WhatThe

worried, I think this is right and assessments will continue until 2025 under the current Health Reassessment Programme - it has replaced the National Reassessment Programme of 2011-2014. 

The announcements and statements are ambiguous because this is politics and politics is the 'art' of lying. 

Nobody can be forced to work, I mean how!? Claimants with health conditions will be offered support to prepare for or return to work, just as ESA regulations intended.

Anyway, Timms signed off these regulations in March 2008 so Labour understands the WCA very well. In 2015, he argued that claimants in the Support Group had been "abandoned" unlike claimants in WRAG who were being helped back into work (I say that very loosely). All these changes were legislated for by the 2016 Welfare Reform and Work Act. 

Then we stopped talking about it but it didn't go away and is relevant now. Somebody here said, oh that's in the past, let's deal with now but it's not in the past at all.

Tumilty

worried33 said:

The consultation suggested the changes were going to be much harsher, it does seem like they have back pedalled a bit with the announcement which is a good thing.

My interpretation of the DWP statement, is that the vast majority currently in the LCWRA group will not need to have another WCA, this is for both UC and ESA.

However there is a chance this exemption might not kick in until 2025, as I agree the two statements are slightly contradictory.  But my original interpretation was they are probably going to soon stop referrals, new claimants in 2024 will be under the existing WCA.  New claimants from 2025 onwards new WCA, and LCW looks like will still be reassessed so those will also be under new rules from 2025.

--

If Labour get elected there is a chance this wont happen, but I personally think they will be less compassionate, especially as they announced yesterday they are planning to have a new harsher assessment in place of WCA, whilst the Tories are going in the other direction and wanting to remove the assessment from existing claimants.

thanks, so does this mean people on ESA for people that claimed it a while back?.. Does winning a tribunal make any difference to having another WCA? thanks 

poppy123456

Tumilty said:

worried33 said:

The consultation suggested the changes were going to be much harsher, it does seem like they have back pedalled a bit with the announcement which is a good thing.

My interpretation of the DWP statement, is that the vast majority currently in the LCWRA group will not need to have another WCA, this is for both UC and ESA.

However there is a chance this exemption might not kick in until 2025, as I agree the two statements are slightly contradictory.  But my original interpretation was they are probably going to soon stop referrals, new claimants in 2024 will be under the existing WCA.  New claimants from 2025 onwards new WCA, and LCW looks like will still be reassessed so those will also be under new rules from 2025.

--

If Labour get elected there is a chance this wont happen, but I personally think they will be less compassionate, especially as they announced yesterday they are planning to have a new harsher assessment in place of WCA, whilst the Tories are going in the other direction and wanting to remove the assessment from existing claimants.

thanks, so does this mean people on ESA for people that claimed it a while back?.. Does winning a tribunal make any difference to having another WCA? thanks 

No one knows exactly what it means or whether the changes will go ahead. We have a General Election this year which could change everything. 

Tumilty

Apologies if i got it wrong but the support group and not being reassessed?, am i correct there, i'm sorry if i read wrong.. Is there any update on what was said in the autumn statement, i need a refresh as i've not been able to get updates.. Regards

poppy123456

Tumilty said:

Apologies if i got it wrong but the support group and not being reassessed?, am i correct there, i'm sorry if i read wrong.. Is there any update on what was said in the autumn statement, i need a refresh as i've not been able to get updates.. Regards

For most people Support Group and LCWRA are not be reviewed at the moment but they will resume some point in the future. 

There's been no further updates to any potential changes so you haven't missed anything. 

worried33

I have been seeing posts where people are told, this is speculation and to not make decisions based on it,

The WCA changes are not speculation, there is published documents from the DWP.

poppy123456

worried33 said:

I have been seeing posts where people are told, this is speculation and to not make decisions based on it,

The WCA changes are not speculation, there is published documents from the DWP.

They are proposals and nothing is set in stone yet! 

kandarohi

@Hannah_Alumni @Rosie_Scope @Albus_Scope

Could any of you please put this as an announcement pinned to the top of the benefits forum?

The government has opened a consultation on PIP 29th April. I hope you will all give them feedback so they can see all the different situations

What you do is you go here https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/modernising-support-for-independent-living-the-health-and-disability-green-paper/modernising-support-for-independent-living-the-health-and-disability-green-paper#how-to-respond

And you click to respond via the online form.

The consultation closes on 22nd July.

Rosie_Scope

Hi @kandarohi, this is something we're working on at the moment, we'll get something up as soon as we can