The Autumn Statement 2023

mason50 · November 2023

Do you always have to go into the job centre if they ask me too , like for example when I migrate over from esa to uc , will I be asked to go in and sign for the change over ?

poppy123456 · November 2023

Yes, usually they do ask you to attend your local job centre as it will be a new UC claim. You can ask for the appointment to be through telephone and they may allow this.

mason50 · November 2023

Thank you poppy

Sandy_123 · November 2023

I've just had a message in uc asking if I want to talk about support for taking steps in the future like improving skills and confidence boosting

poppy123456 · November 2023

Sandy_123 said:

I've just had a message in uc asking if I want to talk about support for taking steps in the future like improving skills and confidence boosting

That’s nothing to worry about and not related to the announcements made in the budget.

Ive known my daughter receive messages like that a few times in the past couple of years. When they send them they are sent as a group message to multiple claimants, not to individual claimants. As you have LCWRA then just ignore it.

Sandy_123 · November 2023

Ahh ok I didn't know they were group ones. I havnt replied was goingvto put something sarcastic but they don't have a sence of humour

JasonRA · November 2023

What I was panicking over is the media pushing the narrative that everyone who is on Universal Credit who isn't on the LCWRA would be "forced" to find a job or "else".

All of it is a lie and it's quite upsetting that the media acts this way, I had more sleepless nights in worry.

I'm more relieved now thanks to this forum and the senior members of this forum.

worried33 · November 2023

Votadini said:

I agree with Meg24 above. To vote based solely on what is best for myself would be the kind of 'I'm alright Jack' selfishness that's been promoted by the Conservatives and their press for the last 50 years. Labour may end up being little better under Starmer and Reeves but at least there's a chance for change, whereas under the Tories we're guaranteed more of the same. More demonising and scapegoating of vulnerable minorities, more corruption, more crumbling services, more pollution in our rivers and seas, more of our wealth funnelled from the poorest to the rich. To vote for a continuation of that based entirely on what might be better for my benefits would be an unconscionable act of self interest and I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

Personally I wont be voting as I dont have a vote due to living in a safe seat (Labour), I also feel politics right now is in its worst place since I turned 18, both main parties are targeting the same voters with similar economic policies.

However to clarify my previous comment as maybe you think its selfish, it isnt just about me but also the other people in this position. I also dont have the luxury off ignoring what the outcome might be for me, because if I lose my safety net I am done, I have no family willing to support me and live by myself, no working partner or anything like that.

Labour have also promoted "think of yourself" first, to a lesser degree yes but its still there. The only socialist Labour leader in my adult lifetime was Corbyn. I would be supporting him 100%, but he of course doesnt fit Keir's ideology and has been booted out.

I appreciate this post explains some more why you want a change of government.

Now if I knew Labour were going to try and stop all these things, I would be supporting them, the problem is they have given very little clear indicators they want to change the direction of the country in a radical way. I watch them in parliament as opposition to see what they choose to oppose, their public statements to the press, and of course the purging Keir is currently doing in the party (usually of pro socialist members). I also despise both Reeves and Kendall, and wonder what they doing in the Labour party instead of their natural home the Tories. Luckily Keir hasnt the power to sack Angela.

onebigvoice · November 2023

I know its a worring time for all, but believe me when you think that you are alone in the fight to get "any benefits at all, or that changes that affect the way you get paid are aimed at you.

They are not. People like scope and even the unions even if you don't belong to one fight for reform.

This is where I got my name from, since being one voice against many, I found that by joining groupes like forum, and the activist part of UNITE, I can at least have a say, where others would take on board your opinion to formulate a plan. This is how reform happens, documents and wording gets changed. Yes sometimes thing are done behind closed doors but, WE HAVE AN ACE UP OUR SLEEVE? INFACT TWO.

1. Accountability. Even if you leave your job (as an MP) you are still accountable for your actions.

2. A vote. The ability for you to say what you really think about what they have done, for you, or the country.

Pensions and payments, What happens to payments when migrated and how the calculations work, sick pay and care, there are loads of things discussed here every day.

Make your point of view heard, Scope have a section that allows you to join the fight by E Mailing your MP so what you waiting for, use your opinion to make things count.

Votadini · November 2023

A sort of non-update update from Benefits and Work.

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/has-the-dwp-already-stopped-reassessing-support-group-and-lcwra-claimants

Has the DWP already stopped reassessing support group and LCWRA claimants?

The short answer is nobody knows.

carbow32 · November 2023

It was really badly written and misleading. However say if all reassessments have been stopped. Then if Labour get in (which is seemingly likely). Could they over turn the lot and start assessments up ? Just interested.

Also I sell a few craft items (am LCWRA Substantial Risk). I feel like giving this up in case its thrown in my face. So they are not making me want to do something they are making me want to stop something.

rita444 · November 2023

Hi I'm new here, hello everyone.
Just want to say it is very worrying what Jeremy Hunt is saying.
A relative of mine has paranoid scitsophrenia.hes on 2 lots of antipsychotics ,and was sectioned last year ,but is now stable .
Although he doesn't always take his meds . I really can't see how they would get him a job ,has he doesn't even talk to people or even go out . Didn't watch TV much as got delusions, so working from home would not be a solution either.

carbow32 · November 2023

rita444 said:

Hi I'm new here, hello everyone.
Just want to say it is very worrying what Jeremy Hunt is saying.
A relative of mine has paranoid scitsophrenia.hes on 2 lots of antipsychotics ,and was sectioned last year ,but is now stable .
Although he doesn't always take his meds . I really can't see how they would get him a job ,has he doesn't even talk to people or even go out . Didn't watch TV much as got delusions, so working from home would not be a solution either.

Same situation with me ... they live in la la land

Skyla · November 2023

carbow32 said:

rita444 said:

Hi I'm new here, hello everyone.
Just want to say it is very worrying what Jeremy Hunt is saying.
A relative of mine has paranoid scitsophrenia.hes on 2 lots of antipsychotics ,and was sectioned last year ,but is now stable .
Although he doesn't always take his meds . I really can't see how they would get him a job ,has he doesn't even talk to people or even go out . Didn't watch TV much as got delusions, so working from home would not be a solution either.

Same situation with me ... they live in la la land

Hi Ritta,

I knew someone who was out if work for 18 years due to schizophrenia and another member if their family is in care with the same condition. This person has been sectioned many times but became "stable"...eventually, they gained employment in a care home looking after elderly residents but had a few brief relapses. These relapses can happen at any time. I can't speak for others suffering from this as have only known one person with schizophrenia but like many chronic illnesses and conditions, relapses occur and health fluctuates with situations worsening when triggered.
This person has had to go in and out of hospital, seriously ill snd then return to a job. This perosn needs caring for, not the other way round. Some people simply cannot relate to or comprehend the complexities of chronic illness and therefore are not capable of doing their job!

hawkbanana81 · December 2023

I’m very worried by the government plans. I’m working part time as that’s all I can manage and that’s with a struggle and off sick more than I’m there. I receive UC and have been assessed as being LCW or whatever it’s called. They have all year been making me go to the job centre to answer questions and forcing me to look for more work as I should be working more than 23 hours a week. I have to prove I’m doing this. I keep telling them that they have said I don’t have to work or look for work and they just tell me the rules have changed and everyone is expected to work or lose benefits.
on top of this im no longer being paid at work as I’ve been off sick too much. Currently off sick 2 months due to daily migraines and other issues. I’ve now been asked to a meeting next week with my manager and someone from HR. Apparently I could lose my job next week then things will be in a greater mess with UC as I won’t be working at all. I sending regular sick notes to work and letting UC know im off sick. I feel so very ill most of the time and can’t function. My flat is a mess as im struggling so much. Just having a bath is a huge effort now so don’t know if work is even an option anymore anyway. Life is too hard. I need help but refuse to have anything to do with social services due to horrific experiences with them which has caused PTSD.

rita444 · December 2023

Hi I think it's awfull that there forcing people into work if there not mentally well . As I said in my previous post a relative of mine as paranoid scitsophrenia
Luckily ,me and other family members look in on him every week help him fill in benefit forms etc as he doesn't trust many people . But there must be lots of people who are quite mentally unwell that have no family to help them . It's theses
People that will find it hard to take telephone calls and log into UC for there benefits . If the government start sanctioning these claiments , for not looking for work, or too ill to work. They could end up starving to death literally, if they stop there money . especially people who live on there own

Adrian_Scope · December 2023

Hello @hawkbanana81. I wonder if UC ever updated your commitments after you were awarded LCW. When you go to the commitment section of your online UC account, what does it say there? You are correct that if you are in receipt of LCW then you should not be forced to work search. How long ago were you assessed as having LCW and do you still have the decision letter on your journal?

onebigvoice · December 2023

Adrian_Scope said:

Hello @hawkbanana81. I wonder if UC ever updated your commitments after you were awarded LCW. When you go to the commitment section of your online UC account, what does it say there? You are correct that if you are in receipt of LCW then you should not be forced to work search. How long ago were you assessed as having LCW and do you still have the decision letter on your journal?

Posted before:

I know its a worring time for all, but believe me when you think that you are alone in the fight to get "any benefits at all, or that changes that affect the way you get paid are aimed at you.

They are not. People like scope and even the unions even if you don't belong to one fight for reform.

This is where I got my name from, since being one voice against many, I found that by joining groupes like forum, and the activist part of UNITE, I can at least have a say, where others would take on board your opinion to formulate a plan. This is how reform happens, documents and wording gets changed. Yes sometimes thing are done behind closed doors but, WE HAVE AN ACE UP OUR SLEEVE? INFACT TWO.

1. Accountability. Even if you leave your job (as an MP) you are still accountable for your actions.

2. A vote. The ability for you to say what you really think about what they have done, for you, or the country.

Pensions and payments, What happens to payments when migrated and how the calculations work, sick pay and care, there are loads of things discussed here every day.

Make your point of view heard, Scope have a section that allows you to join the fight by E Mailing your MP so what you waiting for, use your opinion to make things count.

As an add on:

With the growing lists of people awaiting assessment, NOT FOR BENEFITS, BUT TREATMENT. This is where people should be fighting and making them selves heard.

There are people who are fighting, ( and I hate the word fighting) for reform, but what about the front line MP's who are supposed to be sorting out the strike action and getting the NHS up and running again BEFORE winter.

We all know what is going to happen this year as its not something that hasn't happened before. Old and disabled people are going to have to make a choice of heating or eating? Either way the government has not made any inrodes into fixing the benefits system of assessment since the same people making the same decisions and the same mistakes into another year of cold and winter months ahead.

We all hear that the cost of Disability ( or anyone claiming benefits) is more than some one that is able bodied, having seen quoted £950 / MONTH. Yet most councils make sure that any rises in Benefits or pensions are still taken at the same rate? Why not reduce the percentage like tax reductions so that a rise of 10% is actually a rise of 10%.

We all know we are boardering on another epedemic, and with the snow that has already fallen what are the government waiting for? A payment of £250 or £100 winter warm payment is nothing when you work out how much heating and energy costs have risen. Add both together, £350 divided by 52 = about £7 POUNDS A WEEK. Can you tell me where these MP's live and Who pays for their bills? A Vperk of the Job?

Well unless you have noticed we don't get PERKS, the government is always quick to react to and Benefits you get from benefits yet slow to react when they know there is a problem.

How long have the NHS been on strike? When was the last time they were round the table and for how long? What happened during the pandemic? Is this how they, the government support the NHS?

Is this how they support the NHS on MY BEHALF? I like everyone pay National Insurance into a pot, which supports the NHS not PRIVATE HEALTH CARE COMPANIES that these MP's state are a help to the NHS.

The NHS is or should be run by the NHS for the NHS and for the British public, and Private Health Care Companies should realise that they are NOT the main holders of the contract to supply health BENEFITS not assess what treatment may or may not fix the issues of the claimant.

Believe me they are not. In building the Nightingale Hospitals all over the country shows what can be done if they wanted to. Why dismantle them all? Or why not find a permanent site for them to be rebuilt and used by the NHS.

These were FULLY KITTED UNITS that were to be used by the NHS?

Staff to run them? They asked people who retired to come back to work to do jobs that would free up other front line workers. They didn't ask people who were sick or in LWRAG's who were unable to mobilise? Did they pay them? were there any arguements about pay or conditions? We know that people that went back were not given the correct PPE or the working conditions were not changed to adapt to their needs? they were willing to let them risk their lives to "save" with a carrot of we will remember what you did to help. YET again we need an enquiry to tell us they were rubbish? They did not react in time costing lives, spend MILLIONS OF POUNDS on unusable PPE, did not have enough stock to supply everyone, but were happy for you to take the risk.

What will this enquiry do for US? We already knew the problems, we already knew the NHS was in trouble, and how many years down the line are we and still no resolve?

The only way to get the lists to shrink is to stop giving help to those that we vet who would not benefit from treatment and would only be a short term fix, as they would probably die during treatment if thery ever got any, or would die within 5 years.

This IS A QUOTE, made by more than one MP's on how she would cut the waiting lists for treatment, yet again, the stiff upper lip and the hope that things will change is the British thing, after all, their all on our side. ARN'T THEY? Let accountability mean accountability. If you were aware that some one was about to kill someone and you said nothing does that make you an accessory to the fact? Is an appology enough to help people who lost loved ones because of their neglegence? They seem capable of excepting a big title and the big bucks but not the responsibility that goes with the job?

Don't they have to sign a contractual Disclaimer in excepting the job title, the Job description and and the money?

onebigvoice · December 2023