Positive changes - we could make a wishlist

Cantilip

Obviously there's a lot of worry about changes for the worse but a lot of us know that one way or the other the existing system isn't fit for purpose, so which changes would we like to see?

Jimm_Alumni

I can probably add a lot to this thread in a weeks time 😋

Remina

To be honest, the current system isn't perfect but it's worked okay for me personally. I feel I've generally been assessed very fairly over the years. In 14 years of claiming I've only ever had to go to tribunal once, and when I did the professionals at the tribunal were very understanding, fair and kind, they looked over my medical evidence, asked a few questions and gave what I felt was the right judgement - they gave me the award.

Even at my most recent PIP review last year, I was assessed by a very lovely woman who interviewed me over the phone, then at the end told me ''please don't worry, I can tell that you're struggling and I'm going to let you know right now that I'm going to reccomend that your PIP award stays exactly the same'', so again, I felt I was treated with respect and understanding.

Right now (even though it's not perfect) we do have a structured process… Assessment forms, then a paper based assessment or an in-person assessment then a decision… If we're not happy with the result we can ask for both a MR and then go to a tribunal for an independent decision on our award, I feel this is a fair and structured process.

The talk I heard of the government possibly scrapping the WCA entirely and handing more powers to 'work coaches' who can decide what a disabled person is able to / not able to do sounds horrendous and dangerous to me. Coercing disabled people into work/training programs when a disabled person isn't ready sounds equally as horrendous and dangerous.. Sure the process now isn't perfect and I do (like everybody else) get filled with dread and anxiety when a brown envelope falls through my letterbox, but I'd much rather have it like this than replace it with something drastically different which makes life even harder for longterm sick/disabled people. I just hope/pray that whatever replaces the current system is going to be well thought-out, planned and that there will be a solid safety net for the most vulnerable claimants so that NOBODY 'falls through the cracks' of the new system.

Cantilip

I haven't had any problems - well, there was an obvious and ridiculous downright lie in my assessment but it didn't change the points, don't know why he bothered writing it.

As a for instance, Mobility descriptor, 0 points: a. Can stand and then move more than 200 metres,
either aided or unaided.

Yeah, I can do that. I can't stand up straight or walk unsupported, I am totally dependent on my rollator, anyone who saw me would say, "That lady has mobility problems." But not according to PIP. The icing on the cake is their recent concern, vouchers and so on, that PIP be used to enhance independence. And what is the single thing that most impedes my independence, why it is the mobility problems I don't have. Someone rational needs to contemplate these things.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf

66Mustang

I think we have to be realistic

Wanting more hard cash is understandable but ultimately a silly thing to ask for

I don't think wanting a fair judgement system, where everyone is measured by the same set of goalposts rather than at the mercy of individuals who on a good day can make errors in judgement, and on a bad day just tell blatant lies, is out of order