Labour what do they have in store for us

Andi66
Andi66 Online Community Member Posts: 930 Championing
edited July 2024 in Benefits and income

Thought I start a new discussion to carry on the thread we had under the previous govt. Hope that's ok

Yes it is concerning what she has in store for us. Hopefully organisations such as Scope can find out and also that they will listen to their concerns. And to sort the dwp out which is not fit for purpose.

Comments

  • apple85
    apple85 Online Community Member Posts: 892 Championing

    https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/big-changes-expected-dwp-pip-33186926.amp


    an early preview of things to come

    Change is certainly coming but whether it’s positive or negative is very much unknown

    I’ll say it again - it’s vital that as many ppl as possible complete the pip consultation (ending July 22nd) either via mailing in or filling in the online form (reading the way the dwp have framed the questions id recommend sending in your answers via recorded post if you can afford it as you have more freedom in how you answer - but it probably wouldn’t hurt copying and pasted on the online form only as a belt and braces)

  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 510 Empowering

    I have no confidence in the changes getting disabled people into work it’s not looking good, I don’t understand why they don’t go after the people who choose not to work who haven’t got disabilities first ?

    Can the proposals be challenged in the commons ?

  • Cantilip
    Cantilip Online Community Member Posts: 621 Empowering

    There is nothing in itself wrong with the idea that people who can work should work.

    That applies to every single able-bodied unemployed person.

    So if all those folks started work the rather few jobs left would be available to the disabled.

    'Can work' when applied to a disabled person seems to me to mean something different to when it's applied to an able-bodied person. In very simple terms that might be 'is unwell and can get better' after which able to work, needs healthcare first.

    So everything seems to me to hang on the assessment and the assessors.

    I have from time to time seen reports of the nature of dental technician assessed person with rheumatoid arthritis. I don't know if these reports are true, but they are appalling and must end if so. Really, beyond GCSE Biology there is nothing to say a dental technician even knows how arms and legs work, let alone the ways they can fail to work when afflicted by a complex autoimmune disease.

  • apple85
    apple85 Online Community Member Posts: 892 Championing

    @SummerLove you need to post link rather than just state them as fact

    I think many on scope feel wary about Kendall

    But the disabled community has just been through 14 years of **** with the tories - any hint of continuing Tory plans and I think the backlash could be massive (the Tory announcement of pip reforms/consultation really felt like the beginning of the straw that would break the camels back)

    We all know that the welfare bill increase since covid is a problem for all of us but I really hope Labour think a little creatively with 1 small step at a time rather than bomb in with badly thought out cruel ideas that could likely fail anyway

    It may look like Labour have a landslide but if you look into each seat breakdown it’s actually a lot more delicate than it looks (think late stages of a jenga tower)

    Labour have to worry about 2 fronts if they mess up (anger group of voters)

    Central to right wing voters could be lured to reform and even the tories (have tactical voting turned against them)

    Left to central wing voters could be persuaded to cast a dark horse vote on the Lib Dem (they know how to navigate tactical voting and if word of month is good from their new constituencies who knows) and greens (who you can’t understate what they did in the ge - they could certainly gain voters if Labour don’t deliver) - especially if they form an election pact!

    I don’t envy Labour as they inherited a mess - but they got to be so careful in not being seen as targeting (basically s***wing over any social group from the poorest to yes the richest)

    Tories introduced a lot of things in the last 2 years that we don’t have data on how financially successful they’ve been - I really think the smart move would be small tweaks at a time, adjusting throughout. Massive reforms and changes just risk massive backlash and overshadowing everything else (eg Blair and the Iraq war, Lib Dem’s and the tuition fee’s

    I just don’t think all the different social groups attacking each other and suggesting to gov should target others (in a ‘fair’ but actually often malicious way), almost saying someone should be ‘punished’ for their personal circumstances.

    Some ppl out there will always be douches and think only of themselves (politicians included) but I believe solutions are only possible when considering the feelings of all social groups and classes of uk society


    (Sorry for the rant, got a bit off tangent there!)

  • Andi66
    Andi66 Online Community Member Posts: 930 Championing

    When I had to get a MR on my first Pip decision, the lady who help me get was told it can be a first aider who makes a decision of these so called medical experts. If you have medical evidence than that should be enough not judged by someone who has no idea on the medical matter.

    As for Liz Kendal , I read she focusing on young people , and she should be those who have nothing wrong with them.

    Dwp should be overhauled . Help not sanctions . Instead as well why not use volunteering as a part , to get people use to doing something and still get benefits.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing

    You were advised incorrectly. It’s a decision maker from DWP that makes decisions and this includes all decisions. A decision maker doesn’t need to have any medical knowledge.

    The assessment providers make recommendations only. Even these do not need to have any medical knowledge.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing

    This isn’t the only forum I’m on but the only forum where speculation has gone through the roof.

  • Amaya_Ringo
    Amaya_Ringo Online Community Member Posts: 330 Trailblazing

    I am determined to wait and see what is actually going to happen, rather than trying to read blank pages about policies not yet decided. We don't have a lot of freedom to choose in this equation - notable that as yet there's no minister for the disabled. When there is - if there is - I want to contact them about the barriers to employment that I've experienced here personally, and also reinforce that PIP is not the same as ESA. But I haven't read anything from any party except Reform that says that disabled people who cannot work will be forced into work regardless.

  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,751 Online Community Programme Lead

    Afternoon @SummerLove, I'm sorry you feel that way, I certainly haven't intended to tell anyone off or say members cannot speculate. I share everyone's concern over the plans for disability benefits and what the future has in store, and can understand exactly why this (and a lot of other forums) are full of discussion on the topic. We aren't discouraging that at all, just hoping to provide reassurance that currently this is all just speculation.

  • Andi66
    Andi66 Online Community Member Posts: 930 Championing

    Your right Poppy, Labour have been in a few days and I think I will try and not worry or speculate what might happen, it's mot helping my mental health all this worry. So trying to be a bit more optimistic from now on. Until Liz Kendal or Kier Starmer puts out what they are going to do now they are power. We can't change anything by worrying at this early stage. Maybe emailing or writing to the relevant mp once they are properly in their post may help. I don't know. But Kier starmer said country first ,party second . And that they will listen, so only time will tell.

  • Andi66
    Andi66 Online Community Member Posts: 930 Championing

    What I also mean by the title was that in the previous one about the pm sunak , Now Labour are in power ,just to start a fresh one I thought maybe I worded wrong and I apologise, I have autism and dyslexia. So what is in store wasn't supposed to be speculation, it is a open question. That if anyone reads anything on site work and benefits, disability news etc to put it on. But also for people to.ask questions which is what I thought this forum was about. I again apologise if I misinterpreted it.

  • Bydand
    Bydand Online Community Member Posts: 238 Empowering

    I find speculation to be unhelpful and we are currently going through a change of Government where there is an awful lot of speculation going about.

    Worry, fear and anxiety are natural emotions to the unknown and I understand that we all cope differently but the truth at the moment is that we just don’t know what is in store for the disabled community in the future.

    It is easy to read between the lines of manifestos, journalistic stories or from interviews with various ministers but Until the Government tell us there specific proposals and the ins and outs of how they expect to make changes then we can all speculate as much or as little as we want to no real benefit.

    We are all in this together and should acknowledge that a great forum such as scope, which has undoubtedly helped so many of us is only a great resource because of the various contributions made by everyone.

    The best thing of all though is that we can choose to read a post or not and equally we can choose to reply or not…..This freedom lets everyone have their say.

    Worrying does not take away tomorrows troubles, it takes away todays peace.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing

    I commented on the thread to correct some information. I'm not the sort of person to speculate and never have been. I'm more of the facts type of person. I've never been a member of benefits and work and can't say that I ever will be.

  • Bydand
    Bydand Online Community Member Posts: 238 Empowering

    SummerLove


    What you have read about or heard from various MP’ s about welfare reform isn’t in itself speculative as that’s what they are saying and we can’t argue with that and certainly a quick Google search will bring up those same articles you have read or show you many interviews with the politicians stating that change needs to happen.

    I can’t speak for others, only give an opinion and it is that although I believe that this Government will have too look at welfare reforms because in its current form it is completely unsustainable and that this is likely to include trying to get those that can work back into work, I have no way of knowing the ins and outs of a working proposal as nothing has been set in stone yet despite the rhetoric we hear.

    Whether they have taken parts from the last Governments green paper or have come up with their own ideas is buy and buy as we just don’t know so although you are correct in stating that the articles you mention are not in themselves speculative , my opinion is that it is all just speculation until they tell us their plans and how they are going to introduce them.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing

    You have no wish to converse with me yet you carry on regardless. You accuse me of being very rude to you, which I haven't. I never mentioned anyone's name when I commented about speculation but you took it upon yourself to assume I meant you, if I was referring to you then I would have quoted a comment from you, which I didn't.

    I have never denied anyone any freedom of speech, everyone is entitled to their opinion but the speculation on here is a little over the top. This doesn't help anyone level of anxiety, which other members have also pointed out on this thread. As you said yourself, we are all entitled to freedom of speech and I'm entitled to mine.

    As for my 5 or 6 followers, I have no idea what you mean.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing

    How dare you call me a bully!!! I've never bullied anyone in my whole life!! I've been bullied many times in my life and wouldn't wish to be one!!

  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,751 Online Community Programme Lead

    Note from online community team:

    We’re concerned that things are becoming quite tense and are escalating.

    Please remember that all discussions on Scope’s online community should remain civil, supportive, and safe.
    Where possible we like all discussions to continue, but we’re choosing to pause this discussion for now so things can cool down and we can review it. For more information, please read our online community house rules.

    We will review it and if we are satisfied the discussion can continue, we will hope to un-pause it tomorrow.

This discussion has been closed.