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PIP Voucher consultation Paper

albertito

I have been awarded recently PIP due to my mental health and epilepsy. I am an ex practising lawyer and have been finding it hard coping recently as I was previously on standard PIP and Universal credit. Having my PIP increased has brought me relief although temporarily due to the uncertainty regarding replacing cash with vouchers as a result my anxiety is through the roof as I have absolutely no idea as to how I will cope financially with a proposed voucher system nor can I imagine how that will be put into practise.

Anyone out there with any update on the matter !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Comments

Meg24

I have written to my new MP to ask them to pass on the fact that many people with severe MH issues will be unable to respond to the consultation, me included. I made it clear that the proposals as they stand amount to an existential threat to many and that until they make clear what their plans are, we are all suffering with these threats hanging over us. I won't rest till someone from the government sets out clear plans. If they are bad, I try to take comfort in the fact that lots of disability charities and some lawyers are already on the case as it were. We have allies.

albertito

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/888169#Comment_888169

I agree with you totally in that many people find it extremely difficult to convey their thoughts and the suffering that are enduring already let alone what they may endure if these changes are implemented. I totally agree with you .

JonnycJonny

Changes to the Social Security Act that would allow alterations to PIP are not anticipated to be announced in the King's Speech this coming Thursday.

I think the Green Paper consultation feedback will be mulled over for many months before any final decisions on PIP are made.

The focus of Labour appears to be on WORK - merging the National Careers Service with Job Centres and devolving power to the NHS and Local Authorities in securing work for those with ill health / disabilities ( for those that are able to take on some form of employment )

They have been unsettlingly quiet on changes to welfare benefits which has caused no end of anxiety for all of us.

Keep calm & carry on.

sjd

Hi,

I am so scared about the vouchers coming in rather than the cash. As I own my own car and my moterbility part keeps my car on the road. Without that I will be stuck in my house. As I can't walk that far. Closes bus stop is 2 miles around the road. Of which I cannot walk that far. If I have to stay in my house 24-7 I may as well be dead. I have fnd and scoliosis of the neck and back. I live on strong pain killer's. If I have one good day I know I'm going to have 3 bed days after. If I have to use vouchers to pay for fuel in my car. I will be so ashamed. What shops are going to take them. I feel we are being discriminate against for having bad health. Of which I never asked for. If I don't get the pip payments I will not have enough money to live. Winter coming up. I won't be able to have my heating on. Nor will I have money to eat. So a packet soup it will be. I wish the government new what some of us go through on a daily basis. I have the equipment that I need as the ot put that all in place. That's what they are there for. So a one of grant I could get a stair lift. I just don't won't to lose my car. As my family don't live close. I feel if this happens alot of disabled people will be taking their own life's. As no money, no food, no electric, no water. I know for a fact I will only have 100 a month to live on. Once my bills have been paid. I live on my own with my dogs that give me a reason to get up and go out. I will have ro give them up as I will not be able to feed them. Plus no car to take them dor a walk. We're there is alot of benches dor me to stop and have a rest. On a bad day I pay for a dog Walker so i wont be able to do that. Same as my cleaner i will have to let her go.If this happens so called vouchers I will be ashamed to get food with them. It will be very degrading. I'm sure the government haven't really taken in how this is going to effect people. I got signed of work by 3 doctors. Saying my body cannot cope with working. Plus I I have more not being able to walk than when I can. I have been waiting for rods and bolts into my back and neck for 5 years. In that time it's alot worse. With fnd on top. Live in pain .

This whole thing is not helping with my health as I am so scared that everything I worked hard for will be taken away from me. Why pick on the true disabled people?

Sorry about the rant

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Ironside1990

I'm reluctant to spend any money. I desperately need a cushion for my wheelchair, as the one that I have has gone flat and is uncomfortable to sit on. I have a cushion saved in my save for later list on Amazon, but I am reluctant to buy it.

albertito

I have done extensive research on the matter and its simply impossible to put into practice. The voucher system will be an impossibility to administer plus extremely expensive to do so which in itself will defeat the purpose in the first place of introducing it. Furthermore It will create a black market possibly run by gangs where people trade vouchers at a lower rate for money..i.e for less than face value. I am surprised that the inept conservative government tried to improve the welfare system by copying the American model being food stamps.. As if America is a model of success !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In conclusion even for novating the old system into UC has taken over 14 years with little success I would not loose sleep over vouchers being introduced and if they were to take place in our lifetime. What we have to do is keep calm raise our voices …write our MPs ..write to newspapers in Short BE HEARD….

Ironside1990

I said this when Rishi Sunak and Mel Stride first outlined their idea for the vouchers. It will be too expensive to implement.

JessieJ

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/889239#Comment_889239

If you need it & have the money, then get it, it is for your comfort.

Nothing will happen for the foreseeable, so there really is no point wasting a worry at present.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/889239#Comment_889239

Why? It's your money to spend on exactly what you want to spend it on. Part of my PIP has been spent on my holiday this year, 53 days to go. It's my money and a couple of weeks in the sun is worth it's weight in gold me because it means a considerable amount of less pain for that short time.

Ironside1990

I've ordered the cushion. Should be here on Friday.

poppy123456

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/889296#Comment_889296

I'm very happy to hear that. 😁

albertito

I disagree with comments of that its bad news as labour has not mentioned adopting the conservatives brain fart of replacing PIP with vouchers i.e the wonderful American food stamps ( we are accustomed to them being the beacon and cradle of humanity!) it is the contrary labour is not interested as it seems they have more pressing matters on their agenda and i believe it will be years hopefully before they tinker with PIP.

albertito

PeachyAna90

I agree the voucher scheme is ridiculous and the whole thing is a Damacles sword hanging over us all. Fingers crossed it's scrapped for the inhumane idea it is.

albertito

Inhumane is an understatement apart from castigating the disabled for a disability or illness on top of that they want us to wear a t-shirt with the name of the sponsor that takes pitty on us and feeds us.

Floof

I have completed and submitted the questionnaire for the Green Paper - it is available to complete until I believe 22 July

Cantilip

I haven't read all the masses of words in this forum about this but I'm going to cautiously say there's one thing I haven't noticed people talking about. Stop me if you have! That's people who are using their PIP to survive, heat, rent, food. It's not for that and shouldn't make a difference to that. The basic screaming problem there is not PIP but the payment rates of other benefits folks receive. and I'd have thought it'd be useful if not done already for Scope to compile data on this.

Andi66

With the green paper , who decides on what happens with it, The dwp, or government. Do they read the forms that we filled in. Do they consult disabled organisations like Scope to listen to them. Being the 22nd tomorrow. And the media already putting out scare stories.

Meg24

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/891304#Comment_891304

Exactly, if I didn't get PIP & the SDP (which I will lose eventually when the transfer me to UC & my TP erodes) then I wouldn't be able to afford basic living things like the bedroom tax, the heating (I can only have 3-4 hrs a day even with PIP) and also things like house contents insurance and being able to afford food deliveries rather than relying on the reduced section. I'd never be able buy clothes and shoes or ever have a hobby etc...

Basic out of work benefits are not enough to cover all the basics even for a short time, but when you can't work for years (15 for me so far) then you just can't live at all. You can't get shoes that last 15 years, or fridges or washing machines etc. My PIP & SDP means I can live with dignity and pay for most things I need. I'd still like to be able to afford heating though...

Jimm_Alumni

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/891675#Comment_891675

The government now runs the DWP. Imagine the DWP and other ministries as the body, the government is the head.

Scope has given the government information and evidence about the proposals.

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