Interesting snippets from the Labour conference

onlymeagain

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/914206#Comment_914206

This is how it appears to me too. But if that's the case, they need to sort out help and support for those with MH issues.

worried33

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/913691#Comment_913691

It is difficult to get a diagnosis for physical conditions as well, access to health care is increasingly more difficult and some of us have complex conditions difficult to diagnose. Making PIP reliant on diagnosis would be a disaster. DLA used to be run this way and I hope we dont go back to those days, many years ago a sheet got leaked on the internet which was a like a cheat sheet for decision makers that would award, refer or deny DLA based on medical condition instead of the person's actual functional problems.

I really hope Scope dont support moving towards such a system if they are in talks with any DWP representatives.

One thing I think PIP does right is assess the actual functional capability of someone regardless of diagnosis.

The most inhumane option is tinkering with what they call targeting, basically deciding a vulnerable person is no longer vulnerable enough to qualify for the support. I think this is the way they will go, as its been done so many times in the past, usually charities and those who stay in the safety net dont fight for those who are pushed out so governments get away with it.

WhatThe

those who stay in the safety net dont fight for those who are pushed out so governments get away with it.

That's exactly what happened during the first national reassessment programme of 2011 - 2014. ESA Support Group claimants believed they were more deserving and more disabled than those unlawfully found 'fit-for-work' or unlawfully placed in WRAG.

So, now that we've lost the key exceptional circumstances provision and the WRAG component, people seem confused that disabled people are being targeted for support back into work. Well, this is what the DWP did between 2011 and 2014. All this was planned for in the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 which nobody paid any attention to then and few seem to understand now.

worried33

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/924892#Comment_924892

Substantial risk was set to go under the Tory plans for new claimants and existing LCW (existing LCWRA were to be protected), and even has an announcement page for this to kick in from 2025 under the DWP.
I have no idea though if this was ever formalised and made legislation, or if its a unknown until Labour announce their own WCA reform plans, which I think they going to do spring 2025.

worried33

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/939984#Comment_939984

I think I am going to say the same as everyone else on this one now, we have to wait and see what changes may come, we probably wont hear anything concrete until at least spring next year.