Labour are following through with Tory plans in regards of reforming the WCA
https://www.removepaywall.com/search?url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/10/17/benefits-bill-cut-3bn-budget/
Labour will cut £3 billion from the welfare bill by reforming the WCA, they're pushing through the Tories' reform and the 3 billion over 4 years is baked into treasury statistics/plans already.
I don't know what to say, I was expecting this one though as it was already baked. This isn't hyperbole or meant to sensationalize, it's an expected change.
To quote from the Telegraph whom for once didn't salivate at the prospect.
"Ms Reeves has agreed to honour the £3bn savings, although Ms Kendall will decide exactly how the system will be changed to save the same amount.
A Government spokesman said: “We have always said that the Work Capability Assessment is not working and needs to be reformed or replaced alongside a proper plan to support disabled people to work.“We will deliver savings through our own reforms, including genuine support to help disabled people into work.”
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I should add that these changes are not the same as Mel Stride's unless Liz Kendall decides to use Mel Stride's intended changes, Liz Kendall intends to show her "Great Britain Working" or something like that White Paper close to the budged.
The intended WCA changes come into force next April or May but I remember the previous government saying that those on LCWRA would not be subject to reassessments after that change, anyone remember that?
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yes I do remember that and wonder if they will stick to it
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I phoned scope and they said labour said they won't follow tories ideas ?on wca
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Probably be worse because apparently Kendall is deciding on all changes and she's to be polite not a nice or logical person
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Too much to deal with
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I'm afraid I remember it differently, I remember that at the time many news sources reported that it would not affect existing claimants but the government quickly corrected that to "unless they have a change of circumstances or a reassessment" which of course happens to all of us eventually. I will try to find the sources for my recollection tomorrow.
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These changes will mean that almost all people who are currently assessed as having LCWRA will never face a WCA reassessment again. Reassessments will only take place under very limited circumstances, which are:
- When a claimant reports a change of circumstances in their health condition;
- If a claimant has been awarded LCWRA for pregnancy risk, or cancer treatment where the prognosis for recovery is expected to be short-term;
- If a claimant has been declared as having LCWRA under the new risk provisions; and
- In cases of suspected fraud.”
That's the official statement. The concerning part is "under the new risk provisions", which seems like they're going to try to reassess the people who are under LCWRA for substantial risk (although it's not entirely clear).
Although it is worth noting that Labour have said that they're not going ahead with the Tory plans exactly (as always, they refuse to give details) so whether or not they'll stick to that is unknown.
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Thank you for reposting the Tory policy intention regarding the WCA - useful fact checking.
We will all, unfortunately, have to wait for Budget day and the Get Britain Working White Paper to know exactly the way forward.
Media sources claim Reeves will go ahead with the what were meant to be interim changes to the WCA ( I believe they are already baked into Treasury figures) before a replacement process is introduced in the longer term - other reforms such as the nonsense Job advisor's in hospital settings and giving local authorities greater say on employment strategies will be tacked on for good measure by Kendall in an attempt to distance Labour from Hunt and Stride's initiatives.
We wait with baited breath.
Best wishes
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as long as the "won't effect existing LCWRA/support group claimants" is carried over we'll all sleep much soundly.
anything has to be voluntary or it's dangerous.
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Does this mean they can go straight ahead
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I've found this posted by the Resolution Foundation. It states clearly that all claimants are expected to fall under the new rules by 2028/29 in order to deliver the projected budget savings already baked in by the OBR forecasts. It will immediately affect new claimants and then gradually encompass all claimants as their benefits come up for review. No escape I'm afraid, unless Labour commit to scrapping the changes, which seems unlikely because they would have to increase benefit spending/borrowing in order to do it as it's already baked in.
The new rules proposed for MH will be that the only people awarded LCWRA will be those in crisis or with active psychosis.
Here's the link:
https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/cutbacks-ahead/
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Every post is still speculation.
Until Labour themselves announce specific plans, we are all in the dark.
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Crucially, there no longer seems to be any mention of linking having a PIP award to passporting you to the LCWRA element. This was a terrible idea, but would have at least prevented many of us from being thrown into the LCW group with not just a halving of income, but of having to meet the obligations of the work prep group under threat of sanctions. For example I get PIP under the descriptors for social engagement, that it is always precluded, I get maximum points, so how does it make sense for them to expect me to attend work coach meetings and group work sessions?!
I wish I could say that I believe that the damage done to us will be so severe that they will never be allowed to do this, but there still has been no inquiry into the thousands who have already died because of the DWP, Labour won't commit to holding one either. And it's difficult not to look across the pond at what the government has been able to do there, how many Women would have said 10 years ago that Roe v Wade would have been struck down? They would have thought it impossible. We might think it would be impossible for them to do this, but atm it feels like an unstoppable train.
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I agree @Meg24
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I usually get my award from 4 parts
the engaging part being (in person) I'm non verbal with all but a handful
the substantial risk (change and pressure makes me injure myself and become unpredictable verbally to others
the complete inability to cooe with any change at all
and lack of awareness of danger
so I'd probably still be ok, but that's not the point, it's all wrong
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Work Capability Assessment – the gateway to accessing Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit on the grounds of ill-health – currently planned to begin from September 2025,
Meg, this is from your link but they've got the year wrong 😑
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Yes, my main concern is that Labour will push ahead with the plans of tightening the WCA descripters, as mentioned before..
''The DWP is planning to change the WCA. Specifically, removing or changing the following features:
- Factoring in people’s mobility.
- Bladder or bowel incontinence.
- The inability to cope in social situations.
- People’s ability to leave their homes.
- Work being a risk to claimants or others – a clause which means that an individual is “treated as having limited capability for work and work related activity“, also known as the substantial risk rule.
For me (and many others), if these plans are implemented I will be in a dire situation. At this point in time I no longer care if they take away or reduce my PIP, but if they tighten the WCA and force me into the workforce, I know I can't, end of story. I can only hope that there will be a strong fightback to these proposed reforms if indeed labour do decide to implement them.
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I'm same take my pip
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Unfortunately that's not the case for the WCA changes as the projected savings have already been taken into account. In order for Labour to cancel them they would have to increase benefit spending, either by borrowing or taxation, and they've committed not to doing that.
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The wca changes are a certainty
we know the amount and we DID know how.
Now Kendall has come along like the nuclear missile she is, the concern is what descriptors she'll interfere with and if it will effect people it wouldn't have.
The only good thing is DIFFERENT changes mean starting again on the legislation as they haven't been agreed to
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