Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and benefit reforms
We understand a lot of people are worried about potential changes to the work capability assessment. It’s a difficult topic and one that is playing on many people's minds.
To give those who need space from this discussion a break, any new comments about welfare reforms, budget speculation, and related changes will be combined into one thread.
At the moment, no one knows for sure what changes might happen, when they might occur, or if they will happen at all. It’s important to remember that the discussions we've seen in the news often evolve and won't necessarily lead directly into policy change.
I would also say it is important to keep in mind that while there may be intentions to encourage some people back to work, there are also many safeguards in place to protect those who are unable to work. There are also many organisations, like Scope, who push back against policies that could harm vulnerable people.
Comments
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can you please elaborate more on the safeguard to protect the vulnerable people like what can be done?
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As promised I asked the assembly members and we have come back with a long answer which is:
we realise the government don’t always run things fairly but it depends why people are deemed not to be able to work. They must update policy to reflect change. The world has changed since Covid and working from home has opened up opportunities to disabled people that wernt available previously. People who couldn’t access working in a conventional way may now be able to access work another way. Policy must reflect this while accepting that some people still won’t be able to work it’s important those that can should be helped into work for self worth etc.
My opinion is that people should have flexibility working arrangements in their contracts. Another thing to consider is that working from home can help the environment.
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Who said this starmer
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yes
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Going to be negative update policy by taking out most important questions funny how they say so many will lose money so by taking those questions away majority will not be eligible even doing MR still won't meet criteria
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We shouldn't have to loose money this is disgraceful what source is this from?
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No its me Just from reading articles I'm expressing my own fears without thinking sorry
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An interesting if not particularly reassuring article about how Labour changes to the WCA could differ from the current Tory designed plans.
https://z2k.org/future-work-capability-assessment-policy/
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is scope seeking advice from human rights?
Because right now there’s a significant chance that many pre existing safeguards for disabled ppl like those who read this forum, may no longer exist at the start of the next financial year.
Yes scope spokespeople are giving quotes to the media, but they are being buried by the few media willing to publish them and ridiculously easy for politicians to ignore charity criticism of them (think opening scene of super Mario bro movies)
Let’s be honest - benefit claimants (including those claiming disability payments) are only a slightly less disliked group (to a certain sizeable pocket of reactive uk population) then the boat migrants (both groups you could argue have a very unfair & un deserved rap depending on personally stand)
Difference if the boat migrants had countless human rights lawyers delaying countless things in court (Rwanda anyone) - the disabled community in comparison seem to have next to no legal firepower………ridiculous considering how many times the human rights of disabled have been stretched and battered these past two years alone
How much more patience can be asked of the disabled community until we can conclude ‘enough’ and allies such as charities realise politeness just isnt working and a more aggressive approach may be the only remaining path forward (and it hurts to come to that conclusion as I hate confrontation and just want a peaceful life)
the argument to wait and see what happens the autumn budget and the white paper before the end of 2024 is valid but time is valuable and I’m personally having a hard time justifying giving this new Labour (but I’m open to listen to those arguing otherwise)The other thing is depending on what happens November 29th Pandora’s box may be well and truly opened and I have no clue of the consequences of this element mixed in with all the other decisions this gov is making on disabled ppl - I read around a lot of other social media and forums and I don’t think I’ve ever seen the disabled community voicing their feelings of fear, anger and betrayal, as much as I have read the past few month - I’m truly scared that depending on several events October and November that the ‘perfect storm’ may be triggered and that scares me as ppl that are pushed too far can be unpredictable and if that involves a significant chunk of the community then it makes it that much harder to calm the ‘storm’ (I hope Labour getting the message and changing direction on at least a few things would help but it feels like unchartered territory on the horizon)
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I don't understand it all what are you thoughts on this
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What happens 29th November ? What do you think god the fear setting in s
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A middle rate
Introducing a new, lower rate for those who have ‘less severe’ conditions looks on first glance like a proposal to restore the limited capability for work rate that was abolished under the previous Conservative government. Taken on its own, restoring this rate could certainly be a positive move – the removal of this additional payment has led to more ill and disabled people having to live off the inadequate £91/week standard allowance of UC.
🙏 🤞
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restore the limited capability for work rate that was abolished under the previous Conservative government.0 -
Hopefully this and then it takes time to go through lords ? I'm clueless all I know is this is scary really scary how are you coping
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God 91 pound a week has it definitely been abolish sorry for questions
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Thank you Meg24 for posting the article - very informative for the community here.
Remains to be seen which - if any - of the ideas in the article come to fruition. Meanwhile, we are all on tenterhooks till Budget day.
Best wishes
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Catherine
There’s a reason why I gave a date rather say what happens on the day - I imagine scope mods don’t want members to openly discuss a ‘2+2’ subject that we get first indications of on the date given because it is such a delicate subject
And I know how overwhelmed you get Catherine so it’s probably for the best you didn’t get my reference (and no one directly discusses till nearer to the time
What I will imply is that when I say ‘perfect storm’ I’m refering to the damage it may do to this Labour gov more than anything
Labour have been stupid to (if and when 100% confirmed) to introduce a large amount of policies in a very short space of time that could negatively affect many disabled ppl if carried out.
Obviously we don’t know yet if this ‘perfect storm’ is possible as we haven’t had the autumn budget, disability white paper and this thing on the 29th nov but if things did align a certain way then I think we may have more of the uk public angry on our behalf and potentially more angry than the pensioner winter payment scandal that is still going strong.
And more people angry about the treatment of the disabled ppl could be ‘helpful’
(Politicians are more frightened of the ‘angry masses’ than scared ppl begging for compassion - the last time a gov really angered the public we got a 170 seat Labour majority gov - starmer may be okay for now but the public is already upset with him and it’s a definite possibility things could get worse………….labour MPs won’t want to lose their seats next GE and may turn on him with a no confidence vote when we are a bit closer to the next GE)
I do think we have a lot of decent ppl in the new Labour mp intake who already feel uncomfortable about some decisions Labour have already made and Labour leadership is not on stable ground - as other members have implied even if the worst of the worst is announced, if there is major public backlash will the gov be politically stable enough to stick with their guns (unlike Tory’s, Labour don’t have many media and newspaper allies so scandals will hit them harder)Whatever gets announced in 2024 it may not be as straightforward as this Labour gov hope……never rule out or underestimate a possible angry back lashing British public!
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Oh thankyou apple85 I think after budget all he'll will break lose it's not just us elderly it's single mums drivers employers employees they are targeting everyone I wish we would have an all out strike unions back out thankyou for responding you have great knowledge like meg24 and whatthe cant remember rest of name it really helps
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from the times newspaper:
the one positive we can take is that it’s been heavily implemented that the disability white paper is coming soon (before 2024 is over)
The wait has been causing huge anxiety to many so I think may relieved to be put out of our misery sooner rather than later
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It's almost like one eye open with hands over ears to scared to look and hear I think I just come on here after
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