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  • Nightcity
    Nightcity Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 2,670 Championing
  • Amaya_Ringo
    Amaya_Ringo Online Community Member Posts: 228 Empowering

    Honestly, the big problem is that there was a high profile fraud case in UC (which had nothing to do with real claimants, disabled or otherwise) that grabbed the headlines not long ago. This, coupled with the mismanagement and errors during the pandemic (again, which had nothing to do with real claimants, disabled or otherwise) has made benefits (again) an easy target for "fraud prevention". Those incidents have pushed the UC fraud % up unfairly, and we know that fraud in PIP is currently nonexistent.

    When I went through my PIP claim/appeal/tribunal, I felt all the way that they were constantly threatening me about one thing or another, and essentially accusing me of lying. But the only evidence that contradicted my claim were the reports from the assessor and MR reviewer. So where is the fraud, then, really? Is denying a legitimate claim on spurious reasons not the same as claiming for a condition you don't have? And why is there nobody taking action on that? Labour challenged the previous govt about these things, but now they're running the DWP, it's all change. The DWP's influence and lack of accountability is the biggest problem we all face. They are being given more and more powers to do as they like, despite how many people keep telling the govt (whichever govt - let's not forget that the previous govt are as guilty here in all of this) that it's not working.

    I didn't vote Labour, but the direction of other parties (Tories, Reform) with their impetus to get rid of the ECHR and such is worse news for us, so we're genuinely stuck in a difficult situation. I didn't vote for those people, either - but until we change the mindset of people outside the benefit system that a: the system is unnecessarily cruel and b: the vast majority of its victims are struggling genuine claimants, not lazy, not scroungers, not faking it…then we won't really ever have protection. The Equalities Act exists but it doesn't really represent us the way the DDA did. At least, the DDA was for disabled people. The EA has pushed us down to the bottom rung, so equality concerns we face are far less publicised or important than those faced by other groups. There's also a lack of understanding how people being in various different groups impacts their life, because no person is one defining criteria, everyone is a mixture.

    The link about autism assessments doesn't surprise me. I'm very glad I had my diagnosis back in 2005, but it's a big reason why I haven't gone back for an ADHD assessment, even though I fit the AuDHD criteria pretty well - because there are so many people waiting for assessment that I don't want to take up space in the queue. I already have a diagnosis, and I'll make do with that. (And my navigational disorder only seems to be assessed for in Canada, so that's not helpful. NHS apparently haven't heard of Developmental Topographical Disorientation yet…)

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 2,773 Championing

    This is my fear heard it getting thrown about coming out the ECHR they would use the old cherry we can send illegal refugees back abd everyone be oh yh yh do it not having a clue on thier own human rights was tired if the old welfare system now I'm saying just keep it as it was

  • Amaya_Ringo
    Amaya_Ringo Online Community Member Posts: 228 Empowering
    edited October 29

    Catherine, I agree with you. PIP is a mess, but I'm more scared of them changing it.
    I had permanent DLA on a permanent autism diagnosis, and then they 'changed it' to PIP, at which point I was apparently 'cured' and didn't need any support at all…

    People with invisible disabilities always come off harshest in any of these processes. But the toll it takes on us is exponential and they just don't see it. It's like being actually invisible while people talk around and over you.

    Back when I claimed DLA I could just get on with my life and I did pretty ok. But since the PIP claim I've been terrified of the DWP and of everything govt are doing around disability. It's not that I let it rule my life, but I'm definitely giving more energy to dealing with that uncertainty now compared to pre-2017 when I didn't have to think so much about 'being disabled' and 'quantifying my experiences'…I just got on with my life and felt supported.

    At this point it would be less harmful for PIP to be left alone than reformed in my opinion.

  • Nightcity
    Nightcity Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 2,670 Championing

    I'm still on DLA and happy for it to stay that way for as long as possible

  • WhatThe
    WhatThe Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 2,614 Championing
    edited October 29

    £12 billion was cut mainly from working-age benefits in George Osborne's 2015 budget.

    £3 billion is expected to be cut from welfare benefits in 2024.

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 2,773 Championing

    In the same I seriously think I have ptsd from dwp treatment awful isn't it now with uc coming and council contacting people asking for everything it's so overwhelming oh that's so horrid when you know your safe on DLA I'm like that on lwcra that's why gutted to me it feels worse than ever with labour it is hard to relax I've been getting rages as feel so overwhelmed fingers crossed for tomorrow we deserve peace x

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 2,773 Championing

    Omg they got no shame she blatantly said it on bbc !!!

  • Nightcity
    Nightcity Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 2,670 Championing
    edited October 29

    I echo my previous tune, that I really don't think anything bad or controversial will ever pass the post, labour is damaged,many walks of life are already angry before the budgets even announced.

    anything not voluntary will be shot down in flames along the way.

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 2,773 Championing

    I did read for new claimants and moving us to uc to try chance to work well we will know tomorrow I'm not watching

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 8,327 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    I'd say don't trust everything you read online @Catherine21 there's a load of people just posting because they want to cause a fuss. It's always best to wait until the info comes from confirmed sources.

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 2,773 Championing
  • Nashota
    Nashota Online Community Member Posts: 453 Empowering

    I received a response from the local MP, I've put it in Albus's thread about contacting your MP. I don't know if it'll ease anyone's mind but I thought I'd mention it.

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 8,327 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    Hey folks, just to let people know any discussions relating to the budget will be merged into this discussion. It stops people panicking everywhere.

  • Nightcity
    Nightcity Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 2,670 Championing