Labour doubles down on slashing billions from DWP's disability benefits bill
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Wise words Nightcity, thank you xx
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Mr Happy, I was forced from ESA onto universal credit a few years back. What they did was carry on my disability element onto universal credit. If you are applying new, ie not from a legacy benefit, they don't pay it, even if you're just as disabled. But I think in your case, you should continue getting the addition. But I would double-check before any move. Also if you're going to / have to move to UC, might be wise to do it as soon as pos, before the new regulations come to force. But check you'll be ok first. If there's any doubt, I'd stick with the legacy benefit as long as you can, they are on your back far more with UC, phone calls etc to check up on you.
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Yes, that's right Mac, but bet they're still working to the same plan. Reeves said in her October speech that they were implementing in full the Tory plans they had inherited. The DWP plans were finalised 2023 and the plan was to implement them after the election, 2024. So I'm most likely right these are the plans Reeves was referring to.
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You're right about Trump Judie…
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I'm not sure Kimmy is right about transitioning from legacy benefits to UC Mr Happy. I transitioned a few years back and the disability element I had under the legacy benefit was transferred with me. But I'd check with the DWP, in case Kimmy is right…
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All applications for UC count as new claims. This is why everyone has an ID check etc. Whether the person is new to benefits, or transferring from legacy benefits.
That doesn't stop entitlement to Transitional Protection if someone qualifies when moving onto UC from legacy benefits.
As far as Labour go, they've commented that they are committed to the welfare cost savings they inherited from the Tories. And that they have their own intentions on how to make those savings.
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Ringing any DWP department is not something I would ever advise anyone to do. This is because you're not speaking to someone from DWP itself, you're speaking to someone from a call centre. Very often these people give some shocking misleading advice and have lead to many people missing out on benefits entitlement and that's just to start with.
There's no disability premiums payable when claiming UC like there is with legacy benefits. When someone claims UC from ESA, if they are in the Support Group their UC will automatically include the LCWRA element, is that what you mean by "disability element"
With managed migration if someone is worse of when the migrate to UC they would receive Transitional Protection to top up their income but this isn't forever and it does eventually reduce to zero. How long it lasts for is different for everyone and for some it may only last for a few months.
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Looks like we'll have a good idea of their plans by the end of March, also DNS reports that Labour are starting an examination of why PIP claims have risen since COVID, so hopefully they are planning to al least make budget decisions based on facts rather than ideology. We can hope...
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Ah, didn't know that about phoning the DWP Poppy - thanks for warning us!
What I mean by my disability payment, I get an additional topup to the basic universal credit which they list for "limited capability for work" and which amounts to the same (with inflation) topup I was receiving under ESA, that used to be called something like "disability premium" - some years ago now.
I do know that this additional payment is not available to anyone who signs on sick to UC now, if they are not already in receipt of a legacy benefit like ESA. They changed the rules back in 2017, as you can read here:
I would urge anyone thinking of transferring to UC from ESA to check that your additional disability element will be carried over to UC as it was with me.
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That's a great ref Meg, thanks! I see if you scroll to the bottom of the page it gives a link to provide a letter format to email your MP to protest about cuts ;)
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It might be Kimmy + Poppy, I'm still getting the disability topup because I've been disabled for years, I was on ESA long before 2017. The payment has lasted quite a lot longer than a few months. They've told me it'll be removed when I'm fit for work.
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No problem. What you're referring to is the LCW element and this is £156.11/month but it's not referred to as a disability element, rather the LCW element. This would apply to those claiming ESA in the WRAG if their claim started before April 2017. For those that started the claim after that date will not be entitled to any extra money for WRAG or LCW.
Support Group is same as LCWRA for UC and is currently £416.19/month.
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Things are going to change, there will be benefit reforms, this is what we all know but it's how far Labour are going to go.
Until official announcements happen which you'll see here or on other disability related news services it really is best to ignore what the media has to say.
They want an 80% employment rate, they have to acknowledge that most employers would rather hire a fit and healthy person than a disabled person and reforms must target that aspect.
Reforms will take a while, they will include two consultations which to my knowledge lasts for 12 weeks each, then the parliamentary process, where amendments are tabled, where the reforms could get watered down, then the Lords will look at things. Then possible legal proceedings could also happen dependent on how far Labour will go.
I'm not the "voice of reason" or some rational arbiter of wisdom, I'm worried sick but I'm tired of worrying and it's taking a toll on me worrying about this every single day.
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I pray that this is reeves/kendall testing the waters before making a final decision on their plan for welfare reforms (and if there’s enough public backlash the path can still be alters)
If this ends up being actual details of the dwp reforms it will break several human rights laws, harm hundreds of thousands of sick/disabled ppl and indirectly end the lives of many more
This would go beyond my worse fears (the wrag/lcw barely differs from general jobseeker criteria now and axing lcwra/support group altogether would particularly mean the dwp erasing the existence of sick/disabled altogether and reducing/tightening pip will end up doing the opposite of getting disabled into work - it will mean may disabled in work will no longer be able to afford to do so)
It’s slightly off topic but over in the USA trump is somehow linking the recent plane crash tragedy to hiring of some specific disability diagnosis - in the uk the far right viewpoint is increasing amongst the population with more ppl revering & agreeing with trump. Prehaps I am reaching with this but things like this may further reduce the willingness of uk employers hiring (then making adaptions for) disabled ppl imagine
Regardless of if it indeed happens im livid its even being considered and the gov thought it appropriate to leak this to the murdoch owned times and intentionally causing the disabled community even more psychological harm)
not sure even tories/reform could have come up with worse
and if the part about the dwp starting ‘negotiations’ with disabilities in their plans I think most of us would like charities such as scope to relay back “no f***ing deal!”
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I don't think they'll be able to force people who are disabled into work. It'll reflect badly on them and make them even more unpopular with the public.
How is someone with muscular dystrophy supposed to work? It's a progressive and terminal condition.
Ellen Clifford''s victory at the High Court set a precedent and a warning that if Liz Kendall and the DWP tries anything that will endanger the quality of life and wellbeing for disabled people, then they will have a fight on their hands.
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What a delusional wishlist of poisonous fantasy.
Next to none of that is seeing the light of day, and I'm still not going to waste a second of my time worrying about it.
you have rights and laws and you'll win everytime, in the extremely unlikely event any of that made it in many many many years time, just refuse to comply and use the human rights and equality act to protect your health and finances.
I am angry to see such dross, because it shows what pathetic and disgusting trash the media are and those who feed them such drivel,but worried absolutely not.
all it really is realistically is a shopping list of dreams, fantasies and hopes of some very nasty people.
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absolutely agree any of that will be shot down instantly. @Ironside1990
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I am worried about this too as I know for a fact I can't work I won't manage it at all. It put lot of pressure on me and my mental health. I suffer with that asperges syndrome and now crohn's disease that not had long. But like everyone said wait and see but this is Labour see what they did to the winter fuel for OP.
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not sure how badly it will reflect on them - both Tory & Labour govs have been using the media to paint this terrible stereotype on disabled of being a drain on society in more ways than one - we know some of the public bought into that narrative just not exactly what % bought into the ‘kook aid’ nor who’s indifferent either way
(For the record I have zero clue the percentage of public will stand up and create backlash for the disabled behalf when the time arrives - my human faith is low but I hope to be surprised)
Also the Ellen Clifford case is but a blip to Kendall/dwp plans……..it will make little difference unless it inspires more ‘David’s’ in the disabled community to take on the dwp ‘Goliath’ in the form of another lawsuit or other method - but I fear the disabled community too quiet & resting on laurels to build on miss cliffords success
Sorry to be bleak but the mere motion of the gov using the times piece to test the water of these cruel ideas shows dwp aren’t scared of public backlash and they think there is some chance they can get away with it (the article mentions reeves is banking on making massive welfare savings so she doesn’t have to reopen further taxes - city figures certainly look like they have her scared)
I’m starting to get the impression that this may be do or die (job wise) for both reeves and Kendall……….if they don’t get massive welfare savings and soon that could be their jobs gone for 2025 ends and starmers gov weakened (forced to change direction even) - I think most of us would like to see the back of those 2 and will get more proactive to disability activism these next few weeks
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I understand your concerns but this will be extremely harder for them than winter fuel.
Winter fuel was an annual payment given by choice with no laws in place to protect it, PIP, UC etc are complex and any changes at all have to follow a slow process.
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