Is the No work related activity group going to be scrapped?

davi
davi Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener

I am really getting worried as I read that the Work and Pensions secretary is cruelly considering getting rid of this group later this year. I am too ill to work and am worried about this news. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Comments

  • Kimmy87
    Kimmy87 Online Community Member Posts: 2,739 Championing
    edited February 3

    No one knows anything until Labour release their plans next month.

    It's best not reading any articles between now and then because it will just be a combination of rumours, opinion, click bait, political hot air etc.

    Even when Labour release their plans it will be a very long time before anything changes, and what eventually happens will probably differ from the original plans anyway as amendments get made, proposals get watered down etc.

  • davi
    davi Online Community Member Posts: 10 Listener

    Thank you

  • Jimm_Scope
    Jimm_Scope Posts: 5,717 Scope Online Community Specialist

    From what I can see the current articles going around saying LCWRA might be scrapped have no backing or sources, so I would not pay them much heed. There will be plenty of time to debate and scrutinise Labour's plans when we know what they actually are. Until then it is all speculation!

  • worried33
    worried33 Online Community Member Posts: 640 Pioneering
    edited February 4

    I dont know if its the right thread to put this in, but I did find this comment on the internet, it got my attention because its not a random press pull, but someone has made the effort to listen to what they claim to be what an advisor is saying.

    Please note this is not something I found directly, or my opinion.

    "A good indicator of where the government are likely to go is to read the Health Foundation report by Professor Paul Gregg (who is chair of the board advising the government on this):

    Some of his suggestions:

    -During the first 2 years of a claim, a claimant most be more active in looking for or preparing for work and won't take a WCA test until the 2 years are up. Other countries do similar things. Rates would be above standard rates but below LCWRA rates. People would continue to claim some of this if they find employment for a set period.

    -Abolishing the LCWRA element and increasing the generosity of PIP. Making PIP taxable and increasing the long term health prognosis for elligibility from 1 to 2 years. "Grandfathering" everyone currently on LCWRA so they will keep getting it but making new claimants ineligible. Possibly adding a third lower element to PIP for those not able to work.

    -Stresses that engagement with Employment services must be voluntary and is scathing of sanctions. I suspect the government will introduce a "duty to engage" ie a meeting once a year to discuss how they might help if you want it"

    This would indicate he is proposing LCWRA not be a thing for "new" claimants, and to compensate via additional help for PIP, its not miles away from the actual Tory proposals, as they were planning to replace LCWRA with a PIP health topup on UC. (marketed as scrapping WCA), I couldnt find this quote myself when looking for it either.

    Found this link where it is possibly sourced from. https://www.health.org.uk/sites/default/files/upload/publications/2024/Paul%20Gregg%20thought%20paper_2024.pdf

    The PDF does include these proposals, so that might be the source, b&w quote 1-2 year diagnosis as a large majority of PIP awards (above 70%), so thats why he is likely proposing to make that eligibility change.

    I consider this rumour and speculation tier still, as ultimately its not a quote from a minister.

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 3,430 Championing

    Oh so put word grandfathering what does that mean like a kind caring grandad helping you into big wide world !! It seems this way everyhing geared up for 2028 2029 so i personally think thats when they faze out lwcra and pip being main health benefit what really annoys me is targeting mental health !@ i keep on saying this what is the safe guarding needs to be some people under pressure can act aggressive many things could happen

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 3,430 Championing

    Ps ellen clifford gets lwcra as well so she will be waiting to see whats being proposed

  • worried33
    worried33 Online Community Member Posts: 640 Pioneering
    edited February 4

    Basically existing claimants would be protected, the LCWRA changes would be on new claimants and existing LCW only. Although it wouldnt necessarily be permanent.
    So Paul Gregg's proposal would be LCW or FFW only for new claimants, LCW would need 2 years of job search first, it would have more money than FFW but not as much as LCWRA, existing LCWRA would stay on LCWRA.
    The only change to PIP would be to change the min 1 year diagnosis to 2 years, as more than half of awards are for 1-2 year period, so that one change would provide huge savings, with minimal disruption to those with longer term diagnosis.
    The person I quoted claims he is head of a body advising the government, but I couldnt find a solid bit of information on that.

  • Nightcity
    Nightcity Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 3,153 Championing

    It's true he is very influential in government, His proposals above are much more comforting than that creep Milburns.

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 3,430 Championing

    Well maybe ellen take them back to court i umderstand that part of saying has to be longer than 3 months of illness but two years extreme all beem planned long time as they was geared up as moving esa 2028 2029 and my thoughts are thats when pip becomes one health benefit so wca fazed out by then its the changing of esa forms make impossible i feel for new claimants hopefully it seen as unlawful changing substaisal risk excuse spelling

  • worried33
    worried33 Online Community Member Posts: 640 Pioneering
    edited February 4

    I have read a lot of the document now, I do think he has clearly put a lot of thought into it, and there is also some sympathy, he makes the point right at the start the motive from the government should not be about reducing cost to the treasury.

    He also also has similar ideas to myself, he proposes the employer is compensated for employing people who were previously on incapacity benefits, and also his way of addressing financial incentives is to change benefit payments so they carry on whilst in work, although I am not sure if financial incentives has such a big impact as he thinks it does. Also he proposes to reform SSP so its similar rights to maternity leave, making it harder for people to lose their jobs.

    This is an easy way of seeing the governments motives, if they adopt these sort of ideas, its an indication they actually care for the well being of those affected, if they on the other hand just implement the ideas that reduce the burden to the tax payer, its just about saving money.

  • worried33
    worried33 Online Community Member Posts: 640 Pioneering

    The reason for the two years idea, not saying I agree with it, but is explained is that the return to work rate for first 12 months is 15%, for the year after that it is 7%, but then drops to almost zero after two years. So he is looking at it from the perspective everything possible must be done to try and get a return to work in that 2 year period, as well as the period before a claim is even opened which is why he also proposed SSP changes. He did also suggest there should be a override for the 2 year wait for more severe cases, a fast track to the WCA.

  • Ranald
    Ranald Online Community Member Posts: 473 Empowering

    "grandfathering" refers to current claimants keeping their benefit awards, with those coming later being subject to the new regime.

  • Ranald
    Ranald Online Community Member Posts: 473 Empowering

    An example being a final salary pension scheme getting too expensive, and it being shut off to new employees. Looking at you BT!

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 3,430 Championing

    Hhhhh trust me and my mind thankyou for explaining

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 3,430 Championing

    Makes sense yes 3 months is to short to apply whats ssp changes who is this person is it manager of john lewis

  • Nightcity
    Nightcity Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 3,153 Championing

    I closed my John Lewis account.

    I don't care if he's in the company or not anymore

    I am a very very stubborn and principled person.

  • worried33
    worried33 Online Community Member Posts: 640 Pioneering

    Is it the same person? Not sure it is, just matching name.

  • Nightcity
    Nightcity Online Community Member, Scope Member Posts: 3,153 Championing

    The dwp said he was chairman of John Lewis for 13 years "Charlie Mayfield"

  • worried33
    worried33 Online Community Member Posts: 640 Pioneering

    Oh ok I didnt know you was talking about him.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/keep-britain-working-terms-of-reference

    Understand now.