Upcoming changes to benefits

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Comments

  • TheManFromLondon
    TheManFromLondon Online Community Member Posts: 8 Connected

    @Adrian_Scope

    I will add this here as I think your post, on the point about LCWRA, is totally inaccurate. I cant be online to reply for the next day or so, so i will post this now.

    You said the ITV article mentioned that: "The LCWRA element of UC will be cut"

    No it doesn't. It says the "basic element" will be reduced, not the LCWRA. (I think thats what you read?)

    It says: "Raising the basic rate for Universal Credit paid to those searching for work, or in work, while cutting the rate for those who are judged as unfit for work."

    In both parts of the statement, it is the "basic rate" that is to be changed. It doesn't say "cutting the LCWRA rate" "or disability rate" or whatever. 

    After all, if you were right, people on LCW would have nothing to loose and arguably that group is the first to be chased to get back to work (be definition of their group status, expected at any moment of time to be tasked to do certain things towards looking/preparing for work). So they (LCW group) would only "feel it" if the basic rate was to be cut, (whether cut means reduced not cut altogether).

    So the basic rate, is the rate in question here.

    With all respect, you did read something that was not there. Your post is not accurate on that point. It doesn't make sense.

    If that article is truth at all (until we hear, nobody knows), the logic here is (most probably), we give the basic rate to who is looking for work, and if you don't, we will reduce it. (and they do us a solid they wont cut it all together). And if you look for work, we will increase it! Fair play?

    It sounds like a logical argument to me. After all, they don't have an element of hard working people who work overtime, don't they? We get our LCWRA, and getting also the full basic rate people take when they look for work seems like we get twice the money by having half the obligation.

    Because you know, we have the PIP for our disability.

    And here we have the Ghost of Parliament Past "PIP to be the passport for LCWRA".

    With all that said, people without disabilities are very creative when they make plans for people with disabilities, so... anything goes tomorrow and the 26/3.

  • axab43
    axab43 Online Community Member Posts: 20 Connected

    I have heard from lots of different people this will not be rushed through. There maybe newspaper headlines like that but any changes like this do required legislation, the Green Paper, White paper, House of Commons, House of Lord. I was told it could take years. Universal Credit took years to be fully implemented. That is what i have been told. Just wonder whether anyone else had this view on here.

  • unsure65
    unsure65 Online Community Member Posts: 36 Contributor

    That all beside the point, If it's UC basic rate that is cut, then everyone will still lose out, and it was still a complete waste of time moving everyone over.

  • axab43
    axab43 Online Community Member Posts: 20 Connected
  • Adrian_Scope
    Adrian_Scope Posts: 11,742 Online Community Programme Lead

    That's an interesting observation @TheManFromLondon, and re-reading the article I can see why some may take the sentence to mean that the basic rate will be cut for those "judged as unfit for work", although it would mean having multiple levels of the basic income and then lowering the amount someone receives after they are assessed as unfit to work. For the sake of clarity I will edit the initial post to use the article's wording though.

  • axab43
    axab43 Online Community Member Posts: 20 Connected
  • Enduring_Rogue
    Enduring_Rogue Online Community Member Posts: 18 Connected

    I am awaiting the outcome of my PIP claim, so I hope it gets sorted before the descriptors change. I have a feeling they will pick on mental health issues first, despite the gross lack of provision in community mental health services. I am paying out of my basic UC for private counselling ( low cost trainee rates though), hence applying for PIP. The government must understand we need the extra money for things to help our daily lives!

  • TheManFromLondon
    TheManFromLondon Online Community Member Posts: 8 Connected

    In fact, thats exactly the point, the fairness of Benefits payouts, hence the reforms. These monies are coming from taxpayers pocket. They want to see them distributed fairly. They argue the UC elements should be distributed differently. It will be up for a debate, its the democratic way.

    Contrary to what most people like to label it, the reform have nothing to do with us (the disability claimants), which is a problem on its own of course, and they dont hate us, they try to re-distribute money around.

    Remember, we need the state to have money in the first place. If they ran out of it, there will be nothing, no disability Benefits, no housing benefit, no free prescription glasses, no cost of living payments, NOTHING

    We have to take a hit, like everyone else. Within reason, but we have to take that hit.

  • Moorgater
    Moorgater Online Community Member Posts: 55 Empowering

    I'd be very surprised if the changes were rushed through. Not least because if it's done at speed and turns into a car crash, the PR would be abysmal. And their own MPs would be incandescent less than a year in. At least the Tories took a decade to descend into open warfare.

  • axab43
    axab43 Online Community Member Posts: 20 Connected

    This is what i wanted to know but I have been told by several sources outside of here that these proposals will have to go through the Green Paper, White Paper, the rest and it will take some time before it is implemented, maybe years. THey cannot pass emergency legislation unless there is something like the pandemic. This what I have been told anyway by welfare experts.

  • Moorgater
    Moorgater Online Community Member Posts: 55 Empowering

    When you say freezes could be implemented immediately, do you mean for 2025/26? Most people already have their award letters - are you suggesting that might change or would they likely take effect in 2026/27?

  • JasonRA
    JasonRA Online Community Member Posts: 140 Empowering

    PS. Welcome to the new commenters here.

  • unsure65
    unsure65 Online Community Member Posts: 36 Contributor

    Then why move everyone over and give them more money, just to grab it back with in 1-3 months…

  • Moorgater
    Moorgater Online Community Member Posts: 55 Empowering