Upcoming changes to benefits
Comments
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They're going to have to almost rewrite PIP as part of the primary legislation process to achieve anything like they're proposing. I imagine that the Committee Stage of a future Bill, following its Second Reading will be very long with every word scrutinised and multiple amendments tabled.
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I just read in the Guardian after a couple of days break from news that there is mention of a U turn on welform reform/PIP: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/15/downing-street-considers-u-turn-on-cuts-to-benefits-for-disabled-people
I'm not quite sure - does this mean the govt IS doing a u-turn or just something that they are 'considering' and if they do, I'm not sure if they are doing a full u-turn and scrapping it or just an element of it? Has anyone heard more about this?
I know we're all in the dark until this green paper comes out. I think I probably speak for everyone about what this has done to both my physical and mental health since it was annouced. My CFS is bad, my ADHD is making my brain toxic and catastrophising everything.
Can also someone explain why the govt are so anti mental health? Physical and mental health go hand in hand and influcence each other, and how insulting to say teens only get 'mild' mental health. Until they are in someone's brain they have no right to judge what someone is going through.
I would really, really love to force the govertment - any government - for every programme, every benefit they want to slash, they have to go through the whole process. Let them understand the process for PIP - the form, the assesments, the waiting - oh and to make sure they really understand, their MP salaries - and their expenses - will be frozen until PIP reaches it's decision. How many of them have even looked at a PIP or any benefit form? I know I'm being a bit unfair because there are MPs who genuinely care and some have relatives who go through this (but then so did Keir Stammer with his mum and brother)
I'm just so wrung out right now, as I'm sure everyone on this forum is. If anyone needs a chat or vent, feel free to just reply and I'll try to help, I know how scary it is for everyone here.
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that’s good news to hear thank you . Any idea how this will take especially if it goes to court.
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It's got the point where I'm asking this question, is CPTSD or PTSD seen as a incapacitating mental illness?
Britain is the only country in Western Europe doing all of this making a joke out of mental illness. I think the UN need a serious discussion with Britain in how it perceives mental illness.
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you flatter me 😘
In all seriousness as other members will tell you I’ve made many a suggestion of how incapacity welfare could be reformed but some members called me out for being discriminatory in terms of fairness
I do try my best working on my empathy but my autism makes me a very black and white thinker
Autistic ppl are like sponges (not just in childhood) and I was very fortunate in the area which I grew up and the locals I got to know.
I do understand that the treasury needs to balance the books and yes the sharp rise of incapacity claimants is concerning and needs to be looked into further. (Though the gov is ignoring that a pandemic wrecked the nations health (both via new disabilities and many people first taste of mental health issues) as well as cost of living and the gov didn’t invest in more gp and mental health services to tackle that rise - the last gov are hugely responsible for this mess and this gov are ignoring the original source)
I also think the gov official definition of ‘disability’ is too open and that is causing (if all levels of mental health are classed as disability that would include 50-90% of the uk population and if everyone with a mental health issue could potentially qualify for incapacity benefits it would crash the uk economy)
If only 100k ppl were claiming highest level incapacity benefits then these reforms would not be happening because there’d be no financial need
But at the same time the gov refuses to address the major reasons why the amount of disabled have grown and aiming to cut 1m pip awards is ludicrous (1-2% of total pip claimants is more realistic and ‘fair’)
The reason I’ve set aside my own personal idealisms these past few months on ‘fairness’ is that the gov haven’t been playing fair since getting in power using media for the past 9 months selling an image of disabled that aided their future agenda pitch (which has endangered disabled in uk society as a result - sadly I got some bruises over the holiday season due to not looking disabled that made me learn the hard way) - I can’t offer fairness if I’m not being offered it back and right now this Labour gov aren’t playing by the rules so they don’t deserve my understanding
Hence why I’m currently very much team disabled rather dipping my toes between both sides
(I went off at a bit of a tangent there- sorry all)1 -
Wasn't sure where to start with this one. I'll start with what my lovely, late mum would have said: "I think they're trying it on".
I'm going to email Scopes' Mr James Taylor, Executive Director for Strategy, Impact and Social Change tomorrow to share what I have found/seek Scopes' opinion.
I've been scrutinising the Equality Act 2010; also the 'Guidance on Matters to be taken into account in Determining Questions relating to the Definition of Disability'.
The Guidance I mention above is an extremely helpful, relatively straightforward read - in terms of its explanation and examples of physical disabilities and also mental disabilities. (All on GOV.UK). I VERY HIGHLY recommend you take a look; even if it proves fruitless in terms of no breach of the EA, it is still possibly of interest to those of us struggling with disabilities.
There is also the National Strategy for Autistic Children, Young People and Adults 2021 to 2026 published in July 2021 - I have not read this one.
I was looking through to find more information on PSED (Public Sector Equality Duty) which does apply to Government too.
Depending what is announced on Tuesday, I suspect there may be discrimination under the EA 2010 by the Government. I cannot believe I can be the only one checking this - peeps with far, far greater intellect than I will definitely be doing so; or, they might already know with their greater wisdom it won't/can't be applied to Government.
I found something of particular interest relating to UC, I don't think it's wise to state here/show cards - not I don't mean to you lovely people but you don't know who's reading. If when I've passed it by Scope it's not an angle that can be pursued happy to share it but of course, it won't be of use 😉
I am NO legal eagle; I've worked in contract law and employment law only so definitely no specialist. I am, however - for good or bad - very forensic in my thinking and like a dog with a bone; like a dog I might be barking up the wrong tree but IF the Government can be held account for discrimination then I intend to see that happen.
I assume that because Starmer is a top lawyer they wouldn't dare breach Equality law. What I've also learned in my 61 years is Never Assume.
I'll end with a quote from the Guidance: 'In determining a question as to whether a person meets the definition of disability it is important to consider the things that a person cannot do or can only do with difficulty'.
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Very true!…when you have cfs & fibro, youre stuck in that quagmire of more exercise triggers the cfs, and vis-versa.. Its a nasty nasty trap!
I was diagnosed in 2011 by a Rheumatologist, who on paper said i am(at that time) right down the middle for both illnesses.
The awful aspect of this condition is the fact that in the summer when im at my base-level of 75-80% pain..(its never gone lower in 14yrs) I'll attempt to do something in the garden, and anyone looking at me would think I'm physically able & fit; but they never see the seizing of the muscles and doms hrs after and the proceeding days., unless they see me shuffling to my bin when i can.
I'm sure you also have many debilitating co-morbid conditions that come along with these issues( though i have always been a migraineur since 13 , also c5-6 spinal stenosis-cluster headaches(oxygen tank) trigeminal/occipital neuralgia.
I'll just mention this quick: When i first applied, i'd heard so many negative views regarding fibro and me/cfs…but the sheer fact that i spent 3 weeks in St Thomas', have tried every procedure they have offered, to attempt to get better and well (its simply not worked).. plus PIP contacting the hospital and having a very lengthy chat really helped my position, as it was all based on facts and no hyperbole..Now we're facing all these benefits changes and i just dont know what more i can show them..Unless they come to live with me for a week, maybe then they can see without any doubts.
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I think that many autistic ppl on the higher functioning end are like high end graphics computers but with no inbuilt fan (so frequent overheating and crashing)
Some of the most intelligent ppl in history had disabilities or major mental health illnesses that impacted their ability to function
If there was more understanding and support and less dismissal in the world the human population may be developmentally 50yrs ahead of where it is now
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I think it is to the usual standard. CPI was only 1.7% in September which is very bad luck, as its the lowest month for the entire year, but using Sept is normal for the DWP uplifts.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/timeseries/d7g7/mm23
Pensions have the triple lock which means they always get the highest of earnings growth, 2.5% or CPI, earnings was the highest at 4.1% thats why they got 4.1%.
So my £8.70 is actually too high for the 2025/2026 uprate. If I redo the maths for 1.7% it becomes, £4.94 every 4 weeks or £1.24 (rounded up 1.235p) per week.
A double enhanced award at 1.7% is an extra £12.50 per 4 weeks or £3.13 per week, so yes I think £5 is too high, I am not sure what happened in your calculations. I guess you based it on higher historical inflation and enhanced awards.0 -
s are the worst. Last for days . Sciatica, cramps which no Dr found a reason for . All different types of pain in different areas . It sounds like St Thomas’s is a lot better than The Royal Free. They gave me therapy, once it didn’t work they forget about you . Apart from muscle relaxants and painkillers I’m left to it
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I find it interesting as apparently the people doing the random means testing UC reviews are remote workers, which is why it uses an upload system, so my first thought after learning that was to look for these jobs, but yep, they not advertised which of course is no surprise.
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so you want me to use more accurate figures
You know what I can do that but you will have to allow me a little time to gather the official figures that the dwp used to calculate things (I obviously can’t predict the next 3 years of inflation but I can look up the last 10 years to get the average.
I get touchy when someone challenges my maths but I also want to make Uber sure that I’m along the right lines even if it means proving myself wrong and I have no problem holding my hand up to an error
I hope you are understanding that I’ll continue using the current 3.6mil pip claimant figure in future calculations of 2026-2029 3yr freeze (no idea how that 3.6million number will rise or fall in that time and also I think I’ll confuse 99% of the forum if I incorporate that too)
let’s get some better more accurate figures 😉0 -
@worried33 I have to admit I didn't know what you meant straight away (just tired) but realised/googled it (my 'go to' 🤣) and they are advertised - please see link below, well, I think these are the jobs you're referring to
www.jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk
You have to click through a few bits and bobs to get to them. it was UC Jobs i hadn't looked or found this earlier.
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As far as I can tell they're only backtracking on freezing PIP, which while it wouldn't have been good was probably the least harmful part of their plans. The last I heard, they were standing strong on the rest which were planned cuts and big changes to eligibility criteria which reduce the amount of people even allowed PIP and LCWRA in the first place. Worrying stuff.
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I too have been reading up on what defines mental illness as a disability on the governments own website. They seem to be trying to say that depression is not that serious, hence trying to change the criteria for it on PIP. I'm not sure where they'll stand on these changes after reading the below link on Gov.UK, but other members on here definately have more of a legal mind than myself and I'm just clutching at straws, so to speak!!
https://www.gov.uk/when-mental-health-condition-becomes-disability
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@Worried33 that address I gave you takes you to help getting jobs but if you Google Universal credit jobs it takes you to the correct page on that site, sorry 😞
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Maybe we should screenshot this and see if they change it.
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I don't think the attached Guidance/screenshot let's you read it all but it's just to show the actual document I referred to earlier- explains very well the definition of mental health disability both in terms of substantial and long term with realistic examples.
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The UN have been holding the UK to account for years, and will continue to do so:
And yes, PTSD and cPTSD are both seen as mental illnesses.
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"The Guardian" reports that Wes Streeting is under attack from MH experts. Moreover, the full welfare reform proposals appear not to have been seen by the whole Cabinet yet:
Wes Streeting’s comments that there is an “overdiagnosis” of some mental health conditions has prompted experts to warn against stigmatising and punishing people.
The health secretary also said too many people were being “written off”, as he was questioned about the government’s welfare measures. Speaking to broadcasters, Streeting was repeatedly challenged on whether ministers were leaving disabled people uninformed for too long about the plans – and whether they would freeze the personal independence payment (Pip) as part of their welfare package this week.
Streeting did not deny the government had dropped plans to freeze Pip after a major backlash from Labour MPs this week. There are still expected to be significant changes to Pip including making the disability payment – which is not dependent on work – harder to claim, as well as changes to employment support for those too sick or disabled to work.
Asked whether he thought overdiagnosis of some conditions was a problem, he told BBC One’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “I want to follow the evidence and I agree with that point about overdiagnosis.
“Here’s the other thing: mental wellbeing, illness, it’s a spectrum and I think definitely there’s an overdiagnosis, but there’s too many people being written off and, to your point about treatment, too many people who just aren’t getting the support they need. So if you can get that support to people much earlier, then you can help people to either stay in work or get back to work.”
Minesh Patel, the associate director of policy and campaigns at the charity Mind, said Streeting was right to say that not enough people were getting support, and advised against stigmatising those with mental health problems.
He said: “Applying for benefits is not an easy process. People with a mental health problem must go through a lengthy and arduous assessment process, with decisions to not award support often overturned at appeal stage. We must also be extremely careful with the language around mental health diagnoses, which risks creating a climate of stigmatising people’s real experiences and undermining the opinions of medical professionals.”
Robert Howard, a professor of old age psychiatry at University College London, said “punishing” people would not get them back to work.
He said: “I’m really anxious that the kind of language that Wes Streeting was using this morning will be used to justify further disinvestment in mental health services.
“If we want to get people with mental illness back to work, the way to do that is to make sure they can access timely and effective treatment, and pretending that they haven’t got a real illness, it just doesn’t make me feel encouraged that the government will invest sufficiently in mental health services to help people get back.
“There’s so many young people with kind of chronic generalised anxiety who can’t work. The way to get them back to work isn’t to kind of shame them and punish them and tell them they’re not ill. The way to get them back to work is to make sure that they have access to proper psychological therapy and treatment so they can be fit and go back to work.”
The Guardian reported on Friday that ministers had threatened to resign over any potential freeze to Pip, which would require a vote in parliament. But there remains widespread concern from Labour MPs about how tight the criteria to claim the disability payment will be, and about the changes to employment and support allowance, which covers those who cannot work.
“I haven’t seen the full plans, they haven’t come to cabinet yet,” Streeting said. “But what I do know is the work and pensions secretary wants to support people who need help the most and we’ve got to make sure that there is a wider range of support, and that everyone’s playing their part, including me, because with those levels of illness, for example, if I can help people back to health, in many cases I’ll be helping them back to work and that’s what we’ll do.
“I haven’t seen the proposals but you’ve seen the briefing, you’ve seen the speculation, I think the moral of the story is wait for the plans.”
Streeting said he did not come into politics to take money from the most vulnerable in society but that there was still a need for reform. “We want to support people who are the poorest and most vulnerable to make sure they’ve got dignity, independence and great quality of life,” he said.
“Without that support from an active state, I wouldn’t be here talking to you. The challenge we’ve got [is] we’ve got one in eight young people in this country not in education, employment or in training. We’ve got one in 10 people who are off work, sick, and 3 million people shut out of the labour market because of long-term illness.
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