Green Paper Discussion (from 24th March, 2025)
Comments
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Really struggling today with the news of benefit cuts but can't help to need to stay updated. I just want to curl in a ball and cry about it. I can't work at the moment so get PIP and UC LCWRA, I don't have 4 points on PIP for one descriptor so I'm losing that along with most likely LCWRA when that change comes. I have a lifelong condition. It's just not fair. They cut and cut at benefits, target the disabled and even proposing cutting free school meals to those who need it. In the same week, they get announced a pay rise.
There's times I feel on the verge of giving up because of these benefit cuts and today is one of those days for me. I've worked so hard in getting as stable as possible in a short time but now I'm just going back down again. What do the Government do about it? Further label their changes as "moral".
Are we allowed to email those in the Government's cabinet or other MPs in other areas to me? I'm trying to do everything I can, I've already emailed my MP, filled out the consultation, signed petitions for charities in support of us, I just feel like I should be doing so much more. It's really getting me down and today, it's really affecting me
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I believe you are right.
I bet there will a lot of general outrage after todays Spring budget.
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The face-to-face descriptor in the PIP assessment. You can currently score up-to 8 points for it for the most severely disabled, but there's talk they are going to remove the face-to-face disability entirely from the PIP assessment.
This is the condition for people who rarely leave their homes because they can't handle face-to-face interactions with people, or being around people in general, which is a problem I have with my autistic diagnosis. It has plagued my life and I don't know how anyone can say it isn't a disability when (in my case) I couldn't cope with schooling, developing friendships, working around others, being around others, etc. It has literally destroyed any hope of a normal life and I've tried all the counselling, medication, primary care nursing, forced social situations, etc.
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Link to live reporting. If anyone can bear it.
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I just feel absolutely sick to my stomach this morning. Stress is not good for disabled people at the best of times. In my situation it is just compounding my illness and also worry for my daughter is keeping me up most nights as it is. I feel like screaming but worry if I start I won't stop. I have been hanging on by a thread since my daughters was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and have watched two of the young people on the Teenage cancer trust ward she is treated on pass with the same leukaemia she has and it just feels as if the government just doesn't care what individual situation people are in. I scored 4's on my last assessment but it doesn't mean I will on future ones. Even if we are lucky enough to be given PIP in future we will be at least £216 per month worse off as LCWRA is being changed to UC health element from 2028 and cut from £416 per month to £200 per month.
You would think cutting that much from disabled people would be enough for them and raise enough money but to then also be threatening to take PIP away which would have the knock on effect of losing your carer which in my case is my husband then you would lose the carers element of UC which is another £198 per month and then carers allowance another £324 per month and people will be literally on a couples joint claim of £617 per month and that is it.
This is not moral at all it is deliberately cruel and inhumane.
I know from all of the accounts of people on here that our situation is neither unique or even as bad as some people have it and my heart feels so heavy and hurts for all that people are going through.
Please try and stay as strong as possible today and just know you are not alone.
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I find your attitude and answers to me quite patronising. We are allowed to have our own opinion. This is not the first time you done this, accusing me to be like trump when I questioned spending billions on carbon capture while cutting our benefits etc. Just because my opinion is different to yours, I find it's rude. I have been through domestic violence where I couldn't even voice my opinion where I was also accused of being retarded. I feel like leaving this group.
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I didn't think any descriptor changes were in the proposals yet? The green paper just says they are doing a review of the whole assessment process. I'm in the same boat as you too as it's my 4 point condition.
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Commentator just said that a lot of mp's will find the proposals hard to swallow when voted on so may not come in to place.
Will any proposals come into action fast? Or go through parliament first
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can someone from scope please explain this further please . I just read on benefits and work that they’re putting are putting the green paper to the vote so once it passes it is an act of parliament meaning courts cannot intervene. Surely this can’t be correct as the ECHR seems to interfere in most of acts of discrimination.
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Taken from my fb feed, made me smile especially today as I won’t can’t watch
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Hi @secretsquirrel1 we're in a period of consultation until 30th June 2025 allowing us an opportunity to push back on the initial release. I've added a link which might be helpful explaining the process - Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper - GOV.UK
I believe we're due some more news today so we'll try to share as swiftly as we can.
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I’m sure the government have no intention of listening to us that’s why the consultation isn’t a full one . Our only hope is/was legal action. Is there nothing in law that protects us ?
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Your a diamond @Holly_Scope .
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I'm not from Scope, but what you have read is what I understand. Courts are there to make rulings on the law as it exists. It does get complicated when two laws are seen to be in conflict with one another. So in this case, I imagine any challenges will be on the grounds that the new law is in direct conflict with our basic human rights outlined in another law.
This Act of Parliament will need to be passed in both houses. The Lords acts as the revising chamber and will insist on changes before they will vote the proposals into law. Because these specific proposals were not in the Labour manifesto, the Lords have space to make life difficult for the government.
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@secretsquirrel1 Equality Act, Human Rights Treaty. The United Nations also frequently chime in with these changes
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@mawempathy New laws also need Royal Assent if I'm correct?
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Yes, but that's just a guaranteed rubber stamping exercise.
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Feeling decidedly queezy. Although quite naturally our views differ we much remain united here, in completing the consultation, and in other activities. Reading "The I", this comment troubled me because it enables the Government to divide, rule, and rob:
"Gillian Oliver, 47, who has severe arthritis and mental health issues, receives PIP and universal credit. She told The i Paper she relies on these benefits to survive.
She said that if any benefits are cut or taken away from people in genuine need like her, it will “destroy them” as she relies on this money to survive.
“Any cuts to benefits announced in the Spring Statement will have a terrible impact and be brutal and absolutely destroy people like me,” she said.
There are a lot of people on benefits who shouldn’t be as they are capable of working, so medical professionals should definitely be tougher on them.
“But genuine people like me are going to suffer. We’re not going to be able to manage and food banks will be overwhelmed and there won’t be enough to go round.”
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oh thank you 🙏 . Does this mean if/ when the law passes In parliament if it’s found to contravene the equality laws we can still take this to court or ECHR ?
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Sorry that’s completely my fault — I mean component not condition. I wasn’t fully awake yet when I wrote that 😅
(I love your username, btw!)
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