Green Paper Discussion (from 24th March, 2025)

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  • luvpink
    luvpink Online Community Member Posts: 1,761 Championing

    @sarah_lea12

    Hi sarah of course you can start a daily devotional thread.

    Its a great idea.

  • luvpink
    luvpink Online Community Member Posts: 1,761 Championing

    @pinkrose

    Me too, dreading it.

  • Tonypiano777
    Tonypiano777 Online Community Member Posts: 51 Contributor
    edited March 25

    Yes, Sarah! , but maybe a dedicated/different thread, perhaps. There are many scriptures that give comfort, and I read an app Bible verse before dropping to sleep! - but wake up about 3 am to take my headphones off! 🙄


    Edit: not just verse of the day, but a thought of the day. A great one was this - to someone in “dark” places: John Milton found great treasures in the darkness of his blind-ness and said “Sometimes a dark tunnel is the shortest way around a hill ”

  • gamer1
    gamer1 Online Community Member Posts: 53 Empowering

    Also they are wiping out billions from the local economy.

  • gamer1
    gamer1 Online Community Member Posts: 53 Empowering

    Doesn't look like they've given us any say in the green paper whatsoever. We are costing the country a lot of money. We are increasing year by year. We are getting too much money. Nothing new. They make the rules and we have to go along with it.

  • Zipz
    Zipz Online Community Member Posts: 1,869 Pioneering

    The Spring Statement is tomorrow. I'm nervous. What can we expect to learn about the proposed benefit cuts and is there a possibility of further welfare cuts not included in the Green Paper?

  • pinkrose
    pinkrose Online Community Member Posts: 160 Empowering

    Hi luvpink, remember we will all see this nonsense through, together.

    As Much as I've hit rock bottom, I'm telling myself we might have some of the proposals watered down, at least.

    Be kind to yourself darling.

    It's a 'living hell' atm.....but we will get through it and hopefully things won't be as bad as we all fear !!!!!

  • sarah_lea12
    sarah_lea12 Online Community Member Posts: 63 Empowering
  • Zipz
    Zipz Online Community Member Posts: 1,869 Pioneering
  • silmarillion
    silmarillion Online Community Member Posts: 35 Contributor

    Everyone….ive just watched the news. There was a brief article about Rachel Reeves disasterous mini budget which will take place tommorow. They said the news is seeking submissions. from groups and individuals about how the spring statement will affect you…..if anyone is game to do this there is a form you can fill in on the bbc website, link below,

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/send/u187894196

  • calflye
    calflye Online Community Member Posts: 97 Empowering

    I've just filled that out now. Thank you for the link. Are submissions being taken tomorrow?

  • onlymeagain
    onlymeagain Online Community Member Posts: 115 Empowering

    I just took the new PIP test and scored 17 and 24. This was based on what I believe they cannot argue with, I could in theory receive more points.
    I have to say I'm undecided on this new 4 points thing. On one hand, I can see how many many people will be effected and the knock on affect, but, I also see how many, who may not have many struggles and can live a fairly normal life, can score low on a number of descriptors and still qualify. I say this because just this week I have discovered two friends receive PIP and I am quite shocked. One is getting married, works full time, flies around the world on their own and is more than capable of being independent regarding cooking, washing etc. The other has some difficulties in social areas and going out, but can manage all other areas independently. I am fully aware I don't see everything, but it does also explain why many people assume people are pulling a fast one regarding disability benefits.

  • calflye
    calflye Online Community Member Posts: 97 Empowering

    @onlymeagain When it comes to myself, I only claim for my mental health disability so to others, I seem like I can do everything perfectly well but, as you said, not everything is seen and in reality, I struggle a lot with certain issues that lead me to qualify for PIP.

    For the 4 points rule, if I was awarded correctly, I wouldn't necessarily need to worry about myself too much because I would've got 4 points on at least one descriptor. Due to being awarded incorrectly, thanks to the assessor that lied on certain points, I do not qualify for PIP at all with the 4 points rule.

    Even if I did qualify, I would still be just as angry. I feel it's just a moral standpoint. There's that on top of so many other cuts/changes that will negatively impact those with disabilities and it's just wrong what the Government are doing. Especially trying to justify it as a moral decision to save money on their abysmal budget.

    (I just want to add that this comment is not an attempt to come at you. I really hope that it didn't come across like that and I'm so sorry if it did, I'll remove if you want me to. I think it's just tiredness/late night posting. Good indication I need to head to bed!)

  • silmarillion
    silmarillion Online Community Member Posts: 35 Contributor

    They want to run the story tommorow I believe……that’s what they said on the news. Good on ye for filling it in! I’m in the process of filling it in

  • worried33
    worried33 Online Community Member Posts: 846 Championing
    edited March 25

    B&W do point out that the consultation on offer is a sham, the worst parts of the green paper have no consultation, e.g. the green paper asks what should happen to those who are victims of the 4 point change, it doesnt ask if the 4 point change should happen. The 4 point change and some other things wont have a consultation and will likely be law by end of July as things stand (effective date from Nov 2026). In the consultation I answered the question that the victims should keep their existing award, as thats the only sane response.

  • onlymeagain
    onlymeagain Online Community Member Posts: 115 Empowering

    Your post came across just fine :) As I said I'm undecided as I can see why the changes might be needed, but also don't accept changes should be made because I know the knock on affect it would have. I have two sons on PIP and whilst one should be okay, I'm not sure on the other. He currently gets enhanced living and mobility but his difficulties are more mental health than physical so he could easily be one of those who loses PIP if this goes ahead and they use the 4 point rule as a way to get people off PIP. I think that's what I fear the most, that rather than wanting PIP to go to those genuinely in need, it is a reason to reduce the points people get so they no longer qualify.

  • calflye
    calflye Online Community Member Posts: 97 Empowering

    I get you. I'm hoping that these changes really don't make it through. They're already facing so much backlash even from their own MPs so I can't see that changing too much, other than more MPs potentially rebelling. It's so mind boggling to me when they talk about needing to save money or talk about fraud rates. Fraud rates from the DWP's own stats is around less than half of 1%. Plus, there are so many areas that they could save money rather than cutting from those who need it.

    I've been trying to see a bit of positives, even though that is so hard, and I've been trying to think of the sense of unity it has brought people in a sense? Don't know if that makes sense but it feels like so many people are coming together, making their voices heard as much as they can, doing their best all to bring about a message and change. I just always love when there's that sense of unity.

  • YogiBear
    YogiBear Online Community Member Posts: 131 Empowering

    Looks like more welfare cuts are going to be announced tomorrow (Sky News). ITV News website (Anushka Asthana, Deputy Political Editor). 'I can reveal that the OBR has judged the net savings from the welfare package to be at £3.4 billion, significantly below the amount that government analysts had laid out.

    Sources tell me that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will now cut an extra £500 million by freezing incapacity benefits (the higher rate of universal credit) until 2030 after an initial cut, and will also slightly reduce the basic rate of universal credit in 2029 after an earlier increase.'