Scope's reply to the governments planned concessions to the green paper.

Albus_Scope
Albus_Scope Posts: 11,152 Scope Online Community Coordinator
edited July 4 in Current affairs

The concessions to this bill do not go far enough. They create an unfair, two-tier system which will widen the gap in support for current and future claimants as time goes on. We still want to see all disabled people protected from cuts. And we want the government to consult with disabled people on these changes as well.ย 

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These are our recommendations:

  • pause the introduction of this bill and launch a consultationย to ensure that reforms are informed by the views and experiences of disabled people, their carers and representative organisations.
  • at minimum, pause the second reading of the bill until after the PIP assessment reviewย has been published, working with disabled people to make changes based off its findings.

The Government is proposing to frontload the ยฃ1 billion of employment support to invest in employment support schemes. We welcome the Government bringing forward plans to invest ยฃ1 billion into employment support schemes for disabled people. This will help schemes build a track record of success with supporting disabled people, creating incentives to participate. However, we are concerned that this investment is set in a backdrop of devastating cuts for future benefit claimants.

You can read more about the bill and any updates here on the Scope website.

Links have been updated 03/07/2025

Over 8,000 people have asked their MP to vote against benefit cuts in Parliament already. Because of this, the Government have been forced to pause plans to cut PIP. We canโ€™t let the pressure stop. They must scrap plans to cut other benefits, too. Your MP will have another opportunity to vote on plans to cut the health element of UC on 9 July. Tell them about the extra costs disabled people face, and ask them to vote against benefit cuts

Ask your MP to vote against cuts.jpg

Link to previous discussions:

Tagged:
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Comments

  • ricky1040
    ricky1040 Online Community Member Posts: 220 Empowering

    @Albus_Scope

    Can you shed any light on how migration from ESA to universal credit and the transitional protection will now be handled with the new changes or concessions.

    It is mad to think new claimants be treated differently than existing. Do you think MPs will vote this through now.

  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 11,152 Scope Online Community Coordinator

    I'm afraid right now I can't @ricky1040 we're finding things out at the same time as you in most cases.

    But as soon as we get any more information, we'll of course update you all. โ˜บ๏ธ

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 7,638 Championing

    WWell I'm awaiting uc migration I'm thinking still be same as we move with lwcra and we're existing claimants?

  • Chris75_
    Chris75_ Online Community Member Posts: 3,362 Championing
    edited June 27

    There are now two different rates of the OAP. A man born after 06th April 1951, and a woman born after 06th April 1953, they get a higher rate.

    There is a precedent, unfortunately.

  • SadOldPanda
    SadOldPanda Online Community Member Posts: 37 Empowering

    So much for putting disabled people at the heart of everything they do, you'd think they'd want to brief charities along with MPs on these changes

  • Chris75_
    Chris75_ Online Community Member Posts: 3,362 Championing

    Bombs before bread, you know it makes sense.

  • chiarieds
    chiarieds Online Community Member Posts: 17,156 Championing

    Hi @Albus_Scope - I'm pleased to see Scope's response to the Govt's concessions about this Bill. I agree with all that's said by Scope, but am also concerned about future changes to the PIP descriptors which Timms will be looking into, & only hope then that disabled people & the charities such as Scope which support them will actually be properly consulted (unlike that with the Green Paper). That also casts uncertainty over assessments; will the assessor have to apply different descriptors dependent on when a person claimed PIP? - I can't see that happening. This should all be discussed before this bill progresses.

    Currently there are more questions than answers, & these concessions just hoping to convince labour MPs that by 'protecting' existing claimants who may be in their electorate then they may keep their seat. What about future claimants who become disabled, they will also be part of the electorate, & would you trust a MP who has been shown to change their mind if they have stood back from the current rebellion having initially supported it?

    Reform should affect all claimants equally; all disabled people, now & in future years.

    Sorry to see the 'Green Paper & Benefits Reform Updates' thread closed, as any updates may be lost in one long & quick moving thread with it's attendant speculation.

  • NeuroEve
    NeuroEve Online Community Member Posts: 68 Contributor

    this is the same question I would like an answer to. Our son and daughter are both in support group of ESA but after reading through information that is available Iโ€™m not sure if they would be classed as a new claimant under the proposed rules when they do migrate to UC.

  • hallac
    hallac Online Community Member Posts: 30 Contributor

    Will current claimants of lwcra be reassessed or have reassessments been stopped?

  • Chris75_
    Chris75_ Online Community Member Posts: 3,362 Championing

    You could say that about any walk of life. Most people have only limited time/interest in others.

  • Chris75_
    Chris75_ Online Community Member Posts: 3,362 Championing
    edited June 27

    If i was an able bodied worker today, I would be taking out critical injury and disablement insurance. I fear they cannot rely on there being any protection for them in the future.

  • YogiBear
    YogiBear Online Community Member Posts: 384 Pioneering

    I agree. That is why every new/existing claimant should be assessed under the same criteria for PIP. Whatever the new criteria for PIP is going to be. Everyone needs to be treated fairly. We're all in this together. One for all and all for one. ๐Ÿ‘๏ธ

  • Meredithshep
    Meredithshep Online Community Member Posts: 95 Empowering

    @Ranald that's why I don't understand why some MP's think these changes and concessions are okay, it's not okay for future people with disabilities. There will be little to no help for them and we call this a civilised society!

  • Zipz
    Zipz Online Community Member Posts: 3,597 Championing

    Me too. But what about those who are born with disabilities or who become disabled before entering the workforce?

  • Chris75_
    Chris75_ Online Community Member Posts: 3,362 Championing

    Disappointing, but how things work in reality. We will be in a bad way, if we have to depend on politicians doing the right thing.

This discussion has been closed.