Scope's reply to the governments planned concessions to the green paper.
Comments
-
Yes phone is better for me personally as I have invisible conditions so I look fine unless my sciatica plays up then I’m screaming in pain . Same as the pain from my arthritis. But my fibromyalgia pain is a pain that throbs constantly and my reaction to it is different so you wouldn’t know what I’m feeling. My first assessor was face to face and absolutely nasty . Lied , disagreed with everything I said , ignored all medical evidence. So I don’t want a face to face . I’m praying for paper based , just to get a break for once
0 -
I definitely feel questions are aimed at MH . What I don’t think is covered is fatigue. Fatigue is what I find most debilitating. Without energy you can’t physically do anything and it’s not just ME long Covid sufferers who feel fatigue, anyone who is feeling pain can be fatigued. Mental and physical pain is tiring
0 -
I agree with your post! This has been going on years and how to claim PIP etc. And the numbers of working age claiming ill health benefits has gone up 2/3 since lockdown - this is fact. PIP claimants have risen 1.7m in the same period from 2m in 2020. Absolutely sure UC and PIP are being gamed (fleeced) at a time face to face appointments I went through were stopped!! It's obvious when you look at averages on PIP alone. There were a 1/4m applications for PIP in the first 3 months of this year, so as you say clogged up! I said all this when I first joined this forum and I am sure it is the cause of all the upset for genuine disabled people.
0 -
I’m with you on that one. DWP have been okish in my experience but Capita push me completely over the edge.
0 -
Same concern which I mentioned in an earlier post, this is a win, anything that gives us progress is a win, but of course there is still a battle for new claimants, and these later descriptor changes which I have a sneaky feeling may not be included in these concessions. But we wont know until more is revealed, apparently these concessions havent even being put in the written bill yet, so MPs dont know what they voting on.
1 -
Its these reasons vouchers arent suitable, its not possible to think of all the possible reasons for use of the money.
0 -
I agree with this post too! Been going on years and as I have said, this is causing all the upset now for genuine disabled people. You only have to look at the increase in numbers on ill health benefits since lockdown to realise something amiss is going on or happening. Disgusting and the government should be investigating all PIP claims since the start of lockdowns when face to face appointments were halted. These people have ruined a good benefit system for the disabled and now governments have to act!
1 -
Hi Guys and Gals,
I just want to give my 2 cents here if I may.
Firstly, I want to say that I am NOT a fan of Starmer or this Labour Party. There is no love lost here at all.
But as far as the welfare cuts go I think he’s given us a fair compromise.
Of course I’d love all disabled people to be able to get the benefits they deserve now and in the future.
But surely there has to be a cut off somewhere.
We are accepting thousands upon thousands of immigrants in to the country by the year and there are groups of charities and organisations helping these men and women claim PIP and other benefits. A lot of the time when they aren’t actually entitled to them. No better than the ‘ambulance chaser’ law firms.
It can’t go on like this. We simply don’t have the funds.What do we do, say benefits for everyone if you were born here? Make all immigrants work for their money whether they can or not? Or limit new claims to the new rules.
You have to pick one because it’s unsustainable as it is and someone has to give.
As I said before, I’m certainly not a fan of Starmer but I also don’t think the amended laws are a terrible thing.
Sure, most of you won’t agree with me but it’s how I feel.
Peace.
1 -
Thank you for the update @MW123 - &, it was as you rather hoped, a small group of you that could get across your very genuine concerns.
I've looked again at the proposed UC & PIP Bill & note it says that a PIP claimant will be entitled until 'immediately before the first day (if any) on which [the claimant] is entitled to the daily living component as a result of a subsequent determination.'
This I presume means if a claimant is awarded by a Tribunal, which isn't a change from the current regs (apart from the daily living bit), but am wondering if this will also be the case if this Bill goes ahead with it's 'protections' for current claimants. Perhaps another question to ask next week.
Overall, incredibly good of her to arrange a meeting to discuss things openly, & it sounds like she really listened.
I look forward to hearing more tomorrow.
1 -
I agree here too. Once the proposed changes are voted on and go through, Reeves will really get started. I am sure there are "next" phases as the ill health benefits increase since lockdown is costing £34billion not her so called £5billion....
0 -
We have no idea of the health of these new applicants, so I wont be joining in on this judgement of people and claiming they fraudsters.
What we do know on the other hand that mental health care in this country is almost non existent, social care has been run down to its bones, and that access to treatment on the NHS is so bad we have claimants routinely using private health care to get things done.
If you want an answer as to why claims have gone up, its because we have ran down the services that are designed to keep people healthy mentally and physically.
During covid it was repeatedly reported that the NHS was in a much worse state than other countries, but the country seems to have a short memory, its all being forgotten.Even things like closing libraries, community centres, that sort of thing has an impact.
1 -
Hi @Trevor_PIP - may I draw your attention to this article by the New Economics Foundation if you wish to learn some 'facts':
I agree that there are some people on Social Media who say they aim to help people claim benefits, & want paying for doing so. I hope you'd agree with me however that there's good, impartial info on here, Benefits and Work, MSE, turn2us, pipinfo, etc. that's freely given by people who try to give credible links to the info they post. Thankfully this all outweighs those trying to make money out of some people looking for benefits advice.
Please read the article, thank you. I'd also be interested to know where you get your 'facts' from.
2 -
I never said all claimants since lockdown, but it is clear working on averages over time the UC and PIP systems must be being gamed or fleeced at a time face to face meetings were halted. Point on NHS waiting lists etc. It is the sheer cost of the increases since lockdown, it is not £5 billion it is £34 billion and unsustainable.
0 -
Thanks and I will read the attachment. Yes, I agree there are good charities thst give free advice and help people with their claims. Being honest, it the sheer increases in claims since lockdown that makes people think there is something amiss. It has increased by 2/3 in what - about 5 years. I am not saying all are gaming the system but on averages it points out something is amiss and unsustainable. I am thinking of genuine disabled people who should get their benefits without the current cruel system when I type these posts.
0 -
Sorry its not clear at all, I am not one of these idiot reform voters who goes by word of mouth, or makes assumptions about people. It is quite logical, if you let public services run down, then the population becomes more ill.
Also bear in mind there is legitimate cases getting turned down, they learn they worded the form wrongly, didnt understand the descriptors, reapply and then get accepted. Cost of living changes have also likely led to an increase of claims. Where people have realised they need financial help. On paper I qualified for 5 years before I made my claim. I didnt claim earlier as I didnt need the money.2 -
They can just tax the super rich a bit more, they don't have to cut benefits or make them harder to get.
1 -
Kindly read the article before commenting further @Trevor_PIP - personal opinion or indeed a person's perception is one thing, but members of this community are asked to not present opinion as fact.
I feel like I should make an apology, but simply can't, as I find the spreading of misinformation a real concern even when it comes from someone like yourself, or perhaps even more so, as I see you otherwise genuinely helping our members.
2 -
"They will continue to receive the higher rate—£97/week (£423.27/month)—from April 2026, but this amount will be frozen until it is phased out from 2028."
Could you please clarify this. Which amount that will be frozen, as they've just accepted to lift the freeze on the uprating of the health element in line with inflation?
0 -
these are concessions are not concessions at all if at your next review you would be subject to the 4 point rule.that was always the way it was going to work and saying current claimants will be exempt and only apply to new claims is a lie if after november 2026 currrent claimants will be subject to the 4 point rule.that is what was going to happen before these concessions so current claimants will not be protected if thats the case and the pip cuts will be exactly as they were going to be.
also current lcwra claimants were never going to have they're money cut in 2026 but would have a freeze on the rate.the way i see things is there are no concessions as there doesn't seem to be any protections for anybody apart from the 200,000 who get in the scc group and be spared reassessment.
0 -
Honestly, I've only repeated what other people have said, as I haven't even read throughout the PIP form, leave alone completing it and going through the assessment myself, even though I'm planning to do these in the coming weeks.
If the descriptors address mental health, then, that's good.
The descriptors need also to address fatigue and pain. On Friday, I had a few xrays on my knees and right foot, as I've lately been having terrible pains in these parts, to the extent that at times I can hardly change side when sleeping due to intense pain.
S. Timms says that they'll consult so many stakeholders and experts, but I doubt if it's not going to be like the report of Alan Milburn, who concocted a report based only on Barnsley and said that they found out that 200K sick and disabled people were crying out for jobs.
0
Categories
- All Categories
- 15.2K Start here and say hello!
- 7.2K Coffee lounge
- 87 Games den
- 1.7K People power
- 117 Announcements and information
- 24K Talk about life
- 5.7K Everyday life
- 370 Current affairs
- 2.4K Families and carers
- 863 Education and skills
- 1.9K Work
- 519 Money and bills
- 3.6K Housing and independent living
- 1K Transport and travel
- 879 Relationships
- 255 Sex and intimacy
- 1.5K Mental health and wellbeing
- 2.4K Talk about your impairment
- 863 Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions
- 920 Neurological impairments and pain
- 2.1K Cerebral Palsy Network
- 1.2K Autism and neurodiversity
- 39K Talk about your benefits
- 5.9K Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 19.5K PIP, DLA, ADP and AA
- 8K Universal Credit (UC)
- 5.6K Benefits and income