The Green Paper Discussion (the document link is here too!)

People tell me that all the time when I write about my life on sites like this. I feel like this is only me living a miserable, lonely experience, but the more you engage with others online you realise our condition is shared with many others too.

If someone thinks I (or anyone else like us) would willingly choose this sad and lonely life just to avoid having to work, you've gotta be crazy.

I try to explain it like this to people who lead relatively normal lives:

imagine a life without all the things that make you happy… friendships, a partner, maybe children, independence, your own home, travel, going to events & socializing eating out at restaurants, etc. Now think about all the things that you find difficult in life or annoying. I have none of the joys but many/most of all the same problems. Do you think not having to go out and work is really such an incredible treat that you would sacrifice everything else good you've got going on to sit at home alone all day?

Ok so i have had a read and hopefully can help in some way as i think i got my head around it

1. nothings gonna change till October 2026 so a good 1.5 years before the changes come into effect
2. LCWRA payments frozen - Meaning that they will not increase inline with inflation So the amount you see today will be the same up to 2028. Also for new claimants of LCWRA from next year, the rate will reduce to £50 per week, doesn't change for existing people, however didn't read anything about reassessments so not sure about that.
3. WCA will be scrapped in 2028. meaning there will be 1 assessment for both PIP & LCWRA.
4. Removing the non work search criteria - So they're thinking about removing this aspect. Even if you have LCWRA & Enhanced pip, they may ask you to contribute something to getting your benefit payments, So like training or education. things like that. None of this just pay you and never contact you again based from what i saw/read

One thing everyone has to remember is, this needs to pass LAW. So the Legal system may look at this and think "this is illegal" which they have done in the past with changes made with the government "Rwanda for example"

I thin they're trying to root out the lazy from the genuine sick and ill healthed, alot of people claim benefits for every day conditions "normal levels or every day levels of anxiety and/or depression for example".

People need to remember that PIP is designed to help you with your conditions. But a lot of people use it for things that aren't related to their illnesses (I know people that use it to pay for their brand new car every year which isnt mobility scheme) which isn't what PIP is designed for.

Alot will change before it's made into LAW. Just keep your eye out but i don't think anyone can tell you the Exact changes, only ideas and speculation at this point.