The Green Paper Discussion (the document link is here too!)
Comments
-
I don't know how they think taking people's PIP ,Carers and LWC will make people work 🤷🏻♀️ I wasn't aware that poorness was the fix to all of our medical issues
1 -
Exactly!! I read it same way as you, we are protected under the equality act 2010 and it should have been consulted on legally. In my view(and i'm not Judge Judy) this can be challenged in court.
2 -
Can this be pushed through before next year ? My review is April 2026 I believe
1 -
Me, I'm close to VSEDing. And if I get reassessed and classed as fit for work or LCW it means there will then be things that I'll be required to do by the work coach, which I will not be able to do, which means my money will be cut further or stopped altogether, which will mean I'll have no choice but to VSED, as I wont be able to afford food and will starve, and even if I could afford food, I just couldn't live with the worry of having baliffs coming round or being taken to court because of me not being able to pay council tax, I wont be able to take meds anymore due to not being able to have free prescriptions anymore, I'll be housebound as I wont be able to afford to run my car anymore, and my gas and electricity will end up being cut off because of not being able to pay the bills. So I would rather be dead and will just refuse food even if it's given to me for free. I will take appetite suppressants so I don't suffer as much, and will stop drinking all fluids so I don't suffer for as long.
0 -
Me too.
1 -
We can't even end it all as once our money is cut we can't afford a cremation!! I'll have to wait until bonfire night and volunteer to be Guy Fawkes, or throw myself on next doors barbeque in summer to save money!!
1 -
I really do hope so especially after Ellen Clifford just won in court over the last green paper. You’d think though Starmer would know this as he was literally the top lawyer in the country at one point being director of public prosecutions so it’s cast doubt over whether this is a deliberate ploy to win votes from the right knowing it’s going to be challenged? Or does he just think so highly of himself that he doesn’t care anymore? I don’t trust this government at all after leaky Liz and her department the past week leaking all this to the press. But at least there’s a bit of hope it won’t go ahead so fingers crossed 🤞🏻
1 -
I would have thought so. It can't be challenged I suppose. More bad news 😢
0 -
Yes exactly, maybe i'm wrong but sure others on here are more legally minded than myself!!
0 -
and you’d think Starmer would know this . If I remember correctly it was starmer who took Blair’s government to court to win benefits for asylum seekers so he must know something of these laws . Either it’s gross ignorance of the laws or it makes me think perhaps they’re hoping to look tough for the right wing but actually know hardly anything will be implemented.
2 -
Well I filled in the consultation form, I was as polite as I could be but it's oddly cathartic having a good rant at them even if it won't do any good. With a bit of creative thinking you can turn any of the questions into an opportunity to tell them they are going to kill people.
3 -
I hope it’s the same now and I can’t see how it would work ie carers , but I wouldn’t put anything passed them . I’ve been looking online and nothings popped up so hopefully it’s not true.
0 -
Thankyou that got a much needed titter out of me
0 -
I looked it up . The 2010 disability act also includes MH. that isn’t classed as mild and chronic pain and fatigue conditions. So the fact that the points system can go against MH must surely be illegal. I have fibromyalgia and ME so they should also be protected
0 -
I commented the same regarding Starmer . They look tough on benefits but even if it’s implemented by the dwp if it goes to court and they lose it’s back pay for everyone. By then Labour will probably be finished anyway so no come back on them
2 -
I’m leaving my body to medical science in the hope it helps to save animal experiments ( no idea if it would but it’s a nice thought) so I guess I could
2 -
I’ve just asked Grok if benefit changes require consultation under the equality act 2010 and this is what it said
Changes to the benefit system—such as alterations to eligibility, payment levels, or assessment processes—could significantly affect individuals with protected characteristics (e.g., disabled people, single parents, or ethnic minorities), who are often disproportionately reliant on benefits. The DWP must therefore assess the equality impact of proposed changes to ensure compliance with the Equality Act.### Why Consultation is Likely Required
While the PSED doesn’t explicitly mandate consultation in every case, courts have ruled that meaningful engagement with affected groups is often necessary to demonstrate "due regard." This stems from case law, such as **R (Bracking) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2013]**, where the closure of the Independent Living Fund was challenged. The court found that the government failed to adequately assess the impact on disabled people or involve them sufficiently, breaching the PSED.
### Exceptions
Minor or technical changes (e.g., adjusting payment dates or inflation-linked increases) might not trigger full consultation if the equality impact is negligible. However, substantive reforms—such as tightening eligibility or altering disability criteria—would almost certainly require it due to their potential to disadvantage protected groups.
### Conclusion
Under the Equality Act 2010, changes to the UK benefit system would typically require consultation to fulfill the PSED, especially if they risk affecting equality of opportunity or disproportionately impacting protected groups. The government would need to show it has actively considered these impacts, and consultation is a key mechanism to achieve that. Failure to consult adequately could lead to judicial review, as seen in past DWP-related cases.
————————————————I also noticed today when Starmer was asked about how if he thinks these reforms are acceptable, he replied with 1/8 young people are NEET and that’s unacceptable and nothing else on the matter and I thought that was a politicians usual of dodging the question but (probably naively) I’m starting to think this is deliberate knowing this is going to be challenged and the only part he knows will be implemented is getting 18-24?22? Year olds into work or training like Blair’s new deal.
I’m no lawyer either but I can only assume this is going to be challenged now and likely successfully as that consultation is not fit for purpose.
6 -
they must know it’ll go to court even if it needs to go to echr. I remember one MP recently said they’ll never go against the echr. Is this their plan to look tough on benefits for the right wing vote knowing they’ll lose in court and they’re absorbed of responsibility? Plus of course we’d get back pay
2 -
I think and I could be wrong that they usually need a claimant to instruct them in their behalf and then that law if used in future cases . Although it may just be tribal laws . Either way they’ll be ready over everything with activists and charities.
0 -
Richard sums the situation up perfectly
Timms who I once had great respect for has done a complete 180.
They have a tonne of other options open, but the most disgusting thing longcovid and the pandemic aftermath have been totally ignored "but we are not at levels before the pandemic"
Yes because a virus ravaged the Globe and we had a clown of a PM who was useless.
We have a situation in which consultants within the NHS on 500k a year +
are now in rental housing, money all gone reliant on PIP. Yes Liz they must be so happy they have lost everything and PIP is so Generous it beats making 500k a year.
What Richard explains here is coming right to the heart of why Labour have failed.
Her policies are A level student project, There's a story flying around Reeves and Starmer
if this year goes as bad as expected will be out, guess who they want as PM? Streeting.
167 seat Maj is impressive but when you look how many of those seats are under 1,000 majority to act like this they really are clueless.
3
Categories
- All Categories
- 16.3K Start here and say hello!
- 7.7K Coffee lounge
- 120 Games den
- 1.8K People power
- 184 Announcements and information
- 25.6K Talk about life
- 6.2K Everyday life
- 423 Current affairs
- 2.5K Families and carers
- 888 Education and skills
- 2K Work
- 610 Money and bills
- 3.8K Housing and independent living
- 1.2K Transport and travel
- 675 Relationships
- 1.6K Mental health and wellbeing
- 2.6K Talk about your impairment
- 883 Rare, invisible, & undiagnosed conditions
- 945 Neurological impairments and pain
- 2.3K Cerebral Palsy Network
- 1.3K Autism and neurodiversity
- 41.5K Talk about your benefits
- 6.2K Employment & Support Allowance (ESA)
- 20.5K PIP, DLA, ADP & AA
- 9.4K Universal Credit (UC)
- 5.4K Benefits and income