Green Paper Discussion (from 24th March, 2025)

Yes, they’ve conveniently neglected to mention anything about CA. I doubt many people outside of those in receipt of PIP or AA will know how that world be impacted at the loss of them. That means the financial loss will be far worse than they’re suggesting.

I couldn’t watch it all, but we’re not any clearer what’s happening to those on CB ESA(old style) Support Group are we?

The Resolution Foundation:

“They argue that the chancellor did not need to concentrate the pain on welface cuts. Extending the freeze in personal tax thresholds by just a single year would have saved almost as much (£3.9bn in 2029-30) and would have been shared far more widely across 24 million households, they say”.

That would have been the sensible thing to do. Giving you ample time to liase with charities etc regarding changing the welfare system and make sensible reforms.

Maybe, she’ll do that (extend the freeze on personal tax threshold) in the Autumn budget as her headroom will vanish again.

Let's hope it takes a few years before it becomes law and by that time it nearly be Election time and to not face adding 1 million rejected pip persons to the jobless total before a election they rethink the whole thing. I am so happy the prime minister mum did not have to go through all this stress during her disability years. Also the deputy prime Minister family who received benefits for over 50 years are now also not going through all this. This brings me so much peace..

Getting a sick/fit note does not automatically stop you going for interviews or job centre appointments. If you sign onto universal credit you are classed as a job seeker and must abide by your work commitments. If you have a sympathetic work coach they may reduce your hours for job searching, they may even turn them off for a period of time,that is down to the discretion your particular work coach. The only way job searching, interviews and face to face in job centre appointments are switched off or altered is if you present a 1 month fit with a view to a WCA which will be activated on day 29 of your fit note. You must supply 3 consecutive fit notes and your returned UC50 form for your wca. However this can take months so you will need to keep getting your fit notes until your assesment. All your health issues must be updated in the health section of your journal. You will still get monthly calls/video calls until you have your wca, fit notes allowing. However, all of it is down to what your work coach decides. Your doctor may sign you off, "not fit for work" but they will decide how they are going to handle it .

I have recently started this process in Jan/Feb. Have now submitted 2 fit notes, 1 more to go. Have received UC50 form with a view to a WCA. I still get monthly video calls "just to check in with you". I was in hospital last Monday with suspected heart attack on top of all my other health issues. An ambulance was called and was rushed to resuscitation. Although I updated my journal my work coach didn't cancel my video appointment 7 days later and I had that a few days ago. I could have done without it as it added more stress to my system. Also, if after my 3 months worth of fit notes and UC50 form returned she may decide to turn my work commitments back on and my in job centre face to face appointments and I may have to start job searching again while I await my assesment.. I'm 64 so age and circumstances are not taken into full consideration.

If anyone looses pip or lrwca, they will likely have to start the whole process(as I have just explained at length) again and it is a long drawn out process. As my work coach told me in January (quote) " if you are going to go down the health journey wca route just remember, it doesn't matter what you say/experience. It doesn't matter what we may think or say. It doesn't even matter what your doctor or specialists say. It is all down to the medical assessors and their final outcome as to whether you get lrwca or not. The process of loosing pip would likely result in the same process if you are on universal credit (job seekers) and present fit notes. Fit Notes from your doctor are not as cut and dry as many people think in regards to the DWP.

ESA CB is being merged with JSA CB to an unemployment insurance.

This will be time limited and after that time you’ll lose the award and have to claim UC if you meet the criteria. If not meet the criteria you’ll lose your pension contributions.

This has to be challenged and don’t see no charities nor anyone talking about this change.

One which could easily be challenged in court.

I’m starting to think that the charities are in cahoots with the government

I agree with you sadly just seen it's going to put 50k more children into poverty. Absolutely appalling. I volunteered years ago for a child poverty group. It's so hard to believe that here we are 30 years later and it's labour creating that. Utterly disgraceful. I hope to get my mojo back at some point soon to start emailing again and fighting this.

I worry this is only the start. What if in time for the next budget they suddenly have to find another 1-2b etc from to fill some sort of gap, welfare is an easy target, and if these cuts go through with minimal backlash they'll be more inclined to go after welfare again in the future.

I'll be very suprised if this is the last cuts to welfare in this current parliament. 😫