Green Paper Discussion (from 24th March, 2025)

See your GP? I can't get an appointment with any GP, never mind the one I am supposed to be under. Lately it is hard even to get a phone appointment. Hopeless in fact.

Is it possible to download an app on your phone, some GP's offer online services now where you can book appointments in advance. I am so sorry you are unable to get appointments I can't imagine how hard it must be for you and worrying. I am in South Yorkshire and I can't say a bad word about my GP they are really good but I know it isn't the case everywhere in the UK ( it should be, but isn't and the disparity in care is so unfair ) my Mum and Sister live in London and my mum really struggles to get appointments despite having poorly controlled diabetes and issues associated with it and ends up going to the walk in centre instead. I only mention the app as my mum recently got it for her practice and can now book appointments usually a few weeks in advance.

No problem , I did type it in but it isn't coming up . I'll keep looking thank you .

I found it now lol

For anyone wondering what Reform's manifesto had to say about disability/benefits. Here you go, excerpts from B&W site:

Reform UK election manifesto: welfare benefits promises

 Published: 17 June 2024

Reform UK has published its manifesto today.  It has less than half a page of text on benefits, under the heading “The Benefits System is Broken” and featuring a slogan of “In Britain, if you can work, you must work.”

On PIP and the WCA, Reform says: 

Face to Face, Not Remote Assessments for Benefits

Personal Independence Payment and Work Capability Assessment should be face to face. We will require independent medical assessments to prove eligibility for payments. Those registered with severe disabilities or serious long-term illnesses would be exempt from regular checks.

When benefits and work carried out a poll of readers two years ago on what sort of PIP assessment they would prefer, the results were:

• Paper 59% 
• Phone 20%
• Face-to-face 20%
• Video 1%

So this is a move that would be unpopular with the majority of Benefits and Work readers

The remainder of the text is devoted to raising the starting point for tax to £20,000 a year and an aim “Motivate up to 2 million People Back to Work”.

Reform say that:

“Reforms to benefit support and training will help people back into work. Particular focus on 16-34 year olds. Employment is critical to improving mental health. Tax relief for businesses that undertake apprenticeships.”

The manifesto goes on to warn that:

“All job seekers and those fit to work must find employment within 4 months or accept a job after 2 offers. Otherwise, benefits are withdrawn.”

You can download a copy of Reform UK’s manifesto from this link.

Thanks @Catherine21 .The reason I mentioned it is because I genuinely see no other way to ensure that disabled and vulnerable people are properly supported. It’s tough to trust any major political party on its own. We need strong leadership and a massive movement to push this forward.

But how ??? is the curious question…..🤔🤔

it seems to me that Reform don’t have to be in power to call the shots in our political agenda

If LCWRA is going to be tied with PIP, what will happen to all the people who are still on DLA?

I think we're all doing the best we can by writing to our MP's, responding to the green paper and signing petitions to oppose these changes. Hopefully our voices will be heard. That's all that we can do. Who knows whether these proposals will eventually be watered down. If the proposals go ahead as planned I think it'll take the government time to implement it all. I have now accepted these proposals are going to happen. If any of these proposals don't happen or are hopefully watered down I'll take as a bonus.

Reassessed for the new PIP? Would they leave DLA alone, I think they will reassess it.