Green Paper Related Discussions

I do believe it . I know of someone who trained to do the job of assessor and was so disgusted by the tactics of them being taught how to turn us down I’d believe anything.

Link won’t open . Could you screenshot by any chance please ?

Im really struggling with all this, I know even if the bill passes there's still a little hope before it's implemented with legal challenges and the like but just seeing it's going to be introduced to parliament today has got me facing that dark place that those of us with life long mental health struggles know all so well. I'm scared out my mind guys more so with having to deal with the DWP than potentially being destitute which says alot. Just the thought of them phoning me up has me hyperventilating

sample draft to councillors:

Dear [name of councillor],

I am writing to express my concern about the effects that the proposed Green Paper benefits cuts will have on local services and to ask you to discuss this with our constituency MP.

According to official estimates, 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty by the Green Paper cuts and 700,000 will be pushed into deeper poverty.  There are no official figures on how many people might move into work due to Green paper changes, but the Resolution Foundation has estimated between 60,000 and 105,000 by the end of this parliament.

This means that, at the very least, it is likely that 845,000 people will be pushed into poverty or deeper poverty without being able to find work and some of these will be living in our constituency.

If our MP is considering voting in favour of the cuts, it’s important that they explain how the local authority will deal with the extra strain on its resources, including those listed below, that the cuts will bring.

Increased demand for adult social care

150,000 people are expected to lose their award of carer’s allowance because the person they care for has lost their PIP award.  Many carers will have to seek full-time paid employment to make up for this massive loss of household income. This will lead to an increased demand for care provision from the local authority as well as access to day centres, lunch clubs and transport services.  There is also likely to be an increased demand for aids and adaptations to people’s homes.

Increased demands on mental health services.  

There is already evidence of claimants living with mental health issues experiencing a deterioration in their condition due to anxiety about the cuts. (DWP leaflets given to participants at in-person Green Paper consultation events included contact details for the Samaritans). If the PIP cuts go through, many claimants – even those with a 4 point descriptor - will experience an increase in anxiety just waiting for their turn to be assessed.  For those who actually lose their PIP, and are obliged to attempt the extremely arduous reconsideration and appeals process to try to get it back, the effects may be dramatically worse.  In addition, PIP often pays for counselling and other forms of therapy which help keep conditions manageable.  So, there is likely to be increased pressure on local mental health services and an increase in costly emergency interventions.

Increased demands on other health services

The majority of people who will lose their PIP award will be older and live with physical health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, heart conditions and respiratory conditions. With households losing up to £12,000 in annual income, there will be a considerable increase in people coping with poor nutrition, loss of special diet, cold and damp living conditions, social isolation, anxiety and more. All of these are likely to cause a deterioration in both physical and mental health conditions and an increase in demand for GP and other health services .

Increased demand for housing support

Many claimants depend on PIP to make up the shortfall in their rent.  In addition, some claimants who lose their PIP will find themselves subject to the benefits cap and unable to afford their rent for that reason.  It is extremely likely that an increased number of disabled people will face homelessness and require support from their local authority as a result of Green paper cuts.

Increased demand on schools

There is a wealth of evidence that children living in poverty are less likely to achieve at school.  Breakfast clubs and free lunches may alleviate some of their hunger, but overcrowded and substandard housing, lack of online access and lack of money for additional activities can all hold children back and increase demands on teachers.  The Green paper cuts are predicted to plunge at least 50,000 children into poverty and reduce their life chances.  Some of those children will be in our constituency.

Increased demand for advice services

There will be a large increase in demand for advice on debt, housing and welfare benefits in particular.  Local agencies may be overwhelmed and are likely to need increased funding to provide an effective service.

Given all the above – and there are probably other costs I have not considered - it seems certain that the Green Paper cuts will have a real and damaging effect on our local budget.  

We hope that you will challenge our MP to give serious consideration to all these matters before they decide how to vote.

Best regards,

I've never known a lovely one. They are trained to be sadistic and alot of them get the jobs because they already are sadistic.