Scope's reply to the governments planned concessions to the green paper.
The concessions to this bill do not go far enough. They create an unfair, two-tier system which will widen the gap in support for current and future claimants as time goes on. We still want to see all disabled people protected from cuts. And we want the government to consult with disabled people on these changes as well.
These are our recommendations:
- pause the introduction of this bill and launch a consultation to ensure that reforms are informed by the views and experiences of disabled people, their carers and representative organisations.
- at minimum, pause the second reading of the bill until after the PIP assessment review has been published, working with disabled people to make changes based off its findings.
The Government is proposing to frontload the £1 billion of employment support to invest in employment support schemes. We welcome the Government bringing forward plans to invest £1 billion into employment support schemes for disabled people. This will help schemes build a track record of success with supporting disabled people, creating incentives to participate. However, we are concerned that this investment is set in a backdrop of devastating cuts for future benefit claimants.
You can read more about the bill and any updates here on the Scope website.
Links have been updated 03/07/2025
Over 8,000 people have asked their MP to vote against benefit cuts in Parliament already. Because of this, the Government have been forced to pause plans to cut PIP. We can’t let the pressure stop. They must scrap plans to cut other benefits, too. Your MP will have another opportunity to vote on plans to cut the health element of UC on 9 July. Tell them about the extra costs disabled people face, and ask them to vote against benefit cuts
Link to previous discussions:
Comments
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Can you shed any light on how migration from ESA to universal credit and the transitional protection will now be handled with the new changes or concessions.
It is mad to think new claimants be treated differently than existing. Do you think MPs will vote this through now.
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I'm afraid right now I can't @ricky1040 we're finding things out at the same time as you in most cases.
But as soon as we get any more information, we'll of course update you all. ☺️
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WWell I'm awaiting uc migration I'm thinking still be same as we move with lwcra and we're existing claimants?
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So much for putting disabled people at the heart of everything they do, you'd think they'd want to brief charities along with MPs on these changes
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Hi @Albus_Scope - I'm pleased to see Scope's response to the Govt's concessions about this Bill. I agree with all that's said by Scope, but am also concerned about future changes to the PIP descriptors which Timms will be looking into, & only hope then that disabled people & the charities such as Scope which support them will actually be properly consulted (unlike that with the Green Paper). That also casts uncertainty over assessments; will the assessor have to apply different descriptors dependent on when a person claimed PIP? - I can't see that happening. This should all be discussed before this bill progresses.
Currently there are more questions than answers, & these concessions just hoping to convince labour MPs that by 'protecting' existing claimants who may be in their electorate then they may keep their seat. What about future claimants who become disabled, they will also be part of the electorate, & would you trust a MP who has been shown to change their mind if they have stood back from the current rebellion having initially supported it?
Reform should affect all claimants equally; all disabled people, now & in future years.
Sorry to see the 'Green Paper & Benefits Reform Updates' thread closed, as any updates may be lost in one long & quick moving thread with it's attendant speculation.
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The concessions are not great. However I feel the government are pitting new claimants coming down the line against current ones. Everyone should be assessed under the one criteria. It's going to become a two tier system. Every disabled person should be treated fairly. One assessment for all! 👍️
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this is the same question I would like an answer to. Our son and daughter are both in support group of ESA but after reading through information that is available I’m not sure if they would be classed as a new claimant under the proposed rules when they do migrate to UC.
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Will current claimants of lwcra be reassessed or have reassessments been stopped?
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@Albus_Scope I'm not sure whether I'm posting in the right place so many threads have been closed.
A bit of a rant...
Today, I've spoken with three severely disabled people. None have completed the Green Paper consultative questionnaire. All are convinced that the concessions are to their advantage and mine. ( I stand to lose CB-ESA.)
No wonder the disabled fail as a political community. It appears most people only consider themselves rather than other claimants and the young disabled who will need support in the near future.
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If this goes ahead we'll have a 3 tier system, there are OAP's getting pip because they were claiming it before they reached retirement age. OAP's getting quite a bit less less claiming Attendance Allowance because there's no mobility element even though they may have the same condition but it happened a bit later in life. There will be people with the same disabilites getting less or nothing at all just because they will be claiming in the future after the changes. I just don't think any of it is fair and hope it's voted against, never mind the I'm alright Jacks it's got to be about everyone including those yet to come.
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Zipz, thank you for saying that. I fail to understand why folk are not getting this, we have won nothing at all, in fact its a massive step backwards. Do folk not realise that these concessions are going cost ! I for one feel the Gov already have plans to make future assessments a lot harder, we think we are safe as we are under the old rules, do folk really think we will be told what will be happening behind closed doors, you can bet your life there will already be private talks underway about how they can claw this money back and it will not be from the rich, it will be clawed back from us one way or another. Oh and I too wish the other threads had not been closed so abruptly, at a time like this we need our thoughts to flow, just my opinion 😊
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I agree. That is why every new/existing claimant should be assessed under the same criteria for PIP. Whatever the new criteria for PIP is going to be. Everyone needs to be treated fairly. We're all in this together. One for all and all for one. 👍️
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@Ranald that's why I don't understand why some MP's think these changes and concessions are okay, it's not okay for future people with disabilities. There will be little to no help for them and we call this a civilised society!
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It's very disappointing that anybody is accepting these 'concessions' at all.
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Me too. But what about those who are born with disabilities or who become disabled before entering the workforce?
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Don't forget the DLA claimants born born before a certain date in 1948. They were not/ will not be invited to claim PIP instead. The youngest are only 77 and could easily live another decade… or two.
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They will probably have to claim Attendance Allowance like OAP's who become disabled later in life and will not get anything to help with mobility.
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Yes sadly the group fight isnt there, although "I might" be ok now with the concessions, I will still stand for those affected, as Albus has said. Remember also if we let this go, it means they will come back anyway again in the future.
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Neither of our children get any Universal Credit, they are on ESA income related, support group. We are waiting for the migration letter. But my concern is will the get the same transitional protection in say 2 months time if this paper goes through on Tuesday or would they get a lesser amount.
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Every claimant should be assessed under the same criteria. No matter what the new criteria is. It puts everyone on a level playing field.
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