Scope's reply to the governments planned concessions to the green paper.

Hi @secretsquirrel1 - that part about making it easier for 'people with multiple impairments' could just be the Guardian's impression/choice of words. I don't mean that in a negative way, as I'd guess many of us have more than one disorder, but I don't think we've heard those words in relation to these supposed 'concessions' from the Gov't. Don't lose any hope over this either, as we have many charities supporting us over these dubious reforms.

The Gov't are wanting to change the words about scc in their Bill, which hopefully won't get through, from a LCWRA descriptor applies 'the majority of the time,' to it applies 'constantly.' This obviously needs to be addressed, as we've discussed before.

Please don't worry, the question would be how would the DWP disprove that, even if your condition fluctuates, you don't have that condition all of the time, so you therefore 'fit' the descriptor? It's just a very poor use of words, & these have to be very clear to change legislation.

I've said that I'll question this use of the word 'constantly' when I email my response to the Gov't, & I promise I will - that's my homework for the weekend! 😊

You raise a point many of us are considering @emc123 - it reads like current claimants will not be subjected to the proposed PIP 4 point rule, but there's nothing to say this will carry on 'indefinitely.'

This 'possibly' because after the Gov't hopes this Bill is passed, changes to the PIP assessment & the descriptors used have already been proposed in their Green Paper. So, we can't know for sure how this will pan out.

As you say, with some uncertainties like this, how can a MP make an informed decision?

Any existing claimant can also become a new claimant. All this takes is to lose your current award and reapply for it a year later and you become a new claimant, Bang!

Yes. Mainly at risk are those trying for C.O.C , (Someone on Enhanced x2 for eg isn't likely to initiate one of these Unplanned Reviews).

A Planned Review for these people especially a NO Change AR1 would be Much harder to attack. (If it Is stopped, there's Tribunal, and Not a New Claim….they're gonna be Inundated).

What we Need Confidence in is a Planned Review initiated by DWP the reassessment would be under Current Rules, as Kendall Said 'Stay in the Current System".

Exactly this. None of this can be trusted.

Whilst it appears many of us would be okay if the current rules would still apply to us on renewal, we need to keep on fighting for those waiting to transfer to PIP or who may apply for it at a later date.
I don't want there to be any changes, but more than that, I don't want there to be a two tier unfair system.

What is the governments definition of a NEW CLAIMANT ?

ie) When do they plan the cut off date to be ?

Just a quick question, hopefully someone will answer who understands what I am getting at because I am really concerned that folk are celebrating this as a win when I cant do that because something is niggling me, I'm finding it difficult to move past this niggle. Is it just me, it could be, I am struggling a lot with the effects of the new meds I am on and they are not related to mental health but are really messing my thought processes up, been told they can do that, they are not nice meds at all but being tried in an effort to get me stable and out of a two year flare up of one of my main debilitating conditions. Sorry, that was long winded phew 😮

This is my ''niggle'', I could swear when the green paper first came out I read, that changes to the actual assessment criteria etc would be left to a later date ? Now this could just be me, but maybe the Gov have given these concessions now while sneakily knowing that at that later date ( which I believe will be sooner rather than later ) they will just make the criteria even higher to reach and much more difficult to attain for the vast majority of claimants. This would help them to claw back the money they are going lose out on now plus some ! I cant help but think this is all a ploy to calm the rebellion and the disabled. We know this is all about money, I just feel its bonkers to think we have ''won'' I just know there will be private discussions going on behind closed doors right now, where those in power will be saying, well yeah we have to do this now but we will be in a great position ''later'' with the assessment criteria to get this money back and do what we wanted to do in the first place. There you go 🤣my niggle that will not go away and my reason to think we have not won a darn thing.

Hello everybody. I think this is the end of my road. I cannot take living for however many more years with hte constant threat of changes to the wefaare system. My disability is advanced. No family no friends. Just daily pain. So I'm saying a big thankyou and goodbye. Bless you all. Zipz xx