Scope's reply to the governments planned concessions to the green paper.
Comments
-
We do not wait, do not hesitate, folks, plwease. This is our moment of truth/ kairos from Greek philosophy. We need to persistent with love, rigorous, not hateful challenges towards the govt.
Anger will not persuade. So, if you are feeling hopeless, anxious, depressed about this bill, I have millions - 16.1 million disabled people have - or probably most of them.
So transform the negative, but understandable emotions, and any rwesistance to action to Action/ campaigning.
Please Google ''find your MP'' if you do not know who your MP is.
Please write, and write and write again, to your MP and the media. Please do not take no for an answer.
Everyone counts and their letters. I believe we can still win this.
I will Google the parliamentary voting arithmetic, on this UC and Disability benefits bill, and get back to you good folk.
Love to all and solidarity
0 -
Lol. Disabled people online helping other disabled people claim what they're entitled to are not the reason PIP rates are rising, nor justifies vouchers. and if PIP did become vouchers, these disabled people online would still exist.
If the UK benefits system was humane and easy to navigate, there would be no need for online support networks.
Prosecuting them wouldn't solve anything. There's no room for them in prisons anyway.
Don't attack other disabled people. They are not to blame. Attack the rich billionaires and right wing poiticians who enable the like Starmer and Kendall.
4 -
MoreExplainerExplainer
What are the concessions to the welfare bill - and will MPs back it?The changes will be put to a crunch vote on Tuesday - but some rebels still want the bill to be killled.
Political reporter @fayebrownSky
Friday 27 June 2025 10:35, UK
8:25
Play Video - 'Step in the right direction'Welfare changes 'step in the right direction'
Number 10 has made concessions on its welfare bill after crisis talks with Labour rebels.
Sir Keir Starmer will be hoping the changes are enough to avoid a Commons defeat when the measures are put to a vote on Tuesday - but several MPs have said they are still not satisfied.
Sky News looks at what was in the deal and whether it will be enough to win over critics.
Politics Live: Labour rebel hails 'good deal' after No 10 makes concessions on welfare
Changes to PIP
In a letter to MPs, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed all existing claimants of the personal independence payment (pip) will be exempt from the cuts to eligibility.
It means the new qualifying requirements will be implemented from November 2026 for new claims only.
This is a big U-turn as the changes to pip, the main disability benefit in England, had caused the most upset among MPs planning to rebel.
Pip is money given to people, including some of whom are in work, who have extra care or mobility needs as a result of a disability.
People who claim it are awarded points depending on their ability to do certain activities, such as washing and preparing food, which influences how much they will receive.
Currently claimants need to score a minimum of eight points across a range of tasks to qualify for the daily living element (there is a mobility element that is not affected by the plans). Under the new rules people will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify.
By limiting the changes to new claimants only, it is estimated 370,000 people who had been due to lose out will now get to keep their benefit.
This will come at a cost of £1.5bn by the end of the parliament, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
It is not clear how that will be funded, prompting speculation of tax rises at the autumn budget.
Universal Credit
The second row back involves planned changes to universal credit (UC).
The government had intended to freeze the health top-up at £97 a week during this parliament.
However, all current recipients of the health element, as well as any new applicants meeting the "severe conditions criteria", will now have their incomes protected in real terms.
The government will still cut the rate to £50 for new claimants from 2026/7, while raising the standard rate of UC for jobseekers.
https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/23951792/embed?auto=1More money for people to find work
The health top-up is for people who have a limited ability to work because of a disability or long term sickness, but ministers are concerned about the rising number of claimants and want to incentivise people back into work.
Ms Kendall previously said £1bn would be used for targeted support schemes to help people out of inactivity and into jobs.
In her letter, she said the government "will front load more of the additional funding generated by these reforms for back to work support for sick and disabled people".
0:43
Play Video - Govt makes offer to rebels on welfare reformsGovt makes offer to rebels on welfare reforms
Will MPs back the changes?
Care minister Stephen Kinnock told Sky News on Friday morning the changes are a "really big step in the right direction".
The purpose of the bill was to shave £5bn off the welfare budget by 2030 and tackle the rising numbers of people who are economically inactive. Lots of MPs said they agreed with the principle of reform but were concerned with the impact on disabled people.
Initially, over 120 Labour MPs had signed a "reasoned amendment" calling for the changes to be delayed while disabled people were consulted on.
Dame Meg Hillier, the influential chair of the Treasury select committee who had tabled the amendment, said last night that the government had offered a "good deal".
However, it is ultimately up to individual MPs to decide if they want to support it.
Read more:
Beth Rigby analysis: Welfare bill a humiliating blow for Starmer0 -
To try to allay your fears use the experts:
www,cab.org.uk
for welfare advice re the UC and PIP Bill.
Thanks.
and please Google ''Disability Rights, UK''
and
''Disability Alliance''
As hey will be in a good popstion to advice people what they will retain or lose in their diasabiity bemnfits.
BUT BUT BUT.
Its not over yet, if we keep campaigning as if our life depends on it - and it may do for I felt suicidal and attempted, will not attempt again - and many have. We need to put suicide figure in the govts face asking where is Labour true heart of compassion, and equality.
Empathic solidarity, and joy
0 -
I'm not attacking other disabled people and am puzzled by the comment, Im trying to support and inspire people.
0 -
I think we are probably fighting for future disabled people's rights more than our own right now, but that in itself is worth the fighting for. Their lives should be easier than ours, not harder, because we should be moving forward. But this is a messy and broken bill and I think it is probably still not safe even if it passes on Tuesday.
Side-note, when my case came up for review in 2021, I was sent all the full forms again and when my advocate queried this, she was told that when someone wins a tribunal, their review becomes a 'brand new claim' again, so starting over from scratch with all new evidence. Not sure how many people have experienced this or whether it is universal, but this seems like a loophole to me. If the DWP decides you're a new claimant because you won the last round before a judge…
I still think they would do better to chuck this out completely and begin again, but since that seems unlikely, they should at least check the loopholes.I also think it would go a long way towards goodwill with disabled people if Starmer made some strategic shuffles and replaced his DWP minister with someone more sympathetic to our situation. Kendall is far too tied up in the bill and the misinformation, she's part of the problem.
I actually want Labour to come through this and survive because the idea of a Reform government makes me feel sick…but that means changing the narrative in lots of ways and right now I don't see that.
3 -
I could not agree more well said Amaya Ringo
1 -
Thank you stellar
People ask for help online not to cheat the system but to try and avoid the system cheating them . They still need a diagnosis and Drs letters . This whole thing if some are more deserving of others is upsetting as no one knows how unwell a person in behind closed doors .
As for vouchers why should we be treated as second class citizens. If a person is fit and healthy enough to work full time they’re not told how they should spend their money.2 -
If someone is fit and healthy but unemployed they are also not given vouchers and told how to spend their money, so only making this a disability thing would be in breach of the equalities act.
I find it hard to believe anyone who has genuinely been through the PIP system really believes disabled people are 'helping each other cheat'. The system is not that naive.
We have more important things to do than cater to other people's misinformation :)4 -
True. But I have to ask are you a qualified benefits advisor.
We need to have facts, knowledge of welfare advice, and the law that is true.
No disrespect at all.
0 -
Hi Amaya
I won at upper tribunal after having to go to the upper tier for permission as the tribunal had erred in law . I won and my pip was reviewed as normal after 3 years plus 2 years back pay . I guess it must be random and again something that’s unfair within the system. I find too much of claiming pip down to luck .
0 -
sorry, I have no idea as I had to tick the box that I didn’t have any of the ID they wanted
0 -
Even Liz Kendall has said vouchers will never happen as it would take autonomy away from claimants.
1 -
I’m in the same boat, on contribution ESA with UC top up. From what I’ve been told, this is being entirely scrapped and in its place will be the new Employment Insurance that is a much reduced payment and for a limited time of 6-12months. I presume any new PIP application will be regarded as a NEW claim and subject to the 4point rule, because we are not currently claiming PIP. Basically we’re being thrown under a bus. ….and those claiming PIP think they have something to worry about!!!!
0 -
Exactly what is the concession for people on LCWRA?
I keep hearing that we're protected which is very vague, protected in what way? It was already decided before the concessions that people already on LCWRA won't have the health element halved (unless after April next year you get thrown off it and then reclaim which will then make you a new claimant), so it's something else, but what exactly?
0 -
That's a Xmas present Michael. I doubt the local taxi company and grass cutter will be happy with vouchers.
1 -
Spare a thought for those on Contribution based ESA as they are being massively overlooked in all of this PIP talk.
5 -
I've heard that cbesa is getting merged with job seekers to create employment insurance....
But I'm not sure that would apply to people in the support group of ESA and the UC lcwra group (especially existing claimants ) .... I don't see how they could do that to be honest , also they have said repeatedly that existing claimants who claim the health element will be protected
The 4 point criteria is what worries me because technically we will be new pip claims , but surely as we are existing claimants of ESA support group and UC we will be assessed under the current criteria
I think all we can do is wait and see what and what doesn't get voted through next week , then we will know what's what ....
Yes I'm the same as you cbesa every two weeks 281 pounds
Then end of the month just over 800 but they deduct 609 pounds from my ESA , leaves me with 214 ..... So about 775 a month
I agree it's shocking this has gone under the radar as it will effect alot of people , they haven't been clear about this at all
1 -
I don't think cbesa / new style ESA will merge with job seekers until after the WCA is scrapped anyway .... So really I would think we will just keep getting reassessed under the current WCA until 2028 , we will know along time before that what were up against
1 -
I agree with posts from @mrsBB and @MW123 I don't trust this government either. Current PIP claimants will keep their PIP? PIP claimants are losing their PIP now, I know of a young man with mental health issues who was on PIP Enhanced both elements, now is on zero and a parent has lost the Carers allowance too. Members post on this forum getting zero points from assessments who are on Enhanced PIP rates.... I don't read about any of the changes, whatever is voted through will mean nothing if they want people of UC and PIP. Assessors or Decision Managers will just reduce the points which they are doing right now and always done!! It is a money saving exercise as in 2020 there were only 2m claiming PIP from it's start in 2013 (I think). Now just under 5 years later there are now 3.7m claiming PIP, 1.7m more in less than 5 years and over and after lockdowns. Face to face appointments stopped what I went through.... Something is amiss whatever way you look at it. Reeves wants this voted through and then it will start, if she goes for more tax off working people experts reckon there will be trouble in this country. Currently you don't have have to earn that much now to be paying 40% tax, that does upset working people already! The country is getting to be a joke, if it was not so serious! That's my thoughts on the issue.
2
Categories
- All Categories
- 15.5K Start here and say hello!
- 7.3K Coffee lounge
- 89 Games den
- 1.7K People power
- 122 Announcements and information
- 24.1K Talk about life
- 5.8K Everyday life
- 426 Current affairs
- 2.4K Families and carers
- 873 Education and skills
- 1.9K Work
- 533 Money and bills
- 3.6K Housing and independent living
- 1.1K Transport and travel
- 627 Relationships
- 1.5K Mental health and wellbeing
- 2.5K Talk about your impairment
- 867 Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions
- 923 Neurological impairments and pain
- 2.1K Cerebral Palsy Network
- 1.2K Autism and neurodiversity
- 39.9K Talk about your benefits
- 6K Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 19.7K PIP, DLA, ADP and AA
- 8.5K Universal Credit (UC)
- 5.7K Benefits and income