Scope's reply to the governments planned concessions to the green paper.
Comments
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To everyone concerned about the proposed changes to CB ESA, you haven't been forgotten. However the 2nd reading of the 'Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill' which will have it's 2nd reading next week, is just about those 2 benefits, & why most of the current discussion is about UC & PIP.
There's still time to respond to the Govt's Green Paper as the proposed changes to the CB ESA & JSA are at least being consulted upon. Please see the following from section 151 onwards. You can either respond to this & the few other bits that are actually open to consultation, or email in a reply.
It's said right at the end of this,
Please email consultation.pathwaystowork@dwp .gov.uk
if:
- you would like to respond via email, or
- you have any other enquiries specifically relating to this consultation
You have until midnight 30 June to reply
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Finally!
As they say, "Speak of the devil and he shall appear"!
You were guessing that your review form was on its way for the three weeks or so, and here it is finally!
I really wonder why they're sending out review forms so early, when, for example, your current award will be running till end of next January!
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It's noble on the part of the MPs pushing the new amendment, raising the fact that Keir Starmer's U-Turn is creating unethical two-tier system, but we do NOT see at all the "massive concessions" that we're purportedly given.
The two-tier system can also affect the existing claimants, as any existing claimant can also become a new claimant, by losing their current award and making a new claim for PIP.
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I know I kept wondering when is it coming. They always send them months before your awards up so it’s normal. Just got to get it filled out and my info together. I’d really love a paper based assessment for a change so fingers crossed 🤞
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Just tell them that you no longer see a consultant because there’s no further treatment available. I’d been discharged before my last review - I told them plainly why and that it didn’t mean I’d improved. They accepted my explanation
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I've the feeling that a phone assessment is still much better than a face to face one, even though I haven't had any phone or paper based assessment to date.
Have you kept a copy of your previous completed form?
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It's annoying that this question has not been asked, as far as I can tell, by anybody in a position to do so.
I suspect you're right, they don't have a good track record so far for keeping promises and this isn't even that because it's so muddled and unclear. At this point, I don't trust anything is secure for us at all.
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As claimant on LCWRA, being reassessed under the current PIP is already no good for us, as it mostly focuses on physical disability and much less on mental health issues. When Liz Kendall was asked about this by Andrew Marr on LBC Radio, her response was, and I quote, "PIP was never set up to deal with mental health problems." Then why on earth assess people with mental health issues on something that's not designed for them?
She's a perfect embodiment of evil.
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/uk/cant-duck-the-issue-of-uks-soaring-benefits-bill-liz-kendall-tells-lbc/
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Well so far the concessions seem to barely go far enough. Surely they wont curry the favour of the rebel MPs?
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It isn't for for purpose and absolutely useless for assessing LCWRA claimants. It also fails to assess pain and fatigue so it's terrible as it is.
I constantly come back to the same thought I had when this bill first came, that their only intention is to cut claims no matter how they have to do it, and once they get the bill through how can anybody fight it?
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If that’s the case why does mobility have two different descriptors one for how far you can walk outside and one for planning journeys safely etc . Second part is clearly for those who suffer panic attacks etc .
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I've always thought that at least some of the descriptors can also cover people with mental health issues.
I know that the descriptors 'Managing My Treatments', 'Talking, Listening and Understanding', 'Mixing With Other People', and 'Planning and Following a Journey' are all things I have serious trouble with because of mental health issues.
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Thank you 🙏. I think because I’ve had suck bad luck with assessments, even tribunal where the dwp turned up , it’s made me nervous now . It’s funny but the dwp have mostly been supportive of me but assessors not so much
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As promised, here’s the update from the meeting I attended today with my MP. She confirmed that there are approximately 3,000 PIP claimants in her constituency. To date, she has received 450 emails or letters from concerned recipients, but only nine individuals were able to attend the meeting today.
This turned out to be a positive outcome, as it allowed us to have a two-hour discussion where we could outline our concerns and educate her on how the system actually works in reality, rather than just how it is intended to work on paper.
I was personally very moved by the terrible experiences people shared, and while I will provide further details tomorrow, I can say that, despite my own work commitments, my MP made it clear that nobody in that meeting should ever be required to work, as we were all too sick. It was a very in-depth conversation, and I will post more about it tomorrow.
My MP was unable to confirm whether the proposed protections for the 4-point PIP rule will apply for the full duration of a claimant’s entitlement. She indicated that she will be consulting with ministers next week to seek clarity, as she did not interpret the protection as a permanent guarantee. Instead, she understood it to be a temporary concession, meaning that existing claimants are protected from the new rule only until their next scheduled review. For many, this could be several years, depending on the length of their current award.
She has committed to providing an update on this point at the post vote analysis meeting she has already arranged with her constituents for next week.
I asked about claimants currently in the LCWRA group who do not receive PIP. She confirmed that existing UC claimants receiving the health element (LCWRA) will be protected from the upcoming reduced rate. They will continue to receive the higher rate—£97/week (£423.27/month)—from April 2026, but this amount will be frozen until it is phased out from 2028.
From 2028/29, to receive any additional UC support for sickness or disability, claimants will need to qualify for the daily living component of PIP, as the Work Capability Assessment will be abolished and PIP will become the sole gateway for this support. The new criteria will definitely apply to this cohort.
Another person raised concerns about the protections for adults still receiving DLA who have not yet been transferred over to PIP. She confirmed that, as far as she is aware, there are no specific protections in place for this group. However, she will consult with relevant ministers and provide an update during next week's meeting.
I asked about the severe conditions criteria for PIP, and my MP confirmed she will get back to me next week after consulting with relevant parties. She also assured me that there will be full engagement with all stakeholders regarding the new PIP criteria moving forward.
MONEY BILL
I have also asked for clarity on whether this will eventually be classed as a money bill at its third reading before it goes to the House of Lords. She will get back to me next week after further consultation with ministers.
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Yes phone is better for me personally as I have invisible conditions so I look fine unless my sciatica plays up then I’m screaming in pain . Same as the pain from my arthritis. But my fibromyalgia pain is a pain that throbs constantly and my reaction to it is different so you wouldn’t know what I’m feeling. My first assessor was face to face and absolutely nasty . Lied , disagreed with everything I said , ignored all medical evidence. So I don’t want a face to face . I’m praying for paper based , just to get a break for once
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I definitely feel questions are aimed at MH . What I don’t think is covered is fatigue. Fatigue is what I find most debilitating. Without energy you can’t physically do anything and it’s not just ME long Covid sufferers who feel fatigue, anyone who is feeling pain can be fatigued. Mental and physical pain is tiring
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I agree with your post! This has been going on years and how to claim PIP etc. And the numbers of working age claiming ill health benefits has gone up 2/3 since lockdown - this is fact. PIP claimants have risen 1.7m in the same period from 2m in 2020. Absolutely sure UC and PIP are being gamed (fleeced) at a time face to face appointments I went through were stopped!! It's obvious when you look at averages on PIP alone. There were a 1/4m applications for PIP in the first 3 months of this year, so as you say clogged up! I said all this when I first joined this forum and I am sure it is the cause of all the upset for genuine disabled people.
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I’m with you on that one. DWP have been okish in my experience but Capita push me completely over the edge.
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Same concern which I mentioned in an earlier post, this is a win, anything that gives us progress is a win, but of course there is still a battle for new claimants, and these later descriptor changes which I have a sneaky feeling may not be included in these concessions. But we wont know until more is revealed, apparently these concessions havent even being put in the written bill yet, so MPs dont know what they voting on.
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Its these reasons vouchers arent suitable, its not possible to think of all the possible reasons for use of the money.
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