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

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.

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.

I agree with this post too! Been going on years and as I have said, this is causing all the upset now for genuine disabled people. You only have to look at the increase in numbers on ill health benefits since lockdown to realise something amiss is going on or happening. Disgusting and the government should be investigating all PIP claims since the start of lockdowns when face to face appointments were halted. These people have ruined a good benefit system for the disabled and now governments have to act!

We have no idea of the health of these new applicants, so I wont be joining in on this judgement of people and claiming they fraudsters.
What we do know on the other hand that mental health care in this country is almost non existent, social care has been run down to its bones, and that access to treatment on the NHS is so bad we have claimants routinely using private health care to get things done.
If you want an answer as to why claims have gone up, its because we have ran down the services that are designed to keep people healthy mentally and physically.
During covid it was repeatedly reported that the NHS was in a much worse state than other countries, but the country seems to have a short memory, its all being forgotten.

Even things like closing libraries, community centres, that sort of thing has an impact.

I never said all claimants since lockdown, but it is clear working on averages over time the UC and PIP systems must be being gamed or fleeced at a time face to face meetings were halted. Point on NHS waiting lists etc. It is the sheer cost of the increases since lockdown, it is not £5 billion it is £34 billion and unsustainable.

Sorry its not clear at all, I am not one of these idiot reform voters who goes by word of mouth, or makes assumptions about people. It is quite logical, if you let public services run down, then the population becomes more ill.
Also bear in mind there is legitimate cases getting turned down, they learn they worded the form wrongly, didnt understand the descriptors, reapply and then get accepted. Cost of living changes have also likely led to an increase of claims. Where people have realised they need financial help. On paper I qualified for 5 years before I made my claim. I didnt claim earlier as I didnt need the money.

Kindly read the article before commenting further @Trevor_PIP - personal opinion or indeed a person's perception is one thing, but members of this community are asked to not present opinion as fact.

I feel like I should make an apology, but simply can't, as I find the spreading of misinformation a real concern even when it comes from someone like yourself, or perhaps even more so, as I see you otherwise genuinely helping our members.

these are concessions are not concessions at all if at your next review you would be subject to the 4 point rule.that was always the way it was going to work and saying current claimants will be exempt and only apply to new claims is a lie if after november 2026 currrent claimants will be subject to the 4 point rule.that is what was going to happen before these concessions so current claimants will not be protected if thats the case and the pip cuts will be exactly as they were going to be.

also current lcwra claimants were never going to have they're money cut in 2026 but would have a freeze on the rate.the way i see things is there are no concessions as there doesn't seem to be any protections for anybody apart from the 200,000 who get in the scc group and be spared reassessment.