Disability Benefit Cuts - Take action before July 9th.

Sorry @Catherine21

I don't know very much about the SCC (severe conditions criteria?)… I know that in 2017, they brought it in for people who have medically evidenced illness/disability that is life-long and progressive where their functional ability will only worsen and so they will never be fit for work, so that they should be spared from WCA reassessment. I also have read that the severe conditions criteria is due to be revised again and made more harsh to qualify for under the new bill, which is being debated on 9th July at the 3rd reading.

I have never heard of anyone who has been in ESA Support group or UC LCWRA with an award granted under substantial risk who also qualifies under the severe conditions criteria. But, maybe it is possible to be granted it on a case by case basis depending on the life-long severity and functional limitations of your specific illness/disability. I really have no idea.

The only way for you to find out if your award is 'substantial risk' is to contact them and get a copy of your report, as I've said. Maybe a friend or family member can help you with that if you can't face contacting them on your own. There really is no other way of finding out, I'm afraid.

Hi Danny, was just backtracking a little as I missed a few messages.

I noticed you said you hadn't been assessed for 6 years. It was at least 12 years for me ! could be longer, I went from incapacity to ESA like you, though I was on the one before incapacity as well but cant remember the name now lol. I brought this up more than once on the Benefits and Work forum, I cannot remember ever receiving any decision or anything else. I told B&W that I had still not been assessed all these years later, I was told I will have been, but maybe without the forms or anything else. Not a clue how assessment timings work at all, how they choose who to assess and at what time baffles me. I think in the last 20 odd plus years could be longer I have had one out of the blue phone call from DWP from a man who asked a couple of questions and that was it and that was years and years ago. I did not receive any paperwork at all after that call though B&W said I will have done, I didn't, I am meticulous about keeping all DWP etc paperwork of any kind in a box file I have had for years, every letter is ''filed'' (sp - head not functioning lol ) in its envelope and kept securely. So nope, I like you have no idea when assessments are flagged. I am at some peace now in that I recently became a pensioner lol, lets see how long that respite lasts 🤣

Is there also a PIP Assessors form that we are entitled to see ?

Hello @Wibbles

Yes, there is. If you had a face to face or phone/video assessment, the form you ask for is the PA4. If you were awarded after a paper-based assessment, the form you ask for is the PA3. Phone the PIP enquiry line to ask for it to be posted out to you. Call 0800 121 4433.

Bear in mind, however, there may not actually be an assessor's report if your PIP award has recently been reviewed on paper scrutiny. This is because your assessment may not have needed to be sent to an assessment provider at all if you provided sufficient information so that it could be renewed by the DWP Decision Maker directly, particularly if there has been no material change since last awarded. A lot of PIP awards have been renewed on that basis recently, particularly because of the backlogs. In that instance, the statement of reasons for awarding you is provided within the body of your new award letter.

@Catherine21 I was wrong in a previous post. A Debuty Speaker can select ammendments. According to B & W, 38 ammendments have been tabled. Some will be silly but other worthwhile changes to the Bill could be lost:

MPs faced with chaotic 38 pages of amendments tomorrow - help them choose

 Published: 08 July 2025

Thirty eight pages of amendments have now been tabled for the committee stage and third reading of the Universal Credit and Personal independence Payment Bill tomorrow.  The Commons will have just one chaotic session to work through them all before voting on a final, amended version, of the bill.

The Deputy Speaker will select which amendments are to be considered and group some together to speed the process.  For a bill which will affect the lives of millions to be rushed through in an afternoon in this manner suggests a desperate desire to avoid scrutiny on the part of the government.

In the days running up to the third reading, MPs of all parties have put forward amendments. Some are unlikely to pass, such as a Conservative amendment (NC12) limiting eligibility to PIP to British citizens and excluding claimants with “less severe” mental health conditions.

Some others also overlap, with MPs from different parties putting forward amendments dealing with the same or similar issues.

Readers may want to contact their MP one last time, urging them to vote against the bill, but also suggesting amendments they would like them to support in the run up to the final vote – in case the bill is passed.

From DPAC on Facebook, seems the UN has intervened, hopefully that’s good news

Or use the above link to download it. (Apologies).

Haven't the Government been told twice before that it needs to do better re disability by the UN and have done not a thing to comply ? could be wrong but I'm sure I heard something similar in the past, could be the court of human rights though, who knows, they are always in trouble one way or another.

I met some good people on here and I'm very thankful for that .... I honestly believe these reforms , now they've been dropped and new ones are being proposed are going to be a long way off , especially for existing claiments....

Take me for example I'm on cbesa and lcwra but no pip....

Im expecting one more reassessment under the WCA that will hopefully see me up to April 2028 , when the new pip criteria kicks in , NOW I've heard it will be for new claims first and could be the back end of 2029 before I get reassessed under the new pip rules .... I cannot and WILL NOT let these bastards steal my life ....

For existing pip claiments it's looking better than it was a month ago , remember that feeling , pure doom .... Enjoy the small win .... The pressure is off for a bit .....

I find it incredibly hard to switch off but for the first time in years for 2 or 3 days I did just that , it was bliss ! I mean pure unadulterated bliss , I needed it so bad .... You should try as hard as you can to have just a little time away from it , it really helps of you can .... Remember what I said a month ago I didn't know how to even lift my head I was so worried with fear , at least we're not there , this will take a years to be running smoothly , give yourself a break , we all deserve it after the past few months