The Universal Credit Bill becomes law. Here are the changes to disability benefits you need to know

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  • jw68
    jw68 Online Community Member Posts: 53 Contributor

    This is a very important article,incisively written.Thanks for posting in on here.

  • Dav1D
    Dav1D Online Community Member Posts: 63 Empowering

    Yes. It needs to be discussed on here…..

    ……..Write to the House of Lords…. before their 22 July 2025 debate on the Universal Credit Bill, if you have the spoons. Your own words on the importance of protecting the 'substantial risk' category will be more powerful than mine ever could be, but if you are exhausted, or do not have blood in this game, please use this email template and peer contact list to demand they make "substantial risk" a direct route to SCC—ensuring full £97 weekly support and legal protection for those at risk of suicide, collapse, or hospitalisation.''''…….

    Although many of us have been waiting for news on this, the article was only published on 19th July, and I only discovered it last night……and the debate seems to be today……

    📨 Suggested Peers to Email before the debate on the 22nd July:

    Baroness Brinton (speaker) – contactholmember@parliament .uK

    Baroness Bryan of Partick (speaker) – bryanp@parliament .uk

    Baroness Grey-Thompson (speaker) – greythompsont@parliament .uk

    Lord Hendy (speaker) – contactholmember@parliament .uk

    Baroness Lister of Burtersett (speaker) – listerr@parliament .uk

    The Lord Bishop of Newcastle (speaker) – hartleyh@parliament .uk

    Lord Palmer of Childs Hill (speaker) – palmerm@parliament .uk

    Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (speaker) – ritchiem@parliament .uk

    Lord Sikka (speaker) – contactholmember@parliament .uk

    Baroness Sherlock (speaker) – sherlockm@parliament .uk

    Baroness Tyler of Enfield (speaker) – tylerc@parliament .uk

    Baroness Scott of Needham Market (speaker) – scottrc@parliament .uk

    Lord Rook (speaker) – contactholmember@parliament .uk

    Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (speaker + bringing motion to regret) – bennettn@parliament .uk

    Lord Davies of Brixton – daviesofbrixton@parliament .uk

    Lord Dubs – contactholmember@parliament .uk

    Baroness Taylor of Stevenage – taylors@parliament .uk

  • Dav1D
    Dav1D Online Community Member Posts: 63 Empowering
    edited July 22

    Im confused.

    Remember, when Timms said in the PIP Bill third reading in parliament, that 'severe conditions' would not be affected?

     PIP bill third reading

    17.59 parliament tv  Stephen Timms, DWP disability minister on the severe conditions criteria

    "The severe conditions criteria in the bill exactly reflects how the functional tests are applied at present.  That is in guidance. It’s being moved in this bill into legislation.  It does take account of Parkinson’s.  It does take account of MS.  Because people need to meet the descriptors reliably, safely, repeatedly and in a reasonable time frame.  And so I can give a very firm assurance to those who are concerned about how the severe conditions criteria will work for those on fluctuating conditions.

    "The word constantly here refers, as I said in my intervention earlier, to the functional criteria needing to apply at all times, not to somebody’s symptoms."

    There seems to be a dichotomy, between the excerpt above and the excerpt below.

    Timms has said, that ….reliably, safely, repeatedly, in a reasonable timeframe……will still be taken into account……severe conditions criteria will still work for those on fluctuating conditions…….but the article below states ……'with no fluctuation'………

    How Labour is Gutting 'Substantial Risk'

    ''''….. the criteria will be almost impossible for most new disabled claimants to meet.

    Why? Not only must someone meet all the existing LCWRA criteria, they must also prove their condition is lifelong, with no fluctuation, diagnosed through an NHS provider.

    This excludes nearly everyone with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's, muscular dystrophy, ME/CFS, autism, and FND. It excludes people with private diagnoses. It excludes almost everyone whose impairments aren't mechanically visible and unchanging……''''

    Anyone care to comment on this seeming disparity?

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 7,270 Championing

    https://youtu.be/o0k94oKbmwU?si=M4uMBCAWx6A7oUW_

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 7,270 Championing

    Same even labour don't know ! What a rollercoaster

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 7,270 Championing

    The Lords will be doing a Regret motion tomorrow it won't stop the bill but will be recorded and written down so good for any legal challenges in the future what I don't understand is this is nearly identical to tories plans they definitely had this substantial risk and a something else and that was deemed unlawful is it me or an I going mad ?

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 7,270 Championing
    edited July 22
    Screenshot_20250721_231636_Google.jpg Screenshot_20250721_231714_Google.jpg Screenshot_20250721_231748_Google.jpg Screenshot_20250721_231811_Google.jpg

    They have broken every human rights leaving people in poverty discrimination no proper consultations money bill will not protect them from that all write to mps keep pressuring keep substantial risk they say for new claimants no we are all one and they will treat us that way yes it's going through but Lords are expressing the highest level they can so we also email mps stating we agree with Lords and suggest they go to thier masters to change this death wish obviously in your own words the time is now straight after debate tomorrow

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 7,270 Championing
    edited July 22
    Screenshot_20250721_234141_Google.jpg Screenshot_20250721_234214_Google.jpg Screenshot_20250721_234247_Google.jpg

    This needs to be challenged this government need to see they cannot do what they want still email about substantial risk they want us tired worn out well No way fight now rest later flood mps with substantial risk change remind them this isn't over and we are not accepting lifting the safety net No way no one is going to unalive themselves anyway goodnight I be off for few days we got hope we got hope xx

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 7,270 Championing

    On disability rights changes uc you can Google it

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 7,270 Championing
    edited July 22

    Yh same sneaky short notice contacted them all got one response

    {removed by moderator - personal information}

  • alexroda
    alexroda Online Community Member Posts: 239 Pioneering

    got a response from a peer:


    “Thank you for your email.  I apologise for the impersonal response but I’m receiving so many emails about the Bill that it’s not possible for me to respond to each one individually, given I don’t have any admin support.

    Unfortunately, backbenchers will have only 5 minutes to speak so it won’t be possible to cover all the points raised in the emails or say everything I want to say.  However, I will make clear my opposition to the cuts facing disabled people in future and raise a number of other issues (including the modest but nevertheless welcome increase in the real value of universal credit).

    I will also criticise the way the Bill is being rushed through (though it should be noted that the Speaker of the Commons classified it as a money bill at the outset).  Having only 5 minutes to speak feels like adding insult to injury!

    Thank you again for writing

    Best wishes

    Ruth Lister”

     

     

    Baroness (Ruth) Lister of Burtersett

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 7,270 Championing
  • waylander9602
    waylander9602 Online Community Member Posts: 71 Empowering

    Has anyone heard what Ellen Clifford is planning?

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 7,270 Championing
    edited July 22
  • onlymeagain
    onlymeagain Online Community Member Posts: 214 Empowering
    edited July 22

    Doesn't this still need to be approved by the King? I know it's just a formality but does King Charles really want to be giving the green light to this, given all the discrimination involved and severe poverty it will produce?

  • Ranald
    Ranald Online Community Member Posts: 2,099 Championing
    edited July 22

    Yes, a formality. The last monarch to withhold Royal Assent, was Queen Anne in 1708.

  • Catherine21
    Catherine21 Posts: 7,270 Championing

    Not long ago then lol charles has the ink wet already

  • jw68
    jw68 Online Community Member Posts: 53 Contributor

    He has had problems with pens in the past,if that gives you any hope ! 😉

  • onebigvoice
    onebigvoice Scope Member Posts: 927 Pioneering

    Yes while I agree the Bond Solon Rules are not Statutory Law, as you state, the Content that they are based on is.

    When an Expert witness makes a statement whether in court, a tribunal or to be used as supporting evidence, (An assessment report.) by a Decision Maker then the same rules apply.

    Bond Solon is used in Insurance cases where a report is written by the Doctor in a specific field to mitigate liability. i.e. A whiplash claim for 6 people who were in the car at the time, when the car had 2 people in their and the Cam footage is used for instance to prove it was fact.

    ALL, supporting evidence is used, perhapse not a good example, but the theory is there. That statement has to have supporting evidence and be signed and dated with the expertise of the writer. You cannot generalise by saying disability analystic expert, because it does not state in what?

    My point being when in court and asking what medical body does the expert belong to and were they registered at the time of the report, need clarity, most, infact all I have seen, and I have been doing this in court for over 15 years, (Also work related accident Tribunals) rely on the fact that the company is registered to assess people, and have a blanket certificate to state that ALL their assessors are registered.

    "What they don't tell you is they are registered with the company that employs them, and the criteria is different."

    One application I had was have you had any assessment experience before? Can you write a report that we can see? "Job Done" Lip service for the "service we should get and do get are miles apart.

    We all know the rules that govern assessment. We all know what we need to do to make a claim for Disability benefits. So why is it that the only people that don't follow the rules are the people administering the rules for entitlement? Afterall, they were supposed to agree the terms through negotiation, before it has become law or is put into a charter that we receive.

    Why do we as a community have to fight to get anything for the disability community? Are we inventing the wheel? NO. A I is the newest thing, but when you ask A I to explain a report written by an assessment company for the DWP or PIP, it throws a wobbly, because it realises that the person who inputted the answers will not know the answer or has been told " I am sorry, but I have limited capabilities and am unable to answer your question. Might I suggest you contact the company direct and ask them."

    When asked what the telephone number is, the reply is, "It should be shown in the top right hand of any correspondence you have received."

    BIG BROTHER is watching you, since I have believe it or not had an arguement with A I and I won't name which ones for altering the txt of documents I write, that ask specific questions, yet when looking at the final draft, bares no resemblence to the original.

    Today I filled out a PIP review for one claimant, introudcing new evidence and asking why you had not sent me your supporting evidence before you reduced her rate, and that you are also not acknoleging I am her Appointee and showed you the registration you sent me 4 years ago.

    Occ Heath wrote a report, which I sent again to them with my comments, and last week Management reduced her hours and starting times and the amount of breaks she should have, because Management decided different to what I and the Occ Heralth recomended to get her back into work.

    This was done by agreement, which is now back in place, and already is showing a benefit to her, where she is now working a 20hour a week over 4 days giving her 3 clear days to rest before the next part of the rota starts again.

    Yes its common sense, but why don't we get common sense? If I can sort this out, why can't they? I have never not agreed to an assessment, what I have disagreed with is if my assessment is done by the NHS to get me treatment, then why do I need another to get the benefits I am entitled to?

    look up how much an assessment costs and see where that money is going. This is not new, since when ATOS were doing it it was £850 + rework costs. Ask Boris and Ian Dunken Smith to name some. That money is our money paid to an assessment company hired by the DWP to assess me for access to Financial Help only. And that's another story as to why when I asked Capita to put their Assessment Report into my medical history they would not.

    So I asked the court to place that report onto my medical history so that people that actually treat me can see, and all hell broke out saying I had no right putting that report into my medical history as the report was written for the Decision Maker NOT ME.

    Any report held on computer about me, I should have access to. Does the NHS work that way, before administering medication or an operation?

  • onebigvoice
    onebigvoice Scope Member Posts: 927 Pioneering

    Thank you for that link, which I have read. I already have access to the White Paper, not only through Scope but through the Union Groups and that the White paper is not a new thing.

    I do get a bit bemused when I see quotes of the White paper which are sometime open ended, since a history lesson might resolve some issues and already has.

    Professor Harrington's reports were written many years ago, and were not 10 or 20 pages they were 1200+ page documents to the government, when the word "reform" or the "need for change" were used. What did the government do with them? after 3 yearly reports it took a London Tribunal to write the 2014 Social Security Act to get any thing done on paper. Other people have written the White paper, (every Year) including the Grayling Report, the Green Report, Dr Mike Orton, even IDS had a go but then resigned the day before he was to appear in court to be held accountable for his actions, along with Hunt.

    So going forward, why are the same questions being asked about Disability Benefits and access, and benefit payments for long term sick, being included in the White Paper, yet the Green Paper that comes out is not the negociated version, but the "think Tank" version of the document.

    I do not remember negociating anything since the first question we have is lets have a consultation, on what we would like included? From the above parts are already to be installed as law? So where was the compromise? We don't want the WCA abolished, we want it completed by people who are qualified to assess my mobility or return to work with help, but proper help.

    I have proved this can happen so why can't they apply this every where. Or is it because of the accountability thing, where they were told to do it that way so they do.

    ACCOUNTABILITY these days means exactly that in company law. (CANDOUR) So how are agreements allowed to be changed unless the main contractor were aware. (Because they hired them)