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

Socrates63 · September 23

I honestly don't see their logic. If it's voluntary, does it mean it wasn't voluntary before(mandatory?). If that's the case why voluntary now? And if it is voluntary why would they need highly paid staff to talk to people about looking for work? What have the lesser paid staff been doing all these years? Crosswords, ludo, playing snakes and ladders perhaps? What's voluntary about it anyway. Do they mean I can approach the jobcentre voluntary without them threatening me in some way or do they mean I can have the pleasure of going to the jobcentre, talking to one of their newly highly paid staff and being coerced into doing voluntary work? I imagine the employers are rubbing their hands at that. By the way, how does creating 1000 new highly paid jobs, save money. I remember them doing the same thing with atos employees.

Kimi87 · September 23

There has always been voluntary support on offer.

It's the Government repackaging existing help and spinning it as something new. To make headlines and make themselves look good.

Even the staff number boost might not stand much scrutiny- I'd bet these numbers used to exist, were cut, now back to previous levels!

MW123 · September 23

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1069863#Comment_1069863

Yes, voluntary support has always existed, but until now, it was something you had to seek out or be referred into. What’s changed is the delivery.

All LCWRA claimants will now be proactively contacted via their UC journal with monthly appointment offers. It’s not new support, it’s become the default. Instead of claimants approaching Jobcentres voluntarily, the Jobcentre will now keep placing the “offer” in front of everyone in LCWRA, except those with lifelong or end-of-life conditions.

You can still say no without sanction, but unlike before, you won’t be left alone. The contact will continue whether you want it or not, even if you say no.

Catherine21 · September 23

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1069886#Comment_1069886

OOh god this why the big push to go on uc how many times can you say no 12 times every year

Albus_Scope · September 23

You can say it as many times as you need to @Catherine21 it's all voluntary. Some people will be very happy to be offered some support. It'll stop the old lines about people being "put on LCW and forgotten about."

It's giving people a chance to get help with looking for work if they want it. 😊

Kimi87 · September 23

The press release says:

The offer is voluntary and will be made to LCWRA claimants via their Universal Credit journal with tailored appointments taking place monthly.

Appointments taking place monthly if someone accepts the offer, not monthly Journal messages offering help is my interpretation.

MW123 · September 23

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1069955#Comment_1069955

Fair question, Catherine. The DWP says it is voluntary for LCWRA, but they can still send monthly appointment offers even if you say no. There is no published limit, so yes, potentially 12 refusals a year. And we will not know how refusal is treated in the long term until the Pathways to Work White Paper is published. This could be the warm-up. We really do need to see what is in that paper.

Albus_Scope · September 23

Hey folks, could we please keep this chat UC related? I'm happy to split off your convo about PIP if you still needed to ask more questions though?

Catherine21 · September 23

No one talking about Liz kendell getting sack

Albus_Scope · September 23

She wasn't so much sacked as moved to a different role @Catherine21 it happens quite a lot in politics. She's now the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Catherine21 · September 23

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1069957#Comment_1069957

Its the lack of trust in the government for me but my attitude is i will wait and see im not making myself sick like I did before god I was shaking in my bed awful just awful one day at a time keep manifesting postcode lottery .....

Catherine21 · September 23

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1069967#Comment_1069967

{Comment removed by moderator - uncivil}

Albus_Scope · September 23

Let's keep things civil please @Catherine21 there's no need for name calling. Remember the house rules.

Catherine21 · September 23

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1069973#Comment_1069973

I know couldn't help it

Ross1975 · September 23

If you're in LCWRA and you accept the offer of help and go to the job centre it could go against you at your next WCA and you may be put into LCW, as LCWRA is supposed to mean you're not well enough to be going to the job centre and discussing work or what things you could do to move you closer to being able to work.

I would be very, very careful.

If the DWP starts contacting me once a month with these offers every time I get a text telling me to go onto my UC account is going to really, really scare me because for all I know it could be to tell me that I've got a WCA. I'm going to be feeling like I'm constantly living on a knife edge, this is just going to make my mental health worse.

It's bizarre that they're doing this as LCWRA means exactly what it means which is you're not well enough to go to the JC for work related activity, what next ballet classes for people in wheelchairs?