The future for the disabled claiming UC/ESA, etc - budget march 2023
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Thanks apple85.Speculation at this point based on what you posted would be that PIP passports the UC health top up.
NI based ESA which was never getting migrated to UC is now up in the air and I suppose awaiting further details.0 -
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I stand corrected - only going by what others have told (barely slept the last week, brain is processing things worse than normal 😝)poppy123456 said:
That's not correct. They are both exactly the same, with identical descriptors.apple85 said:(esp as lcwra is meant to be much harder to qualify for than the esa support group)0 -
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Votadini said:For those of us with mental health conditions who don't qualify for PIP this is absolutely shocking news. If what's contained in that white paper comes to pass tens of thousands of mentally ill people will find themselves classed as fit for work by the benefit system and treated as ordinary claimants.
Yeah although I get PIP now and still meet the descriptors, I still dont like this idea of potentially disqualifying so many people, NI based ESA I think hasnt been mentioned so would potentially survive this reform, but looks like them delaying migrating IR ESA to UC, if its done after the UC changes are done eligibility could be lost as would be too late for UC LCWRA transitional protection.
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bobby123 said:Can anyone summarise the white paperIn summary... These reforms would be rolled out, to new claims only, on a staged, geographical basis from no earlier than 2026/27. We would expect the new claims roll-out to be completed within three years (so by 2029 at the earliest), when we would then begin to move the existing caseload on to the new system.We are only the 3rd month into 2023. The exact details haven't been published and it's unlikely they will be anytime soon. We also have a general election coming in 2024...2
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Apparently all the Health Element does is pay an extra disability premium, if the DWP think you are capable of some kind of work, then they can "request" that you do it. Remember PIP is not a "fitness to work" benefit, so it wouldn't make sense to exempt these people from work. Nowhere in the paper does it state that the Health Element will stop jobseeking requirements.4
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Summary from the Benefits and Work website (cannot vouch for accuracy ) :
What is the UC health element?
Details of the new universal credit (UC) health element were set out in the Health and Disability White Paper published on 15 March 2023.
What is changing?
The work capability assessment is being abolished.
Instead there will be just one assessment, the PIP assessment which will decide if you are eligible for PIP and also if you are eligible for the new UC health element.
What is the UC health element?
The UC health element is the payment that will replace the current limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA) element of UC.
To be eligible for the UC health element you will need to be getting the UC standard allowance and any element of PIP.
When is the UC health element being introduced?
The new system will be rolled out, to new claims only, on a staged, geographical basis from no earlier than 2026/27.
The new claims roll-out is expected be completed within three years, by 2029 a at the earliest. After that, existing UC claimants will be moved on to the new system.
How long can you get the UC health element?
You will stop being entitled to the UC health element if your health condition improves to the degree that you are no longer eligible for PIP or as you earn more money and your UC is tapered away.
How much will the UC health element be?
The new UC health element will be paid at the same level as the current LCWRA element.
What about people who don’t get PIP but have a serious health condition?
There will be protection for people who are currently treated as LCWRA due to pregnancy risk or because they are about to receive, receiving or recovering from treatment for cancer by way of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
They will get the new UC health element even if they do not get PIP.
Will there be transitional protection for existing UC claimants who don’t get PIP?
If you get the LCWRA element but you don’t also get PIP at the point that you move to the new system you will receive transitional protection.
Transitional protection is a top-up so that you don’t immediately lose out because of the introduction of the new UC health element. But this will erode over time with increases in UC elements and will also stop with certain changes of circumstances.
Can I be forced to do any work-related activities if I get the UC health element?
Yes you can.
If you are receiving the UC health element you may be set both voluntary and mandatory work-related requirements by a work coach and you will be subject to sanctions if you don’t meet the mandatory requirements.
The DWP say they will introduce new “more personalised levels of conditionality and employment support, with the aim of helping people to reach their potential and live a more independent life”.
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So you can be made to do work related stuff, if you get the Health Element, I read the same thing from 3 other sources.Jonnyc said:Summary from the Benefits and Work website (cannot vouch for accuracy ) :What is the UC health element?
Details of the new universal credit (UC) health element were set out in the Health and Disability White Paper published on 15 March 2023.
What is changing?
The work capability assessment is being abolished.
Instead there will be just one assessment, the PIP assessment which will decide if you are eligible for PIP and also if you are eligible for the new UC health element.
What is the UC health element?
The UC health element is the payment that will replace the current limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA) element of UC.
To be eligible for the UC health element you will need to be getting the UC standard allowance and any element of PIP.
When is the UC health element being introduced?
The new system will be rolled out, to new claims only, on a staged, geographical basis from no earlier than 2026/27.
The new claims roll-out is expected be completed within three years, by 2029 a at the earliest. After that, existing UC claimants will be moved on to the new system.
How long can you get the UC health element?
You will stop being entitled to the UC health element if your health condition improves to the degree that you are no longer eligible for PIP or as you earn more money and your UC is tapered away.
How much will the UC health element be?
The new UC health element will be paid at the same level as the current LCWRA element.
What about people who don’t get PIP but have a serious health condition?
There will be protection for people who are currently treated as LCWRA due to pregnancy risk or because they are about to receive, receiving or recovering from treatment for cancer by way of chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
They will get the new UC health element even if they do not get PIP.
Will there be transitional protection for existing UC claimants who don’t get PIP?
If you get the LCWRA element but you don’t also get PIP at the point that you move to the new system you will receive transitional protection.
Transitional protection is a top-up so that you don’t immediately lose out because of the introduction of the new UC health element. But this will erode over time with increases in UC elements and will also stop with certain changes of circumstances.
Can I be forced to do any work-related activities if I get the UC health element?
Yes you can.
If you are receiving the UC health element you may be set both voluntary and mandatory work-related requirements by a work coach and you will be subject to sanctions if you don’t meet the mandatory requirements.
The DWP say they will introduce new “more personalised levels of conditionality and employment support, with the aim of helping people to reach their potential and live a more independent life”.
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So if I've understood correctly everything is staying as it is right now and this new system won't even be in place until 2026? So nothing will change until then?
Mom's in support group but she doesn't get pip so I was worried but she will reach state pension age by 2026 so it won't apply to her anyway if it's not going to be in place til 20262 -
JBS2022 said:Apparently all the Health Element does is pay an extra disability premium, if the DWP think you are capable of some kind of work, then they can "request" that you do it. Remember PIP is not a "fitness to work" benefit, so it wouldn't make sense to exempt these people from work. Nowhere in the paper does it state that the Health Element will stop jobseeking requirements.
Yep thats how I understand it, I think coaches will be allowed to exempt people, but it wont be an automatic thing. LCW and LCWRA will be gone.
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Much as I'd like to believe that would change anything, Jonathan Ashworth for Labour has been coming out with largely the same language as the government about disability benefit reform for months, even going so far as accusing them of stealing his ideas. It's tempting to think Labour would be more humane and reasonable than the Tories when it comes to benefits but their last stint in power showed they were anything but. I'd still vote for them though given the alternative.poppy123456 said:We also have a general election coming in 2024...
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I imagine there will be a severely disabled category - exempt from any specific conditionality or work related stuff.0
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Votadini said:
Much as I'd like to believe that would change anything, Jonathan Ashworth for Labour has been coming out with largely the same language as the government about disability benefit reform for months, even going so far as accusing them of stealing his ideas. It's tempting to think Labour would be more humane and reasonable than the Tories when it comes to benefits but their last stint in power showed they were anything but. I'd still vote for them though given the alternative.poppy123456 said:We also have a general election coming in 2024...
I am pretty sure he mentioned it first, then the government jumped on the idea. So I dont expect much better from the other party, Labour also did introduce ESA and the WCA with a plan of kicking a million people of benefits, I dont think they have ever been looking after sick people.
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From 2026/27, you're correct nothing will change until at least then.sunflower2 said:So if I've understood correctly everything is staying as it is right now and this new system won't even be in place until 2026? So nothing will change until then?
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I wonder if they'll even bother restarting reviews for ESA since we're all going onto this new system in a few years anyway. Wishful thinking I know.2
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THANKYOU to everyone who has contributed opinions and info to this thread so far......well needless to say as someone in ill health with numerous progressive auto immune diseases, I am extremely concerned about what we have learned from today's budget, in regards to our esa, uc, pip etc. Sadly though, I'm not surprised that these horrible, entitled, elitist, weasels have resorted to this, as they live to persecute us vulnerable and disabled. May I just double check, am i correct in my understanding that these changes won't start until 2026/ish ?1
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pinkrose said:May I just double check, am i correct in my understanding that these changes won't start until 2026/ish ?
Correct.
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Yeah but it will probably be the terminally ill or people with serious conditions like Alzheimer's or Huntingdons, the same people who were exempt from attending WCAs. A small minority of people.Jonnyc said:I imagine there will be a severely disabled category - exempt from any specific conditionality or work related stuff.3
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