The Autumn Statement 2023

Hannah_Alumni
Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,866 Championing
edited December 2023 in Benefits and income
Good morning, Community!

Today is the day of the Autumn Statement.

We have been having many discussions over possible changes to the welfare benefits in this thread; Welfare benefits news, possible changes & constructive ‘discussion - an ongoing thread.

We know it has been daunting and upsetting for lots of you. But today we will know for sure what their plan is. So, we wanted a thread to put everything in after the statement has been made.

This is going to be a place for you to discuss the announcement, vent and for us, as well as members, to support each other. Because we are a community <3 

We know emotions will be high today, opinions will be diverse. But please remember the community house rules and community guidelines. Let's make sure we're supporting each other.

I want to finish this first post with a list of mental health resources. For those who feel they'd like to talk to someone; MindHub of HopeIAPT and SHOUT
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Comments

  • Sammy19_19
    Sammy19_19 Online Community Member Posts: 15 Connected
    I know. It is absolutely terrifying.

    Wherever disabled go have to bed for help and explain most time we have door shut on us, I about to just give in
  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,866 Championing
    I have merged the threads together <3 
  • charl1234
    charl1234 Online Community Member Posts: 264 Empowering
    I'm getting into a right state just worried, not for me as I do work part time but for my partner how can a man that cannot stand , sit , socially engage and is incontinent most days and in constant pain work, and cannot even answer a telephone at times, plus has attempted suicide in the past , how the hell can he work , it's a joke a absolute joke , I have got myself in a absolute mess, I had to go and see my GP yesterday, and have had to seek mental health support, 
    How does one get long term support worker support coz at the minute I feel like I'm drowning 
  • charl1234
    charl1234 Online Community Member Posts: 264 Empowering
    Note, I'm not a risk to myself or others ❤️
  • Remina
    Remina Online Community Member Posts: 277 Empowering
    Thank you @Albus_Scope and @Hannah_Scope :)<3 
  • Hannah_Alumni
    Hannah_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,866 Championing
    @charl1980 I am so glad to hear you have gone to your GP for support. If you do feel you need to speak to someone whilst waiting for that support. SHOUT are a 24/7 texting service that are there to help <3 
  • bg844
    bg844 Online Community Member Posts: 3,883 Championing
    6.7% increase in benefits from April confirmed & increasing the LHA too.
  • apple85
    apple85 Online Community Member Posts: 892 Championing
    With all the ‘giveaways’ I’m wondering if perhaps we are getting an election first half of 2024 after all……………seems a bit early to be doing all this if an election is over 13 months away

    i think it’s also designed so the media will focus on the ‘goodies’ and ignore the possible small print and less positive things once the full printed version of this statement gets published

    that’s my take away so far
  • apple85
    apple85 Online Community Member Posts: 892 Championing
    I think my positivity from last night may of been premature…….waiting to read things in details and the footnotes
  • Meg24
    Meg24 Online Community Member Posts: 390 Trailblazing
    The Guardian & Independant reporting that the new maximum length of benefit is 18 months without having to find work, then you get put on notice to find work and in 6 months you lose benefits. Are they serious? Are there any exceptions? There have to be some and who will they be? Are they going to backdate this? I have been in the support group for 14 yrs! So do I get kicked off now?! They can't allow this surely, they are talking about literally starving people, throwing us on the streets to die. They are beyond all evil. 
  • Meg24
    Meg24 Online Community Member Posts: 390 Trailblazing
    No sorry just re-read that, it's worse. After 18 months of 'help' there is mandatory work experience, *then they close your benefits. I thought they were only clamping down on people found fit for work but this reads like they are scrapping sick notes and giving us all 18 months and done. Please can someone tell us what the hell.
  • Wibbles
    Wibbles Online Community Member Posts: 2,576 Championing
    edited November 2023
    They have not said anything specifically about disability benefits yet as far as I am aware !!
    apart from a 6.7% rise

    Benefits to stop for those refusing to seek work

    Hunt follows through with a clampdown on benefits.

    He says that if, after seeking a job for 18 months, a claimant has still not found employment they will have to take part in a mandatory work placement "to increase their skills and improve their employability".

    And if they "choose not to engage with the work search process for six months, we will close their case and stop their benefits", he says.

    THIS DOES NOT SPECIFICALLY MENTION THE DISABLED


  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing
    Meg24 said:
    The Guardian & Independant reporting that the new maximum length of benefit is 18 months without having to find work, then you get put on notice to find work and in 6 months you lose benefits. Are they serious? Are there any exceptions? There have to be some and who will they be? Are they going to backdate this? I have been in the support group for 14 yrs! So do I get kicked off now?! They can't allow this surely, they are talking about literally starving people, throwing us on the streets to die. They are beyond all evil. 
    Thats not what I heard him say as it won’t to apply to everyone. Those that have either LCW (WRAG) or LCWRA (Support Group) are not expected to look for work anyway. 
  • Albus_Scope
    Albus_Scope Posts: 9,784 Scope Online Community Coordinator
    edited November 2023
    Hey @Meg24 welcome to the community.

    I'd not read too much into things yet as we don't have full information.  It sounds like they're giving people on standard UC 18 months to find work, then for 6 months they'll be on the 'back to work' scheme.  This appears to only be for Universal Credit, they've not mentioned any other benefits.