About the PM's (Sunak's) speech: Stop demonising us

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  • kiwicherry8
    kiwicherry8 Scope Member Posts: 19 Connected

    P.C on this morning I mean.

  • judie
    judie Online Community Member Posts: 309 Empowering
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/866125#Comment_866125

    Equalities watchdog investigating DWP over treatment of disabled people on benefits. Sky News are covering it, probably others too. You were right 👍

  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,464 Championing

    Hi @kiwicherry8 :) There's no need to apologise, don't worry. As @judie has said, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has launched an investigation over concerns about the treatment of some disabled benefits claimants. There's some further information about the investigation on the EHRC's website. I've pasted some of it below, but there's no pressure to read it if you're not in the right headspace.

    Britain’s equality regulator has launched an investigation into the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions over concerns about the treatment of some disabled benefits claimants.

    The investigation has been launched by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) due to suspicions that successive Secretaries of State may have broken equality law in their roles as Minister responsible for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

    The focus of the investigation will be whether the DWP has failed to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people with learning disabilities or long-term mental health conditions during health assessment determinations.

    Alongside the investigation, the EHRC will also be assessing whether the Secretary of State has failed to comply with Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) obligations. These obligations require public sector bodies such as the DWP to consider equality and prevent discrimination in their day-to-day operations. The EHRC will be assessing the department’s compliance with the duty when developing, implementing and monitoring policy guidance related to health assessment determinations.

  • Andi66
    Andi66 Online Community Member Posts: 905 Championing

    I've just read on benefits and work website, that esa and esa and housing benefit are going to be moved to universal credit in September this year. So stressful, bad enough worrying about pip ,now this

  • Amaya_Ringo
    Amaya_Ringo Online Community Member Posts: 299 Pioneering

    We have an election date.

    Also, this report is super interesting, because I remember raising at the time of both my assessment and my tribunal that the environment and format was discriminatory to people with autism. I recall my actual assessment was miles from home - I can't drive or navigate - and I had to take family with me to find the venue (although my assessor reported I had no problems finding the venue, I have a recording that says differently!). I had to travel by train at rush hour despite including this on my list of stress triggers. I complained about this in my reconsideration statement but it was ignored. Being interrogated face to face by someone with no understanding of autism was not pleasant…the tribunal was also deeply traumatising.

    So if they are finally looking into this and other related things with regard to reasonable adjustments, it's about time. My case was 2017 so probably too long ago for it to matter (can't even remember who was head of the DWP back then), but it's reassuring to know SOMEONE is investigating this.

    I always feel frustrated that it seems like the Equality Act has no power to protect disabled people as it is so seldom observed or implemented for us and all these policies and decisions are made about us without proper consultation or engagement.

  • Andi66
    Andi66 Online Community Member Posts: 905 Championing

    What made me laugh during Sunak speech, that he was caring , not for the disabled he's not. I was watching prime minister questions and one was from Liberal leader about dwp and carers who work having to pay back thousands. The camera was on Mel Stride , he was sitting squirming in his seat. Sunak just brushed it off. They are heartless.

  • onebigvoice
    onebigvoice Scope Member Posts: 894 Pioneering

    Just when you thought it could not get any worse, the 12-week discussion period for Disabled and benefit claimants to HAVE THEIR SAY STARTED. But most would already know that since the new Social Care Act came into play in February 2024, but parliament OKd it in September 2023. Going forward, they implemented a plan under the SCA it was to go back to 2015, for ALL CLAIMANTS THAT HAD AN ASSESSMENT FROM THE DWP FOR BENEFITS, but yet again was loaded towards the sick and Disabled, and the Health care they receive and also changing the Cash system again for vouchers to be used to purchase Aids for the house or outside travel.

    The Green paper outlines a plan to reduce even further the cost of Disability using the Social Care Act and changing the content to suit what they intend to do.

    Many on here have stated that they dread having an assessment because it has become a 2-hour interview to prove to an assessor that you are Disabled.

    Here is one part of Wales-on-line.

    She added: “From the moment you enter the system, it feels like you’re being treated like a potential liar and fraud.”

    Last week, former PIP assessors described the process as “horrific” and “target-driven”, with one claiming it “sets disabled people up to fail”.

    Former PIP assessors said the intense pressure to hit daily targets affected the quality of the assessments, while the lack of training in complex conditions made it difficult to write fair reports.

    Charities fear the PIP system may get worse if the DWP carries out the planned changes. Proposals include the introduction of a six-tier system of awards, as well as greater use of vouchers and one-off grants, rather than regular cash payments.

    Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride suggested on Tuesday that cuts were needed because the bill for PIP was “creaking under the weight of the profound changes we’ve seen like disability”.

    I could add loads more, all stating the same thing. However, to make matters worse and to get accountability where the history of assessments from Capita, Maximus, Concentrix, and ATOS are now being looked at, and the DWP is under review, our PM tonight has called a general election for the 4th of July 2024.

    This means that parliament will be dissolved and everyone now looking to canvas votes for the general election. again if the clock is ticking the election will happen before the consultation period is finished. This would mean Questions aimed at the DWP and how they have run the system will also stop, but what it will mean? If Labour gets in accountability will be the first thing on the agenda, where past people in the job will be held accountable under the NEW SOCIAL CARE ACT back to 2015 as it was intended.

    Make your voice heard, email your MP, and tell him how you have been affected by the System of assessments to benefits that have been carried out by your assessment provider, on behalf of the DWP, since they HIRED THEM TO WRITE A REPORT ABOUT YOU WHICH YOU DON'T SEE UNTIL THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE. Also, against the new Act. CALL FOR AN EQUAL FUTURE STARTING WITH US AND THE NHS.

  • ThundyUK
    ThundyUK Online Community Member Posts: 24 Connected

    I think the cessation of all cash payments is a foregone conclusion at this point.

    No idea what will replace it, but clearly it'll be inferior in value (both monetary and effectiveness).

  • Ironside1990
    Ironside1990 Online Community Member Posts: 310 Empowering

    ^Can you not say things like that, until we get the facts, please? There is a lot of speculation over this. People will read it and it'll only make anxiety worse.

    We don't know what happen until the 22nd July and even then, we might have a new government, so nothing will go ahead at all.

  • ThundyUK
    ThundyUK Online Community Member Posts: 24 Connected
    https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/866664#Comment_866664

    Worrying me too - not my intent to cause anxiety to others. I am known to be overly pragmatic, but I'll keep my mouth shut.

  • Ironside1990
    Ironside1990 Online Community Member Posts: 310 Empowering

    ^This is a discussion forum. You are free to post what you like, but at the same time, be mindful of what you post as well.

  • Ironside1990
    Ironside1990 Online Community Member Posts: 310 Empowering

    ^Who knows with the Tories. I wonder if their core supporters have relatives with disabilities. I wonder how they feel about the Tory proposals to reform PIP. I wonder if they think it's too cruel, even by Tory standards.

  • Andi66
    Andi66 Online Community Member Posts: 905 Championing

    I wonder if its any good if we contacted Kier Starmer and gave ourside to what's it like to being treated like nothing by the tory government. I think you can write or email him.

  • Nader
    Nader Online Community Member Posts: 61 Contributor

    @Andi66 That's what I'm intending to do!

  • Amaya_Ringo
    Amaya_Ringo Online Community Member Posts: 299 Pioneering

    I'm wondering whether the election was a snap decision or if it was always intended for now. I wonder this because Rishi has always said second half of the year, but that's July and always has been. And he's never been clear on denying a potential July date, he's just repeated that response.

    I admit, I assumed (until he made the speech the other week, which sounded like pre-election summarising), that the consultation meant there wouldn't be an election until it was finished. But now I wonder whether this was always the intention - make a lot of noise about disability and improving benefits, open a consultation so people can 'have their say'…either he'll win the election, making it easier for him to implement, or he won't, leaving this as someone else's problem.

    Taking emotion out of it, the financial reality of a voucher system or any kind of credit system with receipts requires a lot more admin and cost than the current system. That means staffing and salaries. That means money. The expense of changing the number of current claimants all to that system, not to mention appeals and so on, will not offset those they 'cut' - especially since as we've seen appeals and tribunals have generally gone in claimants favour, and they will not be able to eradicate appeals on decisions, especially with claimants who have an extensive and proven record of disability supported by data.

    It's not that I don't think there will be scrutiny over the system, and changes, and so on. But I suspect a lot of the ideas put forward are there to make us feel whatever we actually get is 'not as bad', or as election promotion.

    My bigger anxiety is with the powers they want to give the DWP, when the investigation into their practices demonstrates questions over whether they are fit and proper to have those powers. I hope whoever wins the Election has the sense to learn from the Horizon scandal and take a different path.

  • Nader
    Nader Online Community Member Posts: 61 Contributor

    @Amaya_Ringo

    I very much agree with this: "My bigger anxiety is with the powers they want to give the DWP, when the investigation into their practices demonstrates questions over whether they are fit and proper to have those powers. I hope whoever wins the Election has the sense to learn from the Horizon scandal and take a different path."

    I am amazed that no fuss is being made about this. My concern is that gradually all of our spending will be policed by an AI. This is not SciFi. Mel Stride has already said that they want to know better how PIP money is being used.

    It's has now become increasing more difficult for me to trust our government. And, quite frankly, I struggle to see how a Labour government will be any better.

  • Andi66
    Andi66 Online Community Member Posts: 905 Championing

    Just emailed him, explained how hard pip is to get, and what it be like taking payment away. Being disabled and how bad it is . The unfair treatment by dwp, etc

    Only could put so much. I looke at reform, manifesto similar to torys, they also want unemployment benefit for 4 months then its cut

  • Andi66
    Andi66 Online Community Member Posts: 905 Championing

    The reason I emailed was to see what they would do about pip. Hopefully leave it as it is

    Just saw that sunak on about cutting cost that nearly half a billion down the drain due to the Rwanda scheme being not done until the election if they get in

    Talk about wasting money, so that's ok for them to do it. So they just pick on disabled and vunerable instead

  • Meg24
    Meg24 Online Community Member Posts: 390 Trailblazing

    I know someone who is self employed and didn't claim because she couldn't reach the minimum income floor, she wasn't told that she would have had a 12 month transitional protection where she wouldn't need to. She just did a calculation on a website and discovered she wouldn't be eligible for help anymore. The DWP is not being clear with people about what they can get on managed migration. They're probably having some very big office parties right now...

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