So labour won by a landslide - what happens next? (Both in general & disabled ppl perspective)

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  • Ironside1990
    Ironside1990 Online Community Member Posts: 352 Pioneering

    I think PIP needs reform, but on the DWP side and not the benefit itself. Make it so that assessors can't lie, when the evidence is there in black and white. Stop giving them financial incentives to knock back claims.

    it'll save the DWP money in the long run, since claimants won't be forced to go to a tribunal

  • Dave1993
    Dave1993 Online Community Member Posts: 177 Empowering
  • luvpink
    luvpink Online Community Member Posts: 2,546 Championing

    It would be grossly unfair if they make it means tested.

    Loads of us would lose our benefits entitlement if that were to happen!

  • Dave1993
    Dave1993 Online Community Member Posts: 177 Empowering

    but if you have over the thresh hold do you really need pip at that point

  • luvpink
    luvpink Online Community Member Posts: 2,546 Championing

    Yes I do and I'm currently entitled to it.

    Why should people who worked hard all their lives, paid into the system and saved for their old age be penalised?

    I have the same extra costs of having a disability as anyone else and yes I most definetely do need the money to survive.

    How would you feel if the system changed against you and you were no longer entitled?

  • luvpink
    luvpink Online Community Member Posts: 2,546 Championing
  • luvpink
    luvpink Online Community Member Posts: 2,546 Championing

    We will just have to wait and see what Labour decide to do.

  • Jimm_Alumni
    Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,713 Championing

    I will mention, that while 70% of tribunals are successful, not everybody who was rejected for PIP or an MR goes onto a tribunal.

    PIP is not means-tested because it is about disability, not about what you earn. But about how you are affected. There are other benefits for means-testing. There are other benefits that are also not means-tested. While it isn't called a benefit, it is money paid out from the government to help you live in a similar manner, State Pension is not means-tested. Similar to how PIP is for those who are disabled, the State Pension is for those who are over a certain age.

    If there is an issue with money, I am certain there are a lot more areas where money can be recouped than PIP. Where much of the money goes right back into the economy.

  • Jimm_Alumni
    Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,713 Championing

    @apple85 I just wanted to say thank you for all the work you've put into informing the community over the course of the election and even now afterwards.

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Online Community Member Posts: 64,463 Championing

    Why not? You can be a millionaire and still claim PIP if entitled and this is the same for all disability benefits.

  • Dave1993
    Dave1993 Online Community Member Posts: 177 Empowering

    That's my point why would a millionaire need pip needs to be means tested the whole point they are doing this is cause it is unsustainable means testing would help alot with costs

  • apple85
    apple85 Online Community Member Posts: 893 Championing

    I’m actually dumbfounded some of you want pip to be means tested

    You’re basically saying that any disabled person accepting help from the state can only have max savings of £16k to receive that help which is ludicrous

    I will repeat that the disabled have additional costs and more often than not get paid less than their same skilled ‘abled’ counterparts - pip exists to help bridge that gap (a gap that many disability experts say aren’t closed nowhere near enough)

    I truly believe that the majority of disabled ppl are decent ppl and if one earned a comfortable wage (well before millionaire stage) would not claim PIP (if for no other reason why would any sane person put themselves through the soul destroying dwp assessment process that goes on for months if they don’t have to?!)

    If labour intend to encourage more disabled to work then making pip means tested would be counterproductive (as would making it more difficult to awards and the whole voucher/receipt master plan from stride)

    Saying that any person should be blocked (via means tested) from making a claim for pip because of a small amount of savings or a larger amount is kind of discriminatory and something us disabled should know better about (being unfair targets ourselves by some of the population ourselves)

    (And semi off topic but I’ll mention it as there is much talk on this on social media, I don’t believe state pension should be means tested either - though I do believe an option for choice should be added and pensioners be able to opt in and out of SP online………….the dwp has made uc fully online, why not SP?)


    I think I need to sign off and cool down

    For now I’ll leave these articles:

    https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/%E2%80%9Cunder-strain%E2%80%9D-%E2%80%93-real-causes-rise-working-age-disability-and-incapacity-benefits-spending


    https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/app/uploads/2024/06/20-Under-strain.pdf


    https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/pip-award-review-backlog-could-take-ten-years-to-clear?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Benefits+and+Work&utm_content=V2+July+2024+Newsletter

  • apple85
    apple85 Online Community Member Posts: 893 Championing

    If I’ve understood poppy correctly than I agree with the above

    It’s fair that all disabled ppl regardless of personal financial circumstance has the right to apply for pip if they so should chose!

  • Ralph
    Ralph Online Community Member Posts: 146 Empowering

    David Cameron claimed DLA for his sadly deceased disabled son. David Cameron is a multi millionaire.

  • apple85
    apple85 Online Community Member Posts: 893 Championing
  • JasonRA
    JasonRA Online Community Member Posts: 299 Championing

    There's going to be a reform of Universal Credit and PIP, with the addition of Stephen Timms MP within the DWP I hope his compassionate voice can resonate with many within the DWP and other ministers.

    Mods here have always said on here until changes/reforms are set in stone we should get on with our lives and not add another burdensome stone on the issues we already face.

    And I quote from the Mirror:

    Labour MP Alison McGovern has been quoted by i as saying the welfare system needs "big changes," with a focus on more precise PIP assessments and addressing the backlog of claimants. The manifesto states: "Our system will be underpinned by rights and responsibilities people who can work, should work and there will be consequences for those who do not fulfil their obligations.

    "Long waits for treatment of health conditions, particularly mental health, are contributing to the rise in economic inactivity. Labour will reform employment support so it drives growth and opportunity."

    So Labour want more people into work, that's the crux but I hold a candle that Labour will not be as punitive with their plans as the Tories were, remember that that PIP consultation hasn't been canned.

    The below link is what has been released today I believe via the Government's website.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/news/back-to-work-plan-will-help-drive-economic-growth-in-every-region

  • Meg24
    Meg24 Online Community Member Posts: 390 Trailblazing

    I agree, instead of spending all my time discussing this online, I have taken some time out to draft an email to my new MP, outlining some of my fears and asking him to pass on our request for reassurance before the summer break.

  • MW123
    MW123 Scope Member Posts: 1,404 Championing

    I agree with Woodbine that getting caught up in endless discussions about hypothetical scenarios is counterproductive. Well done, Meg, on drafting an email to send to your MP. I had the opportunity to speak directly to my new MP when she was canvassing for votes on my doorstep. She was extremely sympathetic toward the disabled community. I'll be interested to hear how your MP responds.

  • apple85
    apple85 Online Community Member Posts: 893 Championing

    writing letters & emails to our local mps (and even directly to the likes of starmer and Kendall) is probably something we should all be doing within the next few months

    In many ways we were too quiet about all the reforms the tories put us through allowing them to somewhat walk all over us with no consequences.

    We need to make it clear to Labour Day dot that this community, though ‘battered & bruised’ have…..well just had enough and will not sit idly by if Labour do start taking policies straight out of the Tory playbook

    I’ve been saying for months the disabled community need to get much louder to be taken notice of (esp as the national press really don’t like publishing stories on the front page on real life disability hardships) - and mp letters/emails and being active on social media, forums & around the net in general is a way to do so

    But I do think we have to pre empt what backlash we give a little bit and not wait for any Labour ‘attack towards us’ to be 100% confirmed (it’s impossible to stop a crime when it’s already been committed - I want to stop/prevent any possible bad ideas from Labour well before any official announcement)

    I just personally don’t trust Labour enough to sit back and ‘wait and see’ - sorry