Wednesday: Statement on Benefits

I don't think there was a speech by Kendall. It seems she and Reeves didn't turn up and left it all to Allison McGovern. But Kendall did publish a written statement, which I posted a link to in this thread somewhere.

Jane315STARX · January 29

I will see if I can fund.This is utterly disgraceful leaving us all justwatching and waiting

Zipz · January 29

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/976248#Comment_976248

Right. Autism (ASD) is not mental illness. However, misdiagnosis and mishandling of ASD can result in crippling MH issues.

Andi66 · January 29

What's the benefits cap, Alison mcgovern mentioned today ?

Asia23 · January 29

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/976349#Comment_976349

Hi @Andi66

Alison McGovern who was standing in for Liz Kendall today was referring to the welfare cap. It is a set amount of money that the government of the day are allowed to spend on certain welfare benefits each year (introduced by George Osborne in 2014). The current welfare cap was set by the Conservative government in the Spring of 2020. Today's motion was for MPs to agree that this welfare cap is going to be breached by £8 billion this year and to agree to put it through.

See link:

The welfare cap - House of Commons Library

This is not to be confused with the benefit cap, which is a cap on the amount of benefits that a household can receive depending on which benefits they claim (also introduced by George Osborne).

Andi66 · January 29

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/976355#Comment_976355

Oh ok thanks, having heard what Alison mcgovern said are they wanting disabled people to work , she also said they are going to do more than the green paper sets out.as another one of the labour mps said if they can work. It's very confusing

apple85 · January 29

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/976349#Comment_976349

https://www.gov.uk/benefit-cap - summary

https://www.gov.uk/benefit-cap/benefit-cap-amounts - amounts

Pip/dla don’t count towards it (I’m not sure if severe and enhanced elements of esa gets exempt also)

I think it’s more likely to effect big families that are entitled to a high lha (local housing allowance) currently

can you give me a few minutes to double check things so I can properly explain what it would mean if the the gov/dwp reduce the benefit cap - I understand it under esa but uc looks like there may be less exemptions so I need to look into that

edit - you also get an exemption with the uc elements of lcwra and lcw

Would any of you like me to break it down with real life examples?

but I think I see where the dwp may be going with this one

Asia23 · January 29

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/976356#Comment_976356

Actually, just to correct what I said earlier, it's the cap on the amount that the government can spend on certain social security benefits in the FINAL year of Parliament, i.e. 2024/2025. The £8 billion overspend is the fault of the Conservatives, according to what was said by Alison McGovern today and they are agreeing to accept this overspend rather than make the draconian immediate cuts to social security spending it would require this year if they didn't.

The Labour government have set out their own welfare cap targeted towards their final year of Parliament in 2029/30. See link:
Economic and fiscal outlook – October 2024 - Office for Budget Responsibility

As for what was being said by her today, there is a green paper due to be presented in the Spring which I think will likely include plans for reforms of the WCA and perhaps for PIP? It is unclear exactly what this will entail. We can only wait and see.

Andi66 · January 29

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/976357#Comment_976357

Yes thank you

charlie72 · January 29

So basically no big tough statements on benefits today then? Reeves spouted on for ages this morning about new runway for Heathrow, probably for her mates private jets and a quick escape abroad when she loses her job this year. Then Kendall didn't turn up in the commons but instead Alison Mcgovern, nearly bored me stiff, said nothing much, again no big statements, just about wefare reform, which we already know about. It's all about keeping us panicked, telling us next to nothing on purpose, it seems like a competition between labour and tories to see who can be the nastiest to sick/disabled people. In my view it's playground bullying, I'm sure they get off of it or something, bunch of sadists, sociopaths, and narcissists.

Wednesday: Statement on Benefits

Comments

Categories