Labour doubles down on slashing billions from DWP's disability benefits bill

MyHappy256
MyHappy256 Online Community Member Posts: 71 Contributor

Not to be a worrywart, but this was posted in Big issue 16-1-25

https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/dwp-disability-benefits-bill-high-court-ruling/

and now there is a new link on Facebook Disability something facebook page, lost the link, but it says this has been confirmed to go ahead despite a court ruling?

It refers to reforming work capability rules, presumably ESA working or support now UC and savings from new claimants?

I just wanted to know if anyone has any more information about this, when they are referring to new claimants, is that for existing people being moved from legacy benefits onto UC or is it for brand new claimants not yet on benefits?

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Comments

  • MyHappy256
    MyHappy256 Online Community Member Posts: 71 Contributor

    CAB told me last year, that when they switch me to UC, I would lost £400 per month, now this article refers to losing £400 per month, am wondering whether ths is the same thing or something else?

  • Dave1993
    Dave1993 Online Community Member Posts: 169 Empowering

    just have to wait and find out

  • Jimm_Alumni
    Jimm_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,717 Championing
    edited January 30

    Hey @MyHappy256, I am afraid I am not 100% sure if they are discussing the same £400 a month. I will take a quick look around for some more information though, there is just so much in the air at the moment as very little has been set in stone yet.

  • judie
    judie Online Community Member Posts: 318 Empowering
  • FeistyPigeon
    FeistyPigeon Online Community Member Posts: 295 Empowering

    Disability Rights has this Mr Happy:

    https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/half-million-disabled-people-set-lose-out-when-dwp-scraps-%E2%80%98work-capability-assessment-test

    Looks like Labour's intention, which the Tories planned to do, is to limit the extra limited capability of work benefit element to those who also claim PIP. McGovern made a vague statement yesterday to limit extra sickness benefits to "those who really need it". By the sound of it, this is what they're thinking of. It'll screw thousands of us, as they've made it so hard to qualify for PIP now.

    There's just one silver lining you can read in my ref:

    the DWP maintain that existing claimants will receive transitional protection, this is by its nature temporary and will inevitably reduce. If the reforms are introduced, new claimants will feel their effects immediately.

    So in other words, they'll keep our elements going while slamming anyone new who has the misfortune to end up on universal credit. But of course I bet this won't last for ever, they give medical assessments every year or so, so when our time comes… my suspicion is they'll treat us under the new rules and cut our benefits too.

    If you're disabled you're disabled, for heaven's sake. We haven't got the health to work and yet they'll be slashing our benefits. I hate this "Labour" lot - Tories in new clothes + expensive freebie glasses

  • TG0601
    TG0601 Online Community Member Posts: 86 Empowering
    edited January 30

    It states it would affect new applicants.


    “The proposals would cut around £400 a month from the disability benefits of hundreds of thousands of new applicants by 2029”

  • shadows22
    shadows22 Online Community Member Posts: 2 Listener

    oh stop this nonsense, no one knows what they intend to do,you’re scaring a lot of people with your nonsense.

  • mac99
    mac99 Online Community Member Posts: 31 Contributor

    that disability rights article was from october 2023.

  • MyHappy256
    MyHappy256 Online Community Member Posts: 71 Contributor

    Thank you to those of you who posted helpful comments.

    I am just wondering if when we are required to transition from legacy benefits to UC if it means it is a new claim or an existing claim, since it is new to UC but existing as a legacy benefit?

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,248 Championing
    edited January 30

    Treated as a new claim to UC.

    As I've said repeatedly elsewhere as nothing official will be released until the Spring, the best thing anyone can do is stop reading these articles.

    Everything between now and then will only be speculation, opinion, probably inaccurate or as keeps happening, previous Conservative plans.

  • judie
    judie Online Community Member Posts: 318 Empowering

    Whatever you said - I agree 😄

    You work very hard to keep people calm and allay their fears

  • judie
    judie Online Community Member Posts: 318 Empowering

    I don't know who he's talking about, I just know he's a good bloke. And I'm still bitter about having my 'Trump is delusional ' comment removed by admin. so I'm full of righteous indignation, especially after what he said yesterday about diversity and disabled people. Now that's a person who deserves denigrating!

  • Community_Scope
    Community_Scope Posts: 1,816 Empowering

    Hello everyone, 

    We want this discussion to continue, but we’re concerned that things are becoming quite tense and could easily escalate. 

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  • FeistyPigeon
    FeistyPigeon Online Community Member Posts: 295 Empowering
  • FeistyPigeon
    FeistyPigeon Online Community Member Posts: 295 Empowering

    Mr Happy, I was forced from ESA onto universal credit a few years back. What they did was carry on my disability element onto universal credit. If you are applying new, ie not from a legacy benefit, they don't pay it, even if you're just as disabled. But I think in your case, you should continue getting the addition. But I would double-check before any move. Also if you're going to / have to move to UC, might be wise to do it as soon as pos, before the new regulations come to force. But check you'll be ok first. If there's any doubt, I'd stick with the legacy benefit as long as you can, they are on your back far more with UC, phone calls etc to check up on you.

  • FeistyPigeon
    FeistyPigeon Online Community Member Posts: 295 Empowering

    Yes, that's right Mac, but bet they're still working to the same plan. Reeves said in her October speech that they were implementing in full the Tory plans they had inherited. The DWP plans were finalised 2023 and the plan was to implement them after the election, 2024. So I'm most likely right these are the plans Reeves was referring to.

  • FeistyPigeon
    FeistyPigeon Online Community Member Posts: 295 Empowering
  • FeistyPigeon
    FeistyPigeon Online Community Member Posts: 295 Empowering

    I'm not sure Kimmy is right about transitioning from legacy benefits to UC Mr Happy. I transitioned a few years back and the disability element I had under the legacy benefit was transferred with me. But I'd check with the DWP, in case Kimmy is right…

  • Kimi87
    Kimi87 Online Community Member Posts: 5,248 Championing
    edited January 31

    All applications for UC count as new claims. This is why everyone has an ID check etc. Whether the person is new to benefits, or transferring from legacy benefits.

    That doesn't stop entitlement to Transitional Protection if someone qualifies when moving onto UC from legacy benefits.

    As far as Labour go, they've commented that they are committed to the welfare cost savings they inherited from the Tories. And that they have their own intentions on how to make those savings.