Upcoming changes to benefits
Comments
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And as you say, I can't see how this can be legal, especially in view of Ellen Clifford winning her case. It's downright discrimination. It's distressing to think they even think this is okay. I hope the MP's resistance carries on and they don't just u-turn at the last minute.
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I am trying to remain positive until we get the official announcement
All these 'leaks' and speculation is not doing any of us any good.
Happy Saint Patrick's day !tomorrow!
🇮🇪💚☘
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hi , I can’t find anything about freezing lcwra , could you post a screenshot please . This would be good news if true 🙏
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Thank you for posting this. Hopefully a little bit of light in the darkness for us.
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Of course!
Main paragraph is ‘Among MPs there is also widespread concern about reported plans to cut - or potentially freeze - the top rate of benefits for disabled people who are unable to work…’
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oh yes . I actually read that and missed it . Well done spotting that . Possibly a subtle leak ?
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What are the 2015 reforms and what effect does it have(introduced by IDS)
House of Lords Select Committee on Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform WELFARE REFORM AND WORK BILL Memorandum from the Department for Work and Pensions Introduction
1. The Welfare Reform and Work Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 9 July 2015.
2.This Memorandum identifies the provisions for delegated legislation in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill. It explains the purpose of the powers, the reason why they are left to delegated legislation and, where applicable, why they are not subject to any Parliamentary procedure.
Clauses 13 and 14– removing the work-related activity component in ESA and the limited capability for work element in UC.
16. These clauses remove provision for an additional payment to be made to ESA and UC claimants with limited capability for work.
17. Clause 13 removes provision for the payment of the work-related activity component in ESA.
18. Clause 14 removes the fact that a claimant has limited capability for work from the list of needs or circumstances which may be prescribed, in respect of which an additional amount is included as part of an award of universal credit.
19. Claimants with limited capability for work and work-related activity will continue to receive an additional amount of benefit as part of UC.
20. The intention is that the removal will be subject to exceptions. In particular, it is intended that the removal will not apply to:
those already in receipt of the work-related activity component or limited capability for work element at the point of commencement; UC claimants who have made their claim before the date of commencement (or are treated as having made their claim before that date) and who have provided medical evidence in support of their claim on the grounds of sickness/disability who are determined to have limited capability for work following their assessment; and existing incapacity benefit, severe disablement allowance, and income support claimants who have not yet had their awards converted to ESA who following conversion are placed in the limited capability for work group.
21. New powers have therefore been created in clause 13 (subsection (4))to allow the Secretary of State to make regulations to make the savings and transitional protection required for ESA.
22. No new regulation powers are needed in clause 14 for UC as there is already power in the Welfare Reform Act 2012 to make provision in regulations under that Act for the exceptions.
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I hope theres no cuts at all to LCWRA but at least a freeze in inflation payments isn't as devastating compared to the reports of 34% or more of it being cut directly. That would be manageable, it would suck but that would not be brutal. They need to be stopped in changing the criteria of eligibility. They want to stop people with mental illness being eligible for getting LCWRA. They must be stopped at the courts if true as that's discrimination. Of course we don't know for sure until next week.
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Why thank you, I don’t know if it’s a leak or a compromise or what, but they’ve already backed down (apparently) on a PIP freeze, a LCWRA freeze for a year is a big improvement and we just then need to work on the PIP descriptors / application already being made harder than it already is.
I agree, a freeze would be pretty grim considering the rate inflation has been this last few years but we could at least survive. A cut would be devastating.
Like I said above i totally agree, changing the PIP descriptors is another thing to work on now.
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fingers crossed 🤞 touch wood ( touching my head) the descriptors are next .
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The Article has appeared in full on the Guardian Website now:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/16/starmer-to-drive-through-welfare-cuts-that-could-affect-uks-most-severely-disabled
It does say ‘The bulk of the expected £5bn to £6bn in cuts will come from making it tougher to qualify for Pip – a key disability benefit not linked to work – which is likely to deny payments to many with conditions such as autism.Despite the widespread backlash, scope for further change is now unlikely.’
HOWEVER! There’s also news on the Daily Mail now, which while typical of them being so insulting to the disabled:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14505345/amp/Labour-plans-tackle-welfare-bill-fears-backbench-rebellion.html
It also has one other bit of good news on it here: ‘Any plan to freeze PIP or change eligibility rules would require primary legislation which could trigger a revolt.’So I’m hopeful even if they do try to change eligibility criteria on Tuesday (which seems pretty likely is the main thing, along with a possible LCWRA freeze ) then there’ll be such a major kick-off they’ll have to abandon that too.
I at least feel much more positive now than i did at any other time since this was announced.1 -
I'm praying we just get a freeze for LCWRA (the group I'm in) for PIP rather than a cut. I don't know how anyone is going to survive a cut to LCWRA. I'm still so scared. I've got a review in 2027 so I could still loose it all together. I can only imagine how scared everyone else is here.
I can't believe they're going to do something even George Osbourne thought was too cruel…I want to be angry but I'm so exhausted and afraid.
I just wish I could stop ruminating and panicking about it, it's lived rent free and obessively in my head since the news broke. I just want the green paper so we actually know how bad it's going to be. Question: when the green paper is released how definate is it that will become law (sorry that's a dumb question, my brain just isn't working much) - do we have any hope/ recourse then? It sounds like they're breaking law esp mental health re Disability Act 2010, or am I just being naive?
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I really hope it would be a freeze over cuts if anything.
The mental health issues side of things is also horrifying. They'll be going back to simply calling people 'neurotic' and 'hysterical' if they stick to this track. Saying all that's needed is a good slap and a whiff of smelling salts and all is well.
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How do you know when your next review is?
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It's infuriating so many people still view disabilities this way, especially those that are less visible or not visible at all. I saw a comment on a YouTube video where somebody responded saying "if you can type, you can work". The utter ignorance.
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I took another look at the sums as promised and broke them down (and explain how I got my averages)
My basic original formula was correct however if being strict with how averages were calculated then yes worried33, the £5 increase per average claimant was too high and I’ll put my hand up
But going by averages reeves would very easily get 2 thirds of her £6billion saving @ £3.9billion over a 3 year pip freeze (more if yearly inflation is more than the averages I used which is very possible) and it would only cost a claimant on average of £3.50 or so a week (the claimant technically wouldnt lose money as you can’t really lose money you never received - it’s a freeze not a cut)
Everyone must agree that in terms of dwp saving ideas that have been leaked thus far - a pip freeze hurts miles less than welfare reforms in terms of physical cuts and criteria tightening of pip and/or lcwra
below is the pip version if it helps any (don’t need credit if you want to share - I want to stay anonymous on this type of thing
Any chance I’ve earned myself a ‘lawyered’ moment? 😅
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did you read the part about starmers been planning this since last year ? What rubbish, they don’t have a clue what they’re doing. So to get sick and disabled ppl into jobs that don’t exist they will try to stop them being eligible for pip which is a benefit for ppl who can also work. And if they lose pip and their car may not be able to get to work. Nit to mention discrimination towards MH and autism adhd. If streeting thinks MH is too over diagnosed that’s his problem to solve with the NHS . Let him explain to the specialists that he knows better. Most ppl can’t even get to see a specialist let alone get a diagnosis.
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thank you , I’d much prefer that option. From what I’ve tonight from another poster it looks like they’re going after pip criteria instead of cuts . I can take a freeze to pip and lcwra and hopefully the changes in pip criteria can be fought in court as I think has been done in the past if I remember correctly.
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Still cant find any on there. If you cant give me the link which takes straight to UC roles then dont worry about it.
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when I first got my PIP a couple of years ago they just told me it would be reviewed/ reassessed in 2027. I've never had PIP before so I don't know if this is normal/typical. Do people generally not get a date of when they are reviewed next?
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