Downright Nasty and Dangerous Reforms from the Labour Party

Source: blueannoyed

The Labour Party sold out their socialist principles and died when it released the Green Paper. It was a brutal and savage attack on disabled people and we will never forgive them for this Austerity MK2. Sorry but this is going to be a long read.

Many feared the Tories but this is much worse on many levels and they should feel that anger at the Ballot Box when disabled people evict the from office in disgrace. While many DPO’s organise a fightback and potential court action again through judicial review process many are absolutely terrified of the impact it will have on them and their families.

This startling reference was put on most chapters ” These measures will be delivered by primary legislation and we are not consulting on these measures. Details will be set out in the forthcoming White Paper.”

This will be railroaded through using Statutory Instrument or Financial Privilege as this blogger predicted long ago.

Those in LCWRA (Support Group) /PIP will now face reassessments being switched back on since the Covid pause and face to face will become more common where viable and you can bet your life that many will face tougher criteria which will see many having downgraded awards by this sleight of hand process.

Those without a PIP award face losing £416 a month as the ‘health element’ will be removed in Universal Credit (additional amount) even if they are working and have a disability which is hardly a incentive to continue working the hours that they can manage.

The plan to scrap the WCA process by 2028 will now use the PIP assessment to entitle them to the health element of UC by moving to a single assessment process.

“Both UC and PIP will still exist in the reformed system. UC will remain a means-tested benefit for those people that are in work and on a low income, or are out of work. Without the WCA eligibility criteria, the additional health element in UC will no longer be linked in any way to someone’s capacity to work or their work status. Instead, eligibility to the additional UC health element will be based on whether someone is receiving any Daily Living Award in PIP. This means we would focus any health-related financial support in UC on those with long-term conditions and disabilities that have lasted for three months and are expected to last for at least a further nine months .Any change of this kind could affect individuals who currently meet limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) criteria due to non-functional special circumstances; for example, those affected by cancer treatment, people with short term conditions that get better, women with a high-risk pregnancy and those currently classed as having substantial risk. Individuals in these categories may not be eligible for PIP, and therefore the UC health element, in the reformed system. In UC there are work allowances specifically for those who have a disability or a health condition (the limited capability for work (LCW) and LCWRA groups). In addition, there is also a single taper rate that withdraws financial support at a steady rate as earnings increase, smoothing the transition into work and ensuring you are always better off in work. Both the work allowance and single taper rate will remain unchanged to continue to incentivise trying work.Under permitted work rules, anyone claiming ESA can work for fewer than 16 hours per week and earn up to £183.50 per week (increasing to £195.50 from April 2025), without it affecting their benefit entitlement. People claiming ESA that work over and above these thresholds are no longer eligible for the benefit.Establish in law the principle that work will not lead to a reassessment. For people receiving UC, PIP (in England and Wales), or NS ESA (whilst and if it is in place), we will introduce legislation that guarantees that trying work will not be considered a relevant change of circumstance that will trigger a PIP award review or WCA reassessment. We will make these changes as soon as possible, so that they apply in the current system and as well as in the reformed system. By legislating, we aim to give people more confidence that they will not be reassessed because they have tried work. This change will also be communicated to work coaches delivering the benefit as well as to benefit recipients themselves to best support people into work.“

“For new claims the rate of the UC health element will be reduced by £47pw (from £97pw in 2024/25 to £50pw in 2026/27). However, this group will benefit from the higher standard allowance, which will partially offset this reduction.

•For those receiving the new reduced UC health element after April 2026, we are proposing that those with the most severe, life-long health conditions, who have no prospect of improvement and will never be able to work, will see their incomes protected through an additional premium.81 82 We will also guarantee that for both new and existing claims, those in this group will not need to be reassessed in future. This change to the UC Health rate for new claims will be combined with much more active engagement and support (our third step) so that entry onto the UC health element is not a one-way street where people are abandoned and very unlikely to ever work again, as is the case now. This group will continue to benefit from a substantial work allowance, which means they can earn up to £673 a month (or £404 a month if they get help with housing costs) without their UC income being affected (and without paying any income tax).“

“We think it is right that existing claimants in receipt of the UC Health element should have their benefit entitlement protected. At the same time, we want to provide support and opportunity for anyone in this group who wants to get on a pathway to work (and take advantage of their Work Allowance). To support this aim, we will legislate to guarantee that work in and of itself will never lead to a reassessment.“

PIP changes:

“This means that people who have lower needs only in the daily living activities (scoring three or less for each activity) will no longer be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. Meanwhile, people with a higher level of functional need in at least one activity – for example, people who are unable to complete activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them – will still receive PIP” We will introduce this change through primary legislation. It will apply to new claims and for existing people who claim, future eligibility will be decided at their next award review. This change means that people could lose entitlement to the daily living element of PIP and potentially other entitlements linked to this award.We want to ensure that anyone in receipt of PIP now who would lose entitlement when they are reassessed under the new eligibility criteria, has their health and eligible care needs met.DWP will work with DHSC to ensure that existing people who claim PIP who may no longer be entitled to the benefit following an award review under new eligibility rules have their health and eligible care needs met, in addition to being able to access our support conversation and employment support if they want to. Some people who may no longer qualify for PIP may value additional choice and control over how they access their healthcare. For instance, Personal Health Budgets allow people to manage their healthcare and support, such as treatments, equipment and personal care, in a way that suits them.

I don’t know how this will help those who lose money pay for these needs I fear the government hasn’t thought through these difficulties that some will face.

“Currently, people can request an audio recording of their assessment across PIP, the WCA in UC and ESA, and in Specialist Benefits which require an assessment. We are therefore looking at recording assessments as standard based on a recommendation from the Work and Pensions Select Committee.“

“We are exploring ways we could use evidence from eligibility for other services to reduce the need for some people with very severe health conditions and disabilities to undergo a full PIP functional assessment.” To tackle poor mental health, the leading driver of ill health-related inactivity, the government has committed to continuing to expand access to NHS Talking Therapies for adults with common mental health conditions in England. This is expected to increase the number of people completing courses of treatment by 384,000 and increase the number of sessions. There is extensive literature and studies showing that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and NHS Talking Therapies more widely have significant positive health impacts, as well as improving employment outcomes. Currently over 90% of NHS Talking Therapy Services in England also provide access to Employment Advisers, with an aspiration that by March 2025 100% of NHS Talking Therapies services in England will offer employment support as part of their service.The government will also continue expansions to Individual Placement Support (IPS) for those with severe mental illness or substance dependency, increasing access for people with severe mental illness by an additional 140,000 people by 2028/29.“

“The IPS scheme helps thousands of people with severe mental illness to find and keep employment. IPS for severe mental illness is an employment support service integrated within community mental health teams for people who experience severe mental health conditions. It is an evidence-based programme that helps people find and retain employment through intensive, individualised support, rapid job search followed by a placement in paid employment, and unlimited in-work support for both employers and employees.”

Delaying also the ‘Health Element’ for Young People to start at 22 yrs old is another nasty move by a government who seriously needs to rethink , but instead they will be forced into a Youth Guarantee Program or Trailblazer Program so that they can get a Job ,Training or Education.

Another Advisor simplified this with a concise explanation of impacts:

Changes to PIP

It will become harder to qualify for the daily living component of PIP.

The government proposes a change in PIP so people will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one Daily Living descriptor to qualify for the Daily Living component from November 2026. It will not affect the mobility component.

There will also be a review of the PIP assessment process with more frequent face to face assessments. All of which will be recorded as standard.

Those with the most severe, long-term conditions will no longer face any reassessments, under the proposed reforms.

Changes to Work Capability Assessments

The work capability assessment that determines who is eligible for incapacity benefits (ESA, LCW/RA of UC) will be scrapped in 2028, under the proposals.

Instead, people applying for health-related financial support and disability benefits will only face one assessment, based on the current Pip system.

LCW/LCWRA will be frozen in cash terms for existing claimants at £97 per week from April 2026 – this means they will not be increased in line with inflation until 2029/30.

The amount will be reduced to £50 per week from April 2026 for new claims.

Those aged under 22 will no longer be able to claim the incapacity benefit top-up to universal credit under these proposals. Extra support to work/train is expected.

Those receiving the new reduced universal credit health element after April 2026, who have the most severe, life-long health conditions, who have no

prospect of improvement and will never be able to work, will see their incomes protected through an additional premium. It also means those in that group will not be reassessed in the future.

Changes for those looking for work or already in work

There will also be an above inflation increase in the standard rate of universal credit for all those seeking work, adding up to £775 a year extra by 2029/30.

Kendall said the government would consult on merging jobseeker’s allowance and employment and support allowance, meaning those who have paid into the system can get higher benefit payments for a period of time.

The proposal would introduce a time-limited unemployment insurance paid at a higher rate. Kendall said it would mean that for people who had paid in, “you’ll get stronger income protection while we help you get back on track”.

Meanwhile Benefits and Work a reputable online benefits help site suggested that Disabled People do NOT engage with this sham of a consultation, which frankly I agree with them.

The backlash to these reforms are yet to come. These reforms break UNCRPD,UKCRPD, and the Equality Act when only less than a month ago the Tory reforms were deemed Illegal. Many Disabled people are already contemplating suicide and this bloggers phone has been hotter than Trumps at the White House as well as my inbox of those too frightened to carry on living.

Unions and many disabled people are organising a fightback and any decent Labour MP should refuse to support them and vote against them or resign, as their careers will be blighted by the many deaths and subsequent harm they will cause and they will be held accountable by disabled people and their families.

Just Remember Dead People Don’t Claim and there will be plenty of them if this gets the go ahead.

Resources

Green Paper : https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/pathways-to-work-reforming-benefits-and-support-to-get-britain-working-green-paper

Benefits and Work : https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/dwp-launches-entirely-bogus-green-paper-consultation

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/the-cost-of-working-age-ill-health-and-disability-that-prevents-work

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/total-durations-on-incapacity-benefits-for-claimants-on-universal-credit-health-or-employment-and-support-allowance

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-impact-of-additional-jobcentre-plus-support-on-the-employment-outcomes-of-disabled-people

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-work-grant-expenditure-forecasts

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/biggest-shake-up-to-welfare-system-in-a-generation-to-get-britain-working

Fighting back

Disabled people against the Cuts (DPAC) and many other campaigning groups are organising protests in dozens of places across Britain starting this Saturday. Thus far we have only been able to find the events for for Brighton, Bristol, Leeds and London. The first two are organised by a new group: Crips against the Cuts. The Brighton event appears below: Bristol will be Saturday 22 12 noon, College Green BS! 5UY for a maximum of 2 hours N95 masks REQUIRED (masks and earbuds will be handed out). Leeds DPAC are organising an event on Wednesday 26 March 11am-1pm at the Bus station. London details can be seen further up this article.