It will face a number of hurdles, as well as have to change some legislation in due course, which will take time, consultation, various readings in parliament and the lords. So any big changes, al conjecture at the moment, will not really come into force until 26/27 financial year.
I am on UC and just the mobility element of PIP, which obv i have my car, for which i’m grateful and makes a massive difference in my life.
As usual the words, rhetoric and media sensationalisation is to demonise and cast negative perspectives on the most vulnerable and disabled in society, an easy target.
No system it perfect and every system is open to misuse & fraud but the vast majority of people claiming UC or DLA/PIP are absolutely genuine, honest and need it. No disabled person, is deliberately disabled and the welfare system is meant to be there to protect and support us.
I think there will be understandably a call for everyone to report any change of circumstance, which has always been the case.
In terms of freezing benefit levels, they are now in the public domain for 25/26, all showing an uplift, including PIP.
I cannot see how they would ‘means test’ PIP, it’d not just have a huge impact on claimants – say for the sake of argument – PIP was means tested say based on a cut off of a income of £50k and / or having savings over £16k – it would have a huge impact, I’ve no idea the number of PIP claimants earning £50k plus or savings more than £16k, but I’d make an educated guess they’d be a high number.
The gov can’t risk putting the scheme in danger, with almost 850.000 leases on the Motability scheme alone, any drastic cuts, lowering or revoking claimants PIP, would put a number of dealerships at risk, would impact on cars sales (which includes leases/pcps etc..) and serious damage the motor manufacturing sector too. More importantly the personal, therapeutic and freedom aspects of having a lease on the scheme.
I’ve no idea the split of people on the scheme who are purely surviving on benefits like UC and those who don’t due to level of salary in work or other income / savings. Anyone know?
I stopped working 4 years ago, due to other health conditions and commodities, over and above my main disability. I’m in my 50’s never had a private pension, i have no savings / nor assets (just debt), i rent my accommodation. I receive the basic UC and LCWRA and PIP mobility component high (covers my car).
I just survive tbh, watching every penny, and with the impact of cost of living, l definitely have a limited quality of life and rely on the benefits i do recieve. I worked for 35 years, paid hundreds of thousands in tax, and became disabled at 27 years old.
I’m hoping there will be clarity from gov in the coming weeks & months on exactly what they intend to do & a lot less scare mongering in the media and especially social media