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In reply to: Here we go again.
As I feared, the attacks on Motability continue. This from todays Telegraph;
Benefits claimants can still get subsidised BMWs despite welfare cuts
Certain people eligible for disability payments can continue to access the controversial Motability scheme.Benefits claimants can still apply for subsidised top-of-the-range BMWs worth more than £50,000 despite the Government’s welfare cuts.
The controversial Motability scheme, which was handed a record £2.8 billion of taxpayer cash last year to fund new cars for people on mobility benefits, will not be cut back in Labour’s welfare reforms.
The leasing scheme allows successful claimants to exchange part of their disability payments for brand new cars – including BMWs and Ford Mustangs that would otherwise cost as much as £54,000 – if they also pay a down payment.
It has been branded out of control by critics who fear the broad range of conditions under which recipients may qualify – such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and anxiety – leaves it vulnerable to exploitation. Applicants must prove that such conditions affect their mobility to be eligible for Motability.
A series of benefit fraud cases have seen claimants exaggerate illnesses to acquire Motability cars, including a mother who exaggerated her arthritis to obtain seven cars on the scheme.
The Government’s changes to personal independence payments (PIP) – the benefit required to qualify for Motability – are only changing its “daily living” component.
It means anyone who receives the enhanced level of “mobility” PIP, worth £3,939 annually, can continue to exchange it for a Motability car worth up to 12 times as much.
The most expensive cars available on the scheme retail for up to £54,000 and include the BMW i4, BMW iX1 SUV and Ford Mustang Mach-E. Other options include a £36,000 Abarth 600e, £33,000 Audi Q3 and £32,000 Mercedes A-class.
These high-end cars require recipients to pay a down payment of at least £2,999 but the total cost still comes in at a fraction of what ordinary members of the public would pay.
On TikTok, claimants boast of “driving in style” thanks to the taxpayer-funded car scheme as they pick up cars including a £37,000 Skoda Karoq, £30,000 Nissan Qashqai and £29,000 Kia Sportage.
One says, “thank you Government” in the video, adding: “Me and the girls will be driving in style.”
Car dealerships are now advertising specifically to benefits claimants on the platform, showing off the features of the £46,000 Audi Q4 e-tron, £36,000 Mercedes A-class and £24,000 Audi A1 that can be acquired on the scheme.
The soaring popularity of Motability has seen the number of users balloon from 635,000 in 2020 to a record 815,000 last year.
Over the same period, the scheme’s income from benefits payments – paid for by the taxpayer – has increased by £800 million, rising by 41 per cent from £1.99 billion to £2.81 billion.
Motability was first designed in the 1970s for those with physical disabilities but welfare recipients can now get onto the scheme with conditions like ADHD, autism and anxiety if these conditions affect their mobility.
Since 2016, the number of those eligible with ADHD has increased by 1,400 per cent, up from 2,348 people to 35,115.
Andrew Miller, its chief executive, received £748,000 in total remuneration last year.
According to an analysis by the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA), the number of those eligible who have autism has also increased by 703 per cent, from 3,509 to 28,225.
John O’Connell, the TPA’s chief executive, said it was “beyond doubt that honest taxpayers are being taken for a ride by those who have worked out how to game the system”.
On Wednesday, Sir Stephen Timms, the social security minister, said Labour’s welfare reforms would not tighten PIP to stop payments to people with conditions like anxiety.
“No,” he told Times Radio. “It depends what the effect of the condition is on people’s well-being, and the indicators are all published and set out. So if you have difficulties doing certain things, then you get points on the PIP assessment.”
However, there is evidence that the assessment can be exploited by benefits fraudsters aiming to take advantage of the scheme.
These include mother of four Linda Hoey, who faked her way to seven Motability cars between 2001 and 2015 by claiming arthritis left her barely able to walk.
She was given an 18-month suspended sentence in 2017 after photographs were uncovered showing her scuba diving on holiday in the Maldives.
Carer Colette Udall took £21,000 in handouts – including a Motability car – by claiming she could not get out of bed unaided, only to be filmed taking out the bins at the care home where she worked. She was handed a community order in 2019 and told to pay it all back at Minshull Street Crown Court.
In 2021, it emerged that Aaron Hooper, a supposedly wheelchair-bound man from Axminster, Somerset, had appeared in a video on Instagram pulling his Motability car through a car park on a rope. His mother Ann, who claimed the benefits on his behalf, was jailed for nine months at Exeter Crown Court in September 2021.
Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said: “The Motability scheme is a textbook example of a well-intentioned idea that has got way out of hand. It is symptomatic of the country’s spiralling welfare costs which Labour are failing to grasp.
“This week the Government had an opportunity to step up on welfare, but they failed. Their announcement fell short on savings but has left disabled people terrified.
“What Britain needs is a government which is both willing and able to make fundamental reforms to welfare. Sadly, we have the opposite.”
Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, vowed that his party would “cut the waste” if it formed the next government.
“This is yet another example where successive Tory and Labour governments have failed to get a grip on the misuse of public funds, squandering exorbitant amounts with very few checks and balances,” he told The Telegraph.
“Only Reform will cut the waste, crack down on fraud and reinvest in Britain.”
‘No additional cost to the taxpayer’
A spokesman for Motability Operations said the DWP was solely responsible for determining who received disability benefits.“To use the Motability scheme, someone must receive one of a number of Government-funded higher rate mobility benefits which are defined in legislation,” the spokesman said.
“The Motability scheme gives 815,000 disabled people the freedom to get to work, school, and medical appointments – helping them live independently and play an active role in society. The scheme isn’t just life-changing for individuals – it also boosts the UK economy.”
A DWP spokesman said: “The Motability scheme helps people with significant mobility issues participate in society. People claiming benefits must sacrifice some of their existing payments to lease a car, so this comes at no additional cost to the taxpayer.
“But we are determined to stamp out benefit fraud in all its forms with our crackdown due to save the taxpayer £1.5 billion over the next five years, part of wider plans that will save £8.6 billion by 2030.
“This comes alongside our plans for the largest welfare reforms in a generation – backed by a £1 billion investment – to support those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot, putting welfare on a fairer, more sustainable footing, to unlock growth as part of the Plan for Change.”
In reply to: Here we go again.
Most of the press are reporting today that the ‘proposed’ freeze to benefits won’t now happen. I never thought that it would tbh, as I think the increase is only due to be 1.7% and it would have been seen as very mean spirited.
Of course, Motability customers won’t see any increase in the Mobility component anyway, as it goes to the scheme, not the customer, but two-thirds of those eligible to join the scheme choose not to and do something else with their benefits (such as running a second hand car), so those folk will hopefully now get a tiny increase.
The Telegraph is also reporting that face-to-face assessments for PIP are down from 80% of claimants pre pandemic to less than 2% now. That’s clearly wrong and leaves the system open to abuse, so I suspect that will be a major area that will be tightened up. Commentary is suggesting that things such as ADHD are in the crosshairs as being the sort of thing that shouldn’t qualify for PIP.
An excellent post @Dante2
I agree that if they decide to pursue a means tested route it will affect hundreds of thousands of people plus, if they do go down that route, I wonder if they will take partners income & savings into account, as they do when assessing for care costs?
My wife (the PIP recipient) has a small private pension, but it’s still worth more than the combined enhanced rates of PIP for both daily living and Mobility. However, as PIP is tax free, she isn’t a tax payer, but she will be when she starts to receive a state pension in 4 years time, albeit at just 20%. My private pension is significantly higher than my wife’s, but I have deliberately restricted my pension income to (just) avoid triggering higher rate tax, as I can foresee a scenario where partners of higher rate taxpayers are deemed not be in need of benefits which would, of course, be deeply unfair. However, when my state pension commences I cannot avoid higher rate tax any longer, so she may be at risk then if this approach is adopted.
Savings is, of course, another area they may look at. We have gifted large sums to our kids, both to help get them on the property ladder and also as we are concerned that it would otherwise go on care costs in years to come, and the majority of our remaining savings are in my name, but if it works the same as care cost assessments they will still take money that is in my name into consideration, which could still cause a problem for my wife. The ba*tards get you one way or the other!
I am wondering if they might start making all benefits taxable (as my small Carers Allowance is) but, of course, that would fly in the face of ‘making work pay’. It’s all a minefield and I’m finding it difficult to call what might happen. I think that what’s throwing me is that this is all coming from a Labour government. Their normal political ideology, and inherent tendency towards the ‘politics of envy’, usually makes them go after those who have worked hard and been prudent with their money, in order to fund whose who do neither. I can’t see them doing a complete reversal of their usual form, which is why I keep coming back to them adopting some form of means assessment, but how they do that in a way that still makes work pay is beyond me.
You are correct that the impact on Motability and indeed the motor industry of any means testing changes could be severe, but the ZEV mandates are already crippling the motor industry and this government is still saying that they are sticking with the current targets and deadlines. However, the emergency consultation on this concluded at the end of last month and all industry bodies consulted will have undoubtedly said that the targets are unachievable, so it will be fascinating to see if they will finally wake up to the obvious fact that the targets have to be relaxed. The problem will be whether they can overcome their own political dogma. The VAT issue on private schools has been a case in point, as the costs of having to absorb the displaced kids into the state education system is likely to exceed the new VAT take. This is what happens when you have a government of political ideologists, activists and previous councillor types, almost none of which has any business experience so don’t understand the basics of supply and demand 🙄
Topic: New motability car
Hi everyone,
I had 1 year left on personal independent payment so I decided to join the scheme, I have difficulty in going out both physically and mentally so getting a car in the scheme has been a life saver, I can now go to GP and Hospital appointments without the stress and anxiety of public transportand even go out with my wife to quiet places to enjoy the countryside etc.My problem is, I have only had the car 1 month and I’ve just recieved renewal forms to fill in for a pip assessment, I would like to believe it will get renewed but it is always playing on my mind it won’t, every time I go through this I end up in hospital from anxiety/panic attacks.
I can’t go on holidays anymore as I can’t travel on a plane or stay in hotels, I can only travel by car to go camping so I don’t have to worry about other people around me, my wife and I have booked 3 weeks in france camping in a few months with the new car so the euroshuttle and camp sites all have the registration.
My worry is now that if for some reason They don’t renew it I will lose the car before we even go and I will lose all the money I have saved and spent for the travel and camping.
I was supposed to have the car until September and now I have recieved new forms to fill in the sleepless nights and anxiety has kicked in with the worry about “What if”
Can they take the car early even though my entitlement was September?
Thank you.
Rob.
In reply to: Mobility pip ends in 11 months
Hi
I am in same situation. I was waiting for prices to be more affordable since q2 2023. Then I think it was maybe q1 or q2 2024 when prices fell and i had saved enough, i logged into mobility website and was told not eligible. Confused I realised I had fallen to this 12month remaining rule. I was now within 11 or 10 months remaining. I have a long term incurable auto-immune disease
Annoyed I called DWP and was given false hope as advisor stated I was within review period and they would send a form. I queried backlog and how my form would get reviewed promptly in order to apply for 1st car under scheme. I was told to call up once submitted and hopefully someone would be able to look at my review. This was a lie.
I called up and told of backlog and the treatment of new claims and changes as a priority and that only end of life claims could be made a priority. I would simply have to wait and if once within a month of my end date I would get an auto extension.
I wrote to MP regarding potentially missing out on an affordable car and the £750 NVP due to DWP backlog and mobility policy which allows current members to renew with less but not new applicants. The DWP eventually replied to the MP enquiry
“Due to unprecedented numbers of new applications and our capacity to complete them in good time, we have had to take the decision to concentrate our efforts on processing claims from people who are not currently in receipt of the benefit, along with those who have told us that their needs have changed.
We will regularly review the situation and can assure you that every action is being taken to ensure that the awards of people who are waiting for their claim to be reviewed will not go out of payment. We will continue to extend their awards until we can make a decision on their ongoing entitlement.
We are extending PIP award end dates for up to 12 months and these extensions are being applied approximately 35 days before an award ends.
During this extension period we may review the award, and the claimant may be referred for an assessment and/or a decision made. We will keep in touch with our claimants about the progress of their claim, they do not need to call us unless their needs change.Mr** has now reached the end of the DWP complaints process. If *** is not happy with our final response, he can complain to the Independent Case Examiner (ICE).
So basically because of the backlog I had lost out of both the affordable AP of the car I needed which is has now increased and the £750 NP. Im partly to blame for not realising the under 12 month rule.
In reply to: Mobility pip ends in 11 months
Huge PIP review waiting times due to DWP, not assessment providers
Published: 18 November 2024From The Benefit & Work web site. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/huge-pip-review-waiting-times-due-to-dwp,-not-assessment-providers They should extended your award for 1 year, But it’s worth giving them a call just to be sure.
Figures released by the DWP have revealed that it is the department, rather than assessment providers who are largely to blame for the huge delays in PIP review decisions. They also show that claimants who ask for a review due to a change of circumstances get a much quicker decision.
Last week, disability minister Stephen Timms answered a written parliamentary question on the average wait for a PIP review decision.
He told MPs that, as of September 2024, the median wait for a review initiated by the DWP is :
290 days where it is referred to an assessment provider; and
252 days where it is not referred to an assessment provider.
This suggest that over 8 months of the waiting time is down to the DWP, with assessment providers adding just over a month to the process.The waiting time for a change of circumstances review requested by a claimant is very much shorter, however, at 69 days.
Timms did offer the reassurance that “Whilst reviews are outstanding, all payments to existing claimants continue. Should a review identify eligibility for an increased award, backdated payments will be made where appropriate to ensure claimants are not adversely impacted by delays.”
Back in September, Timms told MPs that the DWP were recruiting additional case manager to work on PIP.
He also said that the new suppliers of health assessments would be recruiting new health professionals “to ensure they have sufficient capacity to deliver the required volume of assessments”.
However, it now appears that additional health professionals will have little effect on waiting times unless the DWP gets its own house in order.
It is clear that the DWP will be working on some major projects over the coming year.
There is the flood of managed migrations from ESA to UC which won’t end before December 2025. And there is the likely change to the work capability assessment due to be announced soon. Plus there are wholesale changes to the role of jobcentres, which will be unveiled in a forthcoming white paper.
And that’s without taking into account the changes to disability benefits that may be announced in the Spring
In May 2024, there were 392,000 outstanding PIP award reviews. That is a massive backlog.
With all their other projects, it seems unlikely that urgently tackling the delays in planned PIP reviews will be much of a priority, in spite of the difficulties and uncertainty that it causes to hundreds of thousands of claimants.
You can read the full parliamentary answer here. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-11-05/12735
Joss
Current car: BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In metallic Portimão Blue. 04:10:2025
Previous car:Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.Topic: PIP reform news
I see that Liz Kendall saying she has not ruled out tory voucher or other radical plans on MSN quoting Daily Mirror article not sure if it is fake news as I went online to Daily Mirror and cannot find the article I do think that MSN may be to blame and if it is it is cruel to us disabled. No mention from S timms on Future of Motability scheme under a changed cuts agender which is what all of this is about and what happens to Scotland having an Adult disability payment now instead of pip are we in england going to have a different system it is total madness.
November 15, 2024 at 2:22 pm#293353Edit | Reply | Report | Quote
blueParticipantHave found this on Disability News uk here is the Article.
Kendall strongly hints there will be no PIP vouchers, but twice fails to make that promise
By John Pring on 14th November 2024Category: Benefits and Poverty
Listen
Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall has strongly hinted that she will not implement the last government’s proposal to replace disability benefits with vouchers, but she twice failed to make a promise to that effect to MPs.A public consultation that began in April under the Conservative government included a number of proposals aimed at cutting spending on personal independence payment (PIP), including one possible idea to replace cash PIP payments with vouchers.
The new Labour government has repeatedly refused to say if it supports the ideas in the Conservative consultation or provide any details of its own proposed PIP reforms, which are set to be published in the spring.
But in response to a question from Labour’s Damien Egan, Liz Kendall told the Commons work and pensions committee yesterday (Wednesday): “I was very struck, particularly by the comments people made around shifting support to vouchers and where many organisations said their real concern was that it took away people’s autonomy, particularly when services are so stretched and tight.
“So, I’ve read those very, very carefully.”
She declined to rule out the vouchers idea, but she said Labour’s plans would be based on “getting the decisions right first time, early intervention, genuine support to help people into work, helping people live full, fulfilling and independent lives.
“But this is extremely difficult, and I know people really want more detail, but we won’t do that until we’re absolutely ready and have had the proper discussions with people.”
She was later asked to rule out the vouchers idea by the Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson, Steve Darling, who told her that a disabled constituent was “worried sick about vouchers being offered up and her not being able to have a richer life”.
Kendall again declined to rule out the idea of vouchers but told him she was “really aware of people’s concerns about that”.
She said that “this issue of empowerment and giving people power and control over their lives is really important because I think it leads to better results, so I understand people’s real concerns about that”.
Asked by Labour’s Amanda Hack about her plans for reforming the work capability assessment (WCA), Kendall repeated the government’s line that it would either be “reformed or replaced alongside a proper plan to support disabled people”.
She highlighted flaws in the WCA system, including delays, too many decisions being overturned, and – in a criticism used by DWP ministers for decades – that there was an unhelpful “binary classification [in the system] between those who are able to work and those who are unable to work”.
She claimed that “the truth is, apart from those with very, very severe disabilities, many people’s health conditions fluctuate, and it depends on the work, the job that they have, the flexibility that might be available, and a number of other issues”.
She said the last government “wrote people off, then blamed them, [so] I am not surprised that people are concerned and worried”.
Kendall again admitted that the government would make the savings promised by the last government, which appears to refer to Conservative plans to cut spending by £2.8 billion in the four years to 2028-29 by tightening the WCA, which would have seen 424,000 disabled people lose their entitlement to extra support of up to £4,900 a year by 2028-29.
She said the government would make these savings by “bringing forward our own proposals” after “genuinely” consulting with “disabled people in the organisations that represent them”.
She added: “I believe disabled people should have the same rights, choices to work, to independent living, as everybody else.
“That is the core that runs through us. So that’s the absolute principle. I cannot give you a more detailed response now, but that is our approach.”
Asked by Egan about the “big spike” in the number of people with mental health conditions claiming out-of-work disability benefits, particularly younger people, Kendall said the UK was “an older, sicker nation” than the other major economies in the G7 group.
She said: “If you look around the country, the places that have the worst life expectancy and lowest healthy life expectancy and the highest economic inactivity are the same places, parts of the country that were written off by the last but one Tory government, and the last one promised to level them up and actually didn’t.”
With young people, she said she believed the increase in mental ill-health was likely to be connected to “the impact of Covid, possibly also built on top of the cost-of-living crisis, anxious, worried parents, anxious, worried children, plus social media, plus less stigma about reporting mental health.
“I wish in life there was one reason that you could give an easy headline for, but, you know, life’s not like that.
“There are complicated things going on with mental health. That’s why we’ve really got to intervene early.”
She added: “One of the reasons we want mental health support in every school, and mental health support in open access hubs in every community, is we know these problems start young, so we’ve got to intervene much earlier.”
A note from the editor:
Please consider making a voluntary financial contribution to support the work of DNS and allow it to continue producing independent, carefully-researched news stories that focus on the lives and rights of
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Viewing 18 replies – 1 through 18 (of 18 total)Reply To: DWP Plan green paper PIP threat
In reply to: DWP Plan green paper PIP threat
Have found this on Disability News uk here is the Article.
Kendall strongly hints there will be no PIP vouchers, but twice fails to make that promise
By John Pring on 14th November 2024Category: Benefits and Poverty
Listen
Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall has strongly hinted that she will not implement the last government’s proposal to replace disability benefits with vouchers, but she twice failed to make a promise to that effect to MPs.A public consultation that began in April under the Conservative government included a number of proposals aimed at cutting spending on personal independence payment (PIP), including one possible idea to replace cash PIP payments with vouchers.
The new Labour government has repeatedly refused to say if it supports the ideas in the Conservative consultation or provide any details of its own proposed PIP reforms, which are set to be published in the spring.
But in response to a question from Labour’s Damien Egan, Liz Kendall told the Commons work and pensions committee yesterday (Wednesday): “I was very struck, particularly by the comments people made around shifting support to vouchers and where many organisations said their real concern was that it took away people’s autonomy, particularly when services are so stretched and tight.
“So, I’ve read those very, very carefully.”
She declined to rule out the vouchers idea, but she said Labour’s plans would be based on “getting the decisions right first time, early intervention, genuine support to help people into work, helping people live full, fulfilling and independent lives.
“But this is extremely difficult, and I know people really want more detail, but we won’t do that until we’re absolutely ready and have had the proper discussions with people.”
She was later asked to rule out the vouchers idea by the Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson, Steve Darling, who told her that a disabled constituent was “worried sick about vouchers being offered up and her not being able to have a richer life”.
Kendall again declined to rule out the idea of vouchers but told him she was “really aware of people’s concerns about that”.
She said that “this issue of empowerment and giving people power and control over their lives is really important because I think it leads to better results, so I understand people’s real concerns about that”.
Asked by Labour’s Amanda Hack about her plans for reforming the work capability assessment (WCA), Kendall repeated the government’s line that it would either be “reformed or replaced alongside a proper plan to support disabled people”.
She highlighted flaws in the WCA system, including delays, too many decisions being overturned, and – in a criticism used by DWP ministers for decades – that there was an unhelpful “binary classification [in the system] between those who are able to work and those who are unable to work”.
She claimed that “the truth is, apart from those with very, very severe disabilities, many people’s health conditions fluctuate, and it depends on the work, the job that they have, the flexibility that might be available, and a number of other issues”.
She said the last government “wrote people off, then blamed them, [so] I am not surprised that people are concerned and worried”.
Kendall again admitted that the government would make the savings promised by the last government, which appears to refer to Conservative plans to cut spending by £2.8 billion in the four years to 2028-29 by tightening the WCA, which would have seen 424,000 disabled people lose their entitlement to extra support of up to £4,900 a year by 2028-29.
She said the government would make these savings by “bringing forward our own proposals” after “genuinely” consulting with “disabled people in the organisations that represent them”.
She added: “I believe disabled people should have the same rights, choices to work, to independent living, as everybody else.
“That is the core that runs through us. So that’s the absolute principle. I cannot give you a more detailed response now, but that is our approach.”
Asked by Egan about the “big spike” in the number of people with mental health conditions claiming out-of-work disability benefits, particularly younger people, Kendall said the UK was “an older, sicker nation” than the other major economies in the G7 group.
She said: “If you look around the country, the places that have the worst life expectancy and lowest healthy life expectancy and the highest economic inactivity are the same places, parts of the country that were written off by the last but one Tory government, and the last one promised to level them up and actually didn’t.”
With young people, she said she believed the increase in mental ill-health was likely to be connected to “the impact of Covid, possibly also built on top of the cost-of-living crisis, anxious, worried parents, anxious, worried children, plus social media, plus less stigma about reporting mental health.
“I wish in life there was one reason that you could give an easy headline for, but, you know, life’s not like that.
“There are complicated things going on with mental health. That’s why we’ve really got to intervene early.”
She added: “One of the reasons we want mental health support in every school, and mental health support in open access hubs in every community, is we know these problems start young, so we’ve got to intervene much earlier.”
A note from the editor:
Please consider making a voluntary financial contribution to support the work of DNS and allow it to continue producing independent, carefully-researched news stories that focus on the lives and rights of
Taken from the Benefit & Work web site. https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/labour-2024-budget-news?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Benefits+and+Work&utm_content=6+November+2024+Newsletter
There were no big surprises for claimants in today’s budget, but a continued lack of certainty about what the future will bring. In particular, there is still no clarity about how the work capability assessment (WCA) will change and no mention whatsoever of changes to personal independence payment (PIP).
WCA
In today’s budget the chancellor announced that “We inherited the last government’s plan to reform the work capability assessment. We will deliver the savings as part of our fundamental reform to the health and disability benefits system that my right honourable friend the work and pensions secretary will bring forward.”
So, the chancellor appears to be saying that Labour will match the projected savings to the DWP that were to be made by the Conservative’s WCA changes, but she has not confirmed that the savings will be made in the same way.
ESA to UC migration
It is hardly news, but the budget document does confirm the ESA to UC managed migration has begun.
“The government will accelerate the migration of claimants onto UC from Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), bringing the start date forward from 2028 to September 2024. This move will bring more people into a modern benefit regime, continuing to ensure they are supported to look for and move into work. Around half of ESA claimants will receive more financial support on UC, while others will receive transitional protection to ensure nobody is worse off at the point at which they move over to UC.”
Carers allowance
The weekly earnings limit for carer’s allowance is to be increased to the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national living wage.
The chancellor also said that Labour also looking at a way to remove the current cliff edge, where going even a penny over the earnings limit ends eligibility for carer’s allowance.
The budget document states:
“The government is also giving carers greater flexibility to work and increase their financial security by raising the Carer’s Allowance Weekly Earnings Limit to the equivalent of 16 hours at the NLW. The changes will support those receiving Carer’s Allowance, 70% of which are women, to start work or work more hours.64 This is an increase of £45 per week and will allow over 60,000 more carers to access Carer’s Allowance.65 This will be the largest increase to the earnings limit since Carer’s Allowance was introduced in 1976.”
“The government also recently announced an independent review into overpayments of Carer’s Allowance, which will consider how they occurred and what operational changes can be made to minimise the risk of future overpayments. Alongside this, the government will also carry out further work on the earnings limit to explore what more can be done to help support more carers into work.”
Fraud and error
In her speech, the chancellor confirmed that the DWP will be able to access claimants’ bank accounts.
Reeves said “I can today announce a crackdown on fraud in our welfare system, often the work of criminal gangs. We will expand DWP’s counter fraud teams using innovative new methods to prevent illegal activity and provide new legal powers to crackdown on fraudsters, including direct access to bank accounts to recover debt.”
The budget document confirms that:
“The government is expanding DWP’s fraud and error staff by 3,000, as part of its £110 million investment in 2025-26 to tackle fraud and error. This is expected to deliver gross savings of £705 million in 2029-30. “
“The government will increase DWP’s powers to recover debt as part of the forthcoming Fraud, Error and Debt Bill. This is expected to save £260 million in 2029-30. “
“The government will invest in DWP to carry out additional checks on Universal Credit claimants who have changes in their circumstances, as part of a £110 million investment in 2025-26 to tackle fraud and error. This is expected to save £250 million in 2029-30.”
Universal credit debt recovery
The government will reduce the proportion of money UC claimants can have deducted to repay debts from 25% down to 15% of the standard allowance.
“In addition, the government is helping low-income households on UC by allowing them to pay off their debts over a longer timeframe and keep more of their UC each month. The government is creating a new Fair Repayment Rate which caps debt repayments made through UC at 15% of the standard allowance. This will benefit around 1.2 million households as they will keep more of their UC award each month, with households expected to be better off by £420 a year on average. Around 700,000 of the poorest families with children will benefit as a result of this change, supporting the government’s ambition to tackle child poverty.”
Benefits uprating
The chancellor confirmed that working age benefits will be uprated by just 1.7% in April 2025.
“DWP and HMRC working age benefits uprating for 2025-26 – The government will uprate working age benefits by September 2024 CPI of 1.7% from April 2025. This will see around 5.7 million families on Universal Credit gain £150 on average in 2025-26.”
Get Britain working
The Chancellor confirmed that “The government will shortly be publishing the Get Britain Working white paper tackling the root causes of inactivity with an integrated approach across health, education and welfare.”
The budget document states:
“ Get Britain Working White Paper – The government will shortly publish the Get Britain Working White Paper which will set out its £240 million investment to trail new ways of getting people back into work. The government will test new approaches and collect robust evidence on how to tackle the root causes of ill-health-related inactivity, support young people who are ‘not in education, employment, or training’ (NEET), and help people to develop their careers.”
“Get Britain Working Trailblazers – As part of the Get Britain Working package, the government will establish eight trailblazer areas across England and Wales that bring together health, employment and skills services to improve the support available to those who are inactive due to ill health and help them return to work. This will include NHS England Health and Growth Accelerators in at least three Integrated Care Systems to develop evidence of the impact of targeted action on the top health conditions driving economic inactivity.“
You can download the full budget document here https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/672232d010b0d582ee8c4905/Autumn_Budget_2024__web_accessible_.pdf
Joss
Current car: BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In metallic Portimão Blue. 04:10:2025
Previous car:Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.In reply to: Update on PIP vouchers proposal. It’s dead.
As I said I suspect
Strongly suspect and did say it may become a little clearer on Wednesday 30 October
Watch this space its coming
2025 is almost here
And as before I hope Im wrong
But suspect reading between the lines
Im not
(“There must remain concern that PIP reforms proposed in the last government’s green paper may still go ahead in one shape or form. None of these have yet to be ruled out.
“Those proposals included changes to the eligibility criteria for PIP and the PIP assessment that were clearly aimed at large reductions in disability benefit expenditure.}
In reply to: Vouchers instead of money
I myself are worried about this voucher and Catalogue to replace PIP but if it was to take place there would be legal challenges under Equality law and the big banks that instruct uk Gov as Motability would have to be scrapped they would lose billions as we pay them so no us no Motability as we would have to give up cars we have due to we would no longer have the income to run a car. There is a stupid part of this green paper to let councils give us handouts and the NHS well this went well with the independent living fund the money went to councils and guess what you have to plead to get any help and not only that the NHS is on its knees now without dealing with disabled as well. It is very Mad and to save money we all know but as there is a Scottish couple suing the DWP and many may well still get winter fuel payment as the DWP and or Gov have to do a risk Assessment which they failed to do then lets hope the Judge goes in Pensioners favour as many know we are not all rich.
In reply to: PIP Vouchers
IMO Things will soon change
What exactly? is as yet unknown
Just my thoughts,what are yours?
Why are we at this point?, eat out to help out?,Poor PPE? Boris at the helm?
Maybe not wasting all that money on implementing uneeded PIP reform and lining the pockets of failed and uneeded private assessment companies, Running the NHS into he ground imo All in an attempt to privatise as much as possible and to have a USA style insurance health system,
Claims rise imo in part due to the above and because people are not being diagnosed/treated in a reasonable time frame and because of this in part many cases miss what can be a small window of opportunity for them thus resulting in longer term problems
Seems now the trough is empty we get to carry the can,yet again
All PIP changes whatever they are imo will be incrementally and slowly introduced so it is able to be properly managed by limited DWP staff
A guess as easier targets have always been the norm
New claims imo and all current MH claimants quite possibly in the first line of fire
Also imo AUTISM 2nd biggest PIP claiming group I suspect may be messed with
Maybe all those over 66 imo with ongoing awards will be left alone simply to allow limited DWP staff to concentrate on things elsewhere
Qualification criteria/points for PIP Mobility may well be played about with imoPension age as a PIP qualifying deadline will imo be done away with ( now the state pension age is increasing overtime) Can see the PIP qualifying age incrementally being reduced to as low as 60yrs of age imo
Time will tell but one thing for sure .Gov imo will continue to attack and blame the weakestIn reply to: Future of PIP/disability support
Time running out to challenge PIP vouchers as Labour stay silent
PUBLISHED: 09 JULY 2024
The consultation on plans to replace personal independence payment (PIP) with vouchers or a catalogue ends on 22 July, with Labour so far showing no signs of disowning the proposals. Benefits and Work is urging readers to have their say before it is too late.As most readers will be aware, the Conservatives published a Green Paper on the future of PIP in April 2024. Amongst the proposals were suggestions that instead of regular cash payments, PIP could be replaced with:
A catalogue/shop scheme
A voucher scheme
A receipt based system
One-off grantsLabour failed to condemn these proposals in the run-up to the general election and have continued to remain silent since gaining power, even though there is now no risk of them losing votes by speaking out.
According to the Mirror:
“Labour insiders have hinted they’ll review the public’s response to these proposals after the consultation wraps up on July 22, which falls three weeks post-election.”
Labour have also said nothing about planned changes to the work capability assessment (WCA) from 2025, that would lead to an estimated 424,000 claimants losing over £400 a month.
Ten leading charities, including:
Child Poverty Action Group
Disability Rights UK
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Mind
Save the Children
have written to Liz Kendall, secretary of state for work and pensions. They have asked her to halt the proposed changes to the WCA and to PIP and replace them with plans that are “redesigned with disabled people at the centre.”So far, there has been no response.
You can find out more about the changes to PIP and how to take part in the consultation here.
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/time-running-out-to-challenge-pip-vouchers
In reply to: Future of PIP/disability support
DWP PIP update over fears Motability scheme will be ‘eradicated’
The DWP has announced plans to overhaul PIP payments by scrapping the fixed cash benefit system in favour of “tailored support” in the form of vouchers, grants and shopping catalogues
A disability charity has voiced concerns over the government’s plans to overhaul Personal Independence Payment (PIP) by scrapping its monthly cash payments. The Department for Work and Pensions is considering a shift from direct financial support to providing “tailored support” through vouchers, grants, and shopping catalogues intended for therapy, treatment, and other essential expenses.
The Motability Foundation, known for offering grants for vehicles and driving lessons as well as operating a scheme that allows disabled individuals to lease new cars, scooters, or wheelchairs using their benefits, has pledged to work closely with the DWP to assess the impact of these significant changes. This scheme is available to those receiving the higher rate mobility components of PIP, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or Scottish disability benefits.
Concerns are mounting among campaigners that the proposed removal of PIPs monthly payments could potentially dismantle the Motability Scheme, crucial for enabling disabled people to access necessary transport. In response to inquiries about the potential repercussions of these reforms on its operations, a spokesperson for the Motability Foundation told BirminghamLive: “Motability Operations delivers the Motability Scheme to over 760,000 disabled people and their families, helping them access independent mobility.”
“We are aware of the proposed consultation on Personal Independence Payment and are monitoring closely. Please be assured we will work closely with the DWP, and use our own research, informed by disabled people, to provide feedback on the likely impact of any potential policy changes that may impact Scheme customers and disabled people more widely.”
The DWP has stated its desire for a total overhaul of the PIP system, citing significantly increased demand leading to escalating costs. The current PIP payments can reach up to £737 every four weeks which is equivalent to over £9,500 per annum, reports Birmingham Live.
The planned reforms involve alterations to both the eligibility criteria and qualifying period, reforming PIP assessments to better align them with the claimant’s condition, and ending them entirely for those in greatest need. The DWP also plans on substituting the monthly benefit payments with one-off grants and vouchers, and catalogue shopping for appliances and services.
Adding: “This reflects the fact that some claimants will have significant extra costs related to their disability, and others will have minimal or specific costs. While these alternative models help people with the extra costs of their disability or health condition, we know other forms of support including health care, social services care provision and respite are also important to help people to realise their full potential and live independently.”
“We are also considering whether some people receiving PIP who have lower or no extra costs may have better outcomes from improved access to treatment and support than from a cash payment.”
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride remarked: “We’re making the biggest welfare reforms in a generation protecting those most in need while supporting thousands into work as we modernise our benefit system to reflect the changing health landscape.”
“A decade on from the introduction of PIP, this Green Paper opens the next chapter of reform, enhancing the support for people with health conditions and disabilities while ensuring the system is fair to the taxpayer.”
What the Tory and Labour manifestos mean for the future of PIP and benefits
ExplainedBoth Labour and the Conservatives have set out plans to reform PIP and the benefits system
Labour has said it has ‘long called for changes to PIP’
May 23, 2024 8:42 am(Updated 9:07 am)
Following the announcement that the next general election will take place on 4 July, speculation is already rife about what will be in the party manifestos.
Labour has already made several suggestions about what the party’s plans could be for personal independence payment (PIP) and universal credit, while the Conservatives announced plans to reform many benefits in the final months before the election.
While the exact details of the manifestos are yet to be confirmed, the announcements and plans already made by both parties will likely form a key part of the electoral offerings.
Conservative plans for PIP
Last month, the Conservative Party launched a new consultation as part of its plans to overhaul the PIP system.
The proposed tier system would be based on a model in Norway known as “Basic Benefit”, where people are given monthly cash payments at one of six different rates, depending on the severity of their condition, their equipment and clinical needs, and other support.
The newly published plan is just one of several options on the table as part of Rishi Sunak’s pledge to review the benefits system, which could also see people with anxiety and depression receiving less money – a move that has already prompted criticism.
In a speech in April, the Prime Minister agued that there was a “moral underpinning” to overhauling the benefits system, with the Government warning caseloads and costs are spiralling.
He said that he wanted the assessments to be “more precise about the type and severity of mental health conditions that should be eligible” and indicated that the recipients would have to provide a letter from their GP outlining the nature of their condition and the associated extra costs.
The Government’s consultation document suggests it aims to extend the qualifying period for PIP to better understand the impact of long-term conditions and allow them to identify short-term illnesses from which someone can make a “full recovery”.
Mr Sunak also said the Government wanted to assess whether to stop ongoing payments to claimants and replace them with one-off sums linked to a specific cost they have incurred to help with their condition.
Conservative plans for other benefits
Under plans announced by the Conservatives last month, those on universal credit who are not engaging in trying to find employment will see their benefits stopped entirely after 12 months.
The Government had previously said it would crack down on people not engaging in work coach services, but this announcement confirms they would have their claim closed and all benefits removed.
People working less than half a full-time week will also have to try and find extra work in return for claiming benefits.
The Government also sped up the process of moving people from older so-called legacy benefits onto universal credit.
The work capability assessment (WCA) process, which considers whether a person is fit for work, is also being tightened with the aim of ultimately replacing it.
Ministers confirmed a previously announced commitment that people with less severe conditions will be expected to look for work rather than being ruled out of having to apply for a job.
The Government said it remains committed to scrapping the WCA entirely and replacing it with a “new personalised, tailored approach”.
It has previously stated that the WCA changes would apply to new claims only, with the reform coming in from 2025 onwards.
Labour plans for PIP
The Labour Party has said the welfare system would need “big changes” if the party wins the next general election, and has already set out its plans to get more disabled people into work.
Labour MP Alison McGovern, the shadow minister for employment, has acknowledged that the welfare system would need “big changes”, with measures such as replacing job centres with more bespoke and localised support for unemployed people.
Writing exclusively in i earlier this month, Ms McGovern said Labour had “long called for changes to PIP” and said any changes must ensure assessment decisions are more accurate as well as tackling the backlog of applications.
But Ms McGovern added that “every aspect of the support for disabled people” must “help people get into work”.
She also said changes to PIP must ensure assessment decisions are more accurate as well as tackling the backlog of applications.
However, the party said that disabled people needed to be supported to get back into work, previously arguing for employment services to be better integrated with healthcare services.
Labour plans for other benefits
Ms McGovern also wrote in i last month that Labour would overhaul job centres to give people more bespoke and localised support as well as ending the “tick box culture” in order to achieve this.
The party has also previously argued for better integrated integrate employment and healthcare services to tackle the number of people out of work due to sickness.
“We believe in the benefits of work for everyone – we are all better off with the autonomy and self‑determination that comes from good work,” she wrote.
“That’s as true for disabled people as it is for anyone who isn’t disabled. It’s time for a change – for a Labour government that can bring us an end to the chaos and a plan for our future.”
Labour has said that there would be “no option of a life on benefits” if the party won power and has set out plans on how it would reduce the number of young people not in work, education or training.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall used a speech in March to promise that the sickness benefits bill would fall under Labour and hinted the party would make tough changes to universal credit.
Her predecessor Jonathan Ashworth made similar comments in January, when he said Labour would “fundamentally reform” universal credit in order to “simplify” the system and “better incentivise” people moving into work.
He said that the party’s proposals are “part of a fundamentally different and new approach”, which he said will “prioritise well-being and security above all when helping people into work”.
https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/tory-labour-manifesto-pip-benefits-3070445
To read:
To fill in:
^Still needs to be filled in despite Labour coming into power.
Here here well said, Omg did I sound like a Tory MP in the Commons then? Now all I need is a bit of toilet roll to wave and I’m set for £75k plus expenses, plus unlimited fraud an tax evasion, winner.
Seriously though the noise these scumbags are making on this is amazing considering there is no way with a Nov election as widely touted they have time to do ANYTHING.
What I strongly suspect is going to happen instead is all those at the dwp will be offered bonuses for finding reason to refuse benefits at least until the election.
As well as a new gov we need Labour when they win (who else, right) need to have a bloody good clear out of all the raging psychotics at the DWP who make it their mission in life to refuse people who clearly need help like those with very visible disabilities for example.
I’d like to see if tribunals overturn dwp decisions breach a % in a given quarter this starts an independent investigation into the decision making process and if laws aren’t being followed decision makers found guilty should go to prison. The laws around PIP decision making aren’t hard if you’re being fair (when does that happen) same goes for assessments, end assessments full stop for those with unchanging or worsening conditions outside of miracle advances of course.
I’d like to see assessors face charges for lying, doing copy and paste and just making stuff up. Like my assessment that says I stick my own Butrans patches to my own shoulder blades (wish I could wow)
Dwp need an Ofsted with similar powers but run by disability groups
In reply to: Lease Extension Question
Looking at our agreement, it states the minimum period of 3 years, continuing until either the expiry of a period of 24 months following the minimum hire term or the date on which the agreement is terminated in accordance with the terms in the Contract Hire terms and conditions (booklet)
When I read through the small print clause 15.3 states “At any time after the end of the minimum hire term, we may terminate the agreement by giving you not less than 14 days written notice”….
So although technically they can allow the extra 24 months, its at their discretion. You would hope though that a reasonable request should be considered.
I’d certainly want them to consider our request as technically our son has only 2 years left on his PIP (1 and a bit and then an assessment) therefore its easy money for them to continue the lease. (although leaving finally gives me a chance to get an x3 privately!)
Im in the process of cancelling my current car as it’s too high to get in.£50 charge.when ordering sales rep asked me for pip end date.i have only 8 months till next re-assessment,he says can’t order.i asked just put the order in and see if it’s accepted and it went through.i rang motability and they you don’t need 12 months anymore,just new customers.wish they would tell everyone else as i was almost turned away.just thought i would let people no as mobility haven’t even told sales reps.
In reply to: Motability question? We can answer it.
Hi my PIP is due for renewal March 2024 and the window to order my new car opens 10th February (lease ends May 2024)…
I believe you only have to fulfill the “12 months left on your award” rule on your initial or first lease. I am in a similar situation, well under 12 months remaining, reassessment forms sent in, but with no updates at all, and have just ordered a new car myself. I started my application online via the motability account and it did take overnight for them to confirm my eligibility but then went through without issues.
just to confirm I have one month left on my PIP. Window opens to order new motability car 10th February. I’ve spoken to both DWP and Motability and I’m allowed to still order my car as the delay isn’t my fault it’s the huge backlogs DWP are having to deal with.
In reply to: Pip renewal
My PIP award was due to run out In September 2023, I received my renewal forms in December 2022 and sent them back the same month. My PIP was extended by a year around 6 weeks before it was due to end, so I was able to order a new car at the end of July, six weeks later than I would have been able to order my new car, but I didn’t have a year of my PIP award left at reorder time! I think they may have changed it now so if you’re due to order a new car and are waiting for a revue then you can order at three month, but I’m not certain about this.
So renewal forms 9 months before end, 1 year extension 6 weeks before end and I was eventually awarded PIP in December, 3 months after my claim was due to end and 1 year after sending back my renewal forms. I had an over the phone assessment at the end of November. The one good thing I can take from it is my award is now for an ongoing period, which apparently means I’m good for 10 years.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to waste thousands of pounds of public money fighting two rulings by the information commissioner that it must release secret reports affecting millions of disabled people.
You are here: Home / Benefits and Poverty / DWP set to waste thousands fighting release of two secret reports
DWP set to waste thousands fighting release of two secret reports
By John Pring on 18th January 2024Category: Benefits and Poverty
Listen
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to waste thousands of pounds of public money fighting two rulings by the information commissioner that it must release secret reports affecting millions of disabled people.It is the latest example of how the department has used delaying tactics for many years to avoid being held to account over its own actions that have been linked to countless deaths of disabled benefit claimants.
The information commissioner ruled late last year that DWP should release both reports to Disability News Service (DNS).
The first report was a written assessment of how the government’s decision to abolish the work capability assessment (WCA) would impact millions of disabled people and other groups protected under the Equality Act.
DNS has been seeking the information since the move to abolish the WCA was announced in the spring budget, with details included in the government’s new Transforming Support white paper.
Under the plans, disabled people who cannot work will only be able to qualify for a new health element of universal credit if they also receive personal independence payment (PIP), disability living allowance, so on
Full read here …. thoughts?
DWP set to waste thousands fighting release of two secret reports
In reply to: Motability question? We can answer it.
Hi my PIP is due for renewal March 2024 and the window to order my new car opens 10th February (lease ends May 2024)…
I believe you only have to fulfill the “12 months left on your award” rule on your initial or first lease. I am in a similar situation, well under 12 months remaining, reassessment forms sent in, but with no updates at all, and have just ordered a new car myself. I started my application online via the motability account and it did take overnight for them to confirm my eligibility but then went through without issues.
"Man is born in freedom, but he soon becomes a slave, in cages of convention, from the cradle, to the grave."
In reply to: Motability question? We can answer it.
Hi my PIP is due for renewal March 2024 and the window to order my new car opens 10th February (lease ends May 2024). Despite DWP first contacting me about the renewal last July I have even had an assessment yet just text messages saying they’ve still got my forms etc. I’m sure motability understandably won’t let me order a new car but what will happen when my lease expires if this situation continues? Will I be left without a car? Sorry if this has been asked before I did go through several pages trying to find similar questions but am unclear.
In reply to: Pip renewals
@ChrisK Everyone I know who’s on PIP or DLA feels exactly the same 🙁
There was a time when you could get a fair assesment, usually from your own GP but for at least the last 15-20 years it’s been a nightmare for a lot of people. I also lost my high rate DLA when moved to PIP, took two years to get a re-assessment and the enhanced mobility re-instated for 3 years. For my last review I added 2 pages detailing all the mistakes and outright lies the assessors had listed in my previous assessments.
I added multiple photos of damage to me from frequently falling and 2 letters from my physio confirming my ongoing mobility problems. This time I got an “ongoing award” (basically 10 years with a light touch review). Still keeping records of anything that happens so when time comes I’ll have more evidence to send in if needed.
It really shouldn’t be like this but I’m afraid that with the new changes they’ve announced it’s only going to get a lot worse.
Please excuse spelling/typos. Apart from being a clot it turns out I had one on my cerebellum that's now causing various problems!
Topic: What a F(&*%*ng year
For those that have been following my recent events, like @kezo, or even if you haven’t here’s the year I’ve had to date:
February – I had a lump appear on my right thumb muscle ( you know, the one that sits between your life line and thumb on the palm of your hand) and also my left foot swollen like a balloon. Turned out they were both cysts, big ones too. Immediate transfer from doctors to minor injuries who phoned Orthopedics in the main hospital (Treliske) who said send him up, we’ll get him sorted. Without going home, I had a rapid drive up to A&E where I was collected a while later and taken to the orthopedic ward to be operated on the next day. 2 open woulds later and cysts are gone and I can barely walk due to bone on bone arthritis in right knee and enough bandaging to sink a battleship on my left foot. After a visit from the physio I’m released with an inclined shoe, which keeps the weight off the wound.
That’s followed by 2 months of going to a dressings clinic 3 times a week.
April comes and I’m discharged from their care.
July comes and I wake up on a Saturday morning feeling full of flu, which can be a warning I’ve an infection somewhere. Monday morning I can barely get out of bed due to the worst back pain I’ve ever had, and I’ve got sciatica. Doctors say it’s muscular (over the phone) give it a week and it’ll pass. Week later and it’s getting worse. Call doctors, demand help and they’re too busy, call 111 who send and ambulance crew who heave me out of bed on gas and air (I’m a space maaaaan Whoooooo!!!!) sit me on an office chair and see how I feel. They leave a while later saying I need to take pain killers and keep moving.
I get a call back from the doctors on the Friday who sympathise but agree with the paramedics, it’ll pass. Monday comes and I’m running a temperature, looking like death warmed up and everyone is getting beyond frustrated. Call 111 again, forget the doctors completely. Ambulance arrives and my temperature has peaked significantly, my blood pressure is normal (which considering I’ve been hypertensive for 5 years isn’t normal) and it’s all looking a little wrong for just a pulled muscle. The took me to A&E (again) who took a mass of bloods and cultures and put me in a cubicle waiting the results. Verdict there was Sepsis and there’s another infection, possibly lungs. Took me to the Acute Medical Unit, who look after patients while they try to work out what’s gone wrong. Most patients stay there for 3 days max, I saw one complete ward change while I was waiting for a full diagnosis. I had a scan that confirmed 2 DVTs in my right leg, which instantly meant blood thinners by injection 3 times a day. Saw lots of doctors, had tests galore, and finally saw an infectious diseases consultant who specialised in microbiological diseases. One MRA later and I’ve got a Strep infection of the spine that’s close to the spinal column and I’ve a cyst (again) this time in my spine. Started on a very high dose of antibiotic every 4 hours (they take pleasure in waking you up to do the 4am dose) and off to a medical ward to continue treatment. During the stay I had a Ulcer burst in my gut.
I was released into the care of a critical care at home team, meaning I could have my antibiotics daily from them but at home instead of stuck in a ward. That was 25 days in hospital. 2 months after that started I completed the IV antibiotic treatment and was meeting the care team weekly for blood tests. A month later and I was officially discharged from their care.
Through this time I had to cancel an assessment for PIP Change of Circumstance, which would have taken me into Motability’s scope. So, once healthy I had to chase DWP and then the Assessors to get a new appointment. That happened last Monday, they were incredibly quick sending the report to DWP who sent me a copy. That arrived this morning.
I’ve got 12 points for daily living and 12 points for mobility. Because of the recent history for the spine problems, it’s an 18 month recommendation but that’s enough and, to be fair, about what my consultant is saying before we know what the long term effects of the infection will actually be, until then, it could be improving pain, not improving pain or a trip to the physio. Very worst case, the infection returns and I’m back to square one. Hopefully that’s not happening and the consultant says after nearly 4 months of antibiotics at the dose I had, he’d be amazed if it returned.
So, a rather crappy year, to date, with a rather positive end as I can now look to complete my short list, test drive in readiness for the DWP to do their paperwork and get an official acceptance of enhanced rates for both elements. That’s my next task, shorten the list and book some test drives this side of Christmas. Hopefully I’ll get something from DWP in time for a new car for Christmas (one dealer has both Ioniq 5s and 6s in stock).
Roll on 2024, please tell me it’s going to be better!!
I'm Autistic, if I say something you find offensive, please let me know, I can guarantee it was unintentional.
I'll try to give my honest opinion but am always open to learning.Mark
