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Mr Hunt described the changes as the “biggest reform to the welfare system since the introduction of Universal Credit in 2012” and “a combination of carrot and stick” – although he was keener to talk about the carrots.
For those with long-term health conditions, the new measures include:
Additional NHS Talking Therapy sessions for 384,000 people over the next five years
The expansion of the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) scheme to “help an additional 100,000 people with severe mental illness to find and keep jobs”
But the chancellor refused to say what changes he plans to make to the Work Capability Assessment (WCA).Thoughts?
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You got to remember Hunt has NOT changed his stripes.
He is still very much a Cameron and Osborne …..
That is all he knows…how to cut benefits to ex-service personel and the disabled.
Also they will be removing free precriptions and legal aid
Even economic migrants get those
Ministers also said they will expand support for people with health conditions to stay in and find work, including increasing the number of people receiving NHS talking therapy by 384,000 over the next five years.
NHS talking therapy?
Makes me glad I am an OAP now, but feel sorry for the genuine claiment. Life is just going to be even more difficult. Suicides will no doublt increase as a result of these draconian proposed changes.
From Benefit & Work web site:-
Tougher sanctions target claimants cash, medication and access to justice
Published: 17 November 2023
The Conservatives are targeting some claimant’s cash, medication and access to justice, in a tougher sanctions regime aimed at forcing more long-term unemployed people into work. Mandatory work placements, fraud investigations as a form of coercion and a “digital tool” for tracking attendance at job interviews are also to be introduced.Whilst most of the measures will affect a relatively small number of claimants at this stage, there is the possibility that they will become more widespread once the principle that they are acceptable has been established.
The measures form part a “Back to Work plan” to feature in the Autumn statement which Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride say will “help people stay healthy, get off benefits and move into work.”
Amongst the new features to be introduced are:
Closing the universal credit (UC) claims of people who have been on an open-ended sanction for more than six months. The DWP point out that this will include removing access to free prescriptions and legal aid. In theory, this should not affect disabled claimants, but in reality could potentially hit disabled claimants who are appealing a decision that they are fit for work.
Automatically investigating claimants for fraud and error after 8 weeks on an open ended sanction, even though there are no grounds for suspicion.
Tracking claimants attendance at job interviews and work fairs using a “digital tool”.
Imposing mandatory work placements after 12 months on Restart.
Stricter sanctions and loss of prescriptions
The DWP say they will introduce “Stricter sanctions for people who should be looking for work but aren’t”.This will include closing the UC claims of people who have been on an open-ended sanction for more than six months.
An open-ended sanction is one which applies for as long as a claimant does not meet a specified commitment.
So, for example, if a claimant failed to attend an interview with a work coach, they would be subject to an open-ended sanction until they did attend a rearranged interview. They would then have a fixed period sanction applied.
At the moment claimants subject to an open-ended sanction have a deduction applied to their standard allowance until they comply. This can last indefinitely.
Under the new rules their claim would end after six months if they are not receiving additional child, housing or disability UC payments. The DWP say this will also have the effect of “ending their access to additional benefits such as free prescriptions and legal aid.”
In theory, this measure will not apply to disabled claimants.
However, because the mandatory reconsideration and appeal process generally take longer than six months, a claimant who has wrongly been found capable of work could find themselves on an open-ended sanction for failing to do something that, for example, a mental health condition prevents them doing.
They may then find their UC claim and access to free prescriptions stopped before they have an opportunity to have the decision they are fit for work overturned.
Fraud investigations for disabled claimants
If a claimant is on an open-ended sanction for more than 8 weeks and they are in receipt of additional UC payments for childcare, housing or disability they will automatically be investigated for fraud and incorrect payments through the Targeted Case Review system.This will be the case even though there are no grounds for suspecting any wrongful payment has been made.
Claimant tracking
The DWP say they are introducing a new digital tool that will allow work coaches to “track a claimant’s attendance at DWP organised job interviews or job fairs”.The DWP have given no indication of how this tool will work, but say that it will “ensure that claimants who do not attend mandatory appointments without a good reason, are sanctioned.”
Restart mandatory work placements
The Restart scheme, which currently provides coaching and training to claimants who have been on UC for nine months is to be toughened up.In future, claimants can be placed on the Restart scheme after six months.
In addition there will be a review after 12 months on Restart at which “a work coach will decide what further work search conditions or employment pathways would best support a claimant into work.”
The conditions can include a mandatory work-placement.
Claimants who refuse to accept the conditions laid down by the work coach will have their UC claim closed.
NHS Talking Therapies
An additional 384,000 people will be eligible for free courses of mental health treatment, such as CBT, “for treatment of mild and moderate mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders.”Individual Placement and Support
An additional 100,000 people with severe mental illness will be eligible for Individual Placement and Support (IPS). The DWP say that IPS employment specialists help claimants to find and keep employment.Universal Support in England and Wales
100,000 claimants per year, including disabled and vulnerable claimants, will receive up to 12 months “place and train” support from a dedicated keyworker who will help them find and keep a job. Up to £4,000 will also be available to help each claimant manage health conditions or to help employers make necessary adjustments.WorkWell
The DWP say WorkWell will help support people at risk of falling into long-term unemployment due to sickness or disability, through integrated work and health support. The scheme will begin in 15 pilot areas.Fit note reform
The government is to “explore reforms of the fit note process to provide individuals whose health affects their ability to work with easy and rapid access to specialised work and health support.”The concern is that the DWP may be working towards reducing the role of GPs in providing fit notes, replacing them instead with DWP staff. This is hinted at in the Back to Work Plan, which says:
“Primary care (GP surgeries) will continue to play an important role in supporting working age people where their health presents a barrier to work. But there is often pressure on the time and expertise needed to hold the work and health conversation effectively and direct people to the right support, which is why we are exploring reforms.”
A blueprint for the future
If the DWP is successful in imposing these ‘reforms’ on a relatively small group of claimants without opposition, there is a real possibility they may then be introduced more widely.It is hard to see how anyone could argue that effectively depriving claimants of access to prescribed medication, cutting off their access to legal aid or deliberately using fraud investigations as a method of coercion are legitimate functions of a social security system intended to act as a safety net.
But, it seems, that is exactly what is being introduce.
Joss
Current car: Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol"Men fight for liberty & win it with hard knocks. Their children brought up easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. And their grandchildren are once more slaves" - D.H. Lawrence
It seems to me, with the election coming soon, that this would be a massive vote loser for the Tories but thinking again there are many Tories who will support this.
I seem to remember, on here, members saying they would still support Boris Johnston to be re-elected as PM so it’s maybe not difficult to see their motivation for this. I suppose the number crunchers will have taken surveys to assess the benefits of this prior to announcing it.
The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.
Anything i post over three lines long please assume it is an article lol.The Government come out with major changes to trying to and give the illusion that they are going to get 100.000,s of of these so called scrounging claimants back to work, every few years, usually when an election is nearing and they know it is a vote pleaser with many voters.
I remember back in 1996 when they brought in Job Seekers Allowance, I was doing a Health and Safety inspection in one of the Jobcentre’s (prior to Jobcentre + when the Benefit Agency was still separate) and the manager saying to me that it didn’t matter what policy the Government came out with, if an employer doesn’t want the people that the Jobcentre were sending them, they would simply, just stop using the Jobcentre to recruit their staff.
I am not ignoring the adverse affects that these changes may have on some disabled, yet we still have some disabled voting for this party.
If someone were to loose their free perscription entitlement (a) what would happen to those the take medication to keep them alive (b) by removing their free perscription, surely it would mean the claimant would see theit condition worsened. By doing this it will either kill the claimant or delay getting them back into work, due to an increase in pain from not having any medication.
Is this even legal!
@callmejohn a substantial percentage of the UK public seem to like a posh boy. Just look at the length of time the Tories have been in power, that says it all.
Just as an aside a posh boy just won Big Brother so maybe the tide is turning for the Tories😜
The only person who got all his work done by Friday was Robinson Crusoe.
Anything i post over three lines long please assume it is an article lol.Simply Headlines that detract away from the boats and the failing Rwanda shambles
No10 and their DWP puppets have yet to get anything right
Desperately grabbing at straws in the hope of winning public favour imo
This isnt legal and they know it
The DWP have been randomly checking peoples bank accounts for years against details of income based claimants to identify undeclared savings.. Its done by computers and churns out thousands of discrepancies. The vast majority of all investigations are done digitally these days and sadly people tend to be their own worst enemies. Social media and financial records etc go a long way in catching claimants out. People need to understand financial records anywhere are no longer private and can easily be accessed by DWP. Given the number of fraud investigators it would hard for them to do other than digital investigations on majority of people claiming.
Benifits & Work will be putting a simplified easy to understand of what tomorrows budget means.
I expect it won’t be available untill later tomorrow or even Thursday but will put it here as of when, unless @joss hasn’t previously done so.
This sits perfectly with the Daily Mail readers who are frequently told that the benefits system is weighed down by scroungers making a profession out of claiming a living wage for no work. They’ll cite examples of freakishly outlying individuals who have families with multiple complex needs in parents and children who will have multiple PIP and DLA claims alongside UC, housing and Limited Work Related Capability Awards as well as a couple of Motability cars, family fund provided holidays and white goods. They’d then point out that the tax payer keeps their Xboxes, PlayStations, iPhones and Sky subscription going while they sit on their ample butts contributing nothing to the economy.
Clearly there may well be individuals and families who are skilled at claiming the maximum available whilst avoiding work but the majority will be legitimately doing everything they can just to survive whilst dealing with potential physical and mental difficulties but that doesn’t fit with their propaganda. This is the party who have consistently claimed that those who can should work and those that don’t should be persuaded or forced into meaningful employment and have ran with that message since Thatcher was at her prime, I can’t see that changing any time soon. Unfortunately, the last Labour government was just another version of the same ethos and the only way they can be elected again is to be a slightly less blue version again.
Either way, now is not a great time to be dealing with PIP and LCWRA claims. 😳
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
About as well thought out as the Rwanda policy imo
Another desperate tory headline grabber hoping to distract from the collapsing circus tent
Mark my words Labour may well win the next election but nothing will change for the disabled apart from continued to be trod on by a Flipflop instead of Dior
Benifits & Work will be putting a simplified easy to understand of what tomorrows budget means. I expect it won’t be available untill later tomorrow or even Thursday but will put it here as of when, unless @joss hasn’t previously done so.
I will keep an eye on B&W today and post if you have not already @Kezo.
Joss
Current car: Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol"Men fight for liberty & win it with hard knocks. Their children brought up easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. And their grandchildren are once more slaves" - D.H. Lawrence
If someone were to loose their free perscription entitlement (a) what would happen to those the take medication to keep them alive (b) by removing their free perscription, surely it would mean the claimant would see theit condition worsened. By doing this it will either kill the claimant or delay getting them back into work, due to an increase in pain from not having any medication. Is this even legal!
Exactly its just electioneering, I’ve lost count of the amount of times candidates have turned up for work sent either from the Job centre or agency that are have been sanctioned only for them to stay long enough to satisfy the terms of the sanction (ie turn up for work for at least 4 hrs etc) then dissapear never to be seen again or show absolutely no interest in anything and are not asked to come back.
Yeah force the mentally & physically ill to work from home on minimum wage.
Sanction them if they are too ill to work.
Government receives a boost in tax revenue – that’ll be given away to big business and the wealthy.
Well . . . its a plan i guess.
The general election can’t come soon enough.
Autumn statement live updates: From B&W https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/autumn-statement-live-updates?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Benefits+and+Work&utm_content=V2+22+November+2023+Newsletter
Most people with LCWRA will never face a WCA reassessment again
The DWP response to the WCA consultation says that most people who have been assessed as having limited capability for work-related activity will never have to be assessed again.The DWP say
. . . we will bring forward a new offer – a Chance to Work Guarantee for existing claimants on UC and ESA with LCWRA. This change will be effective from 2025, at the same time as WCA changes are introduced. This change will in effect abolish the WCA for the vast majority of this group, bringing forward a key element of our White Paper proposals and giving people the confidence to try work.
9. These changes will mean that almost all people who are currently assessed as having LCWRA will never face a WCA reassessment again. Reassessments will only take place under very limited circumstances, which are:
When a claimant reports a change of circumstances in their health condition;
If a claimant has been awarded LCWRA for pregnancy risk, or cancer treatment where the prognosis for recovery is expected to be short-term;
If a claimant has been declared as having LCWRA under the new risk provisions; and
In cases of suspected fraud.
10. For the overwhelming majority of existing UC claimants, this is a guarantee that they will not be reassessed if they try work, and it does not work out. ESA claimants undertaking permitted work will also not be reassessed. Therefore, for both groups, we will remove the barrier that trying work may mean they lose their LCWRA entitlementDWP response to the WCA consultation published
The DWP response to the WCA consultation has now been published. They received 1,348 responses, which appear to have been overwhelmingly negative.No changes will be made to:
Coping with social engagement
Continence
DWP say most existing claimants will not be affected
The DWP say in their press release that the new changes will not be introduced until 2025 and that most existing claimants will not be affected:“These changes will not affect existing claimants whose circumstances remain the same, reflecting the need to ensure a continuity of service for them, and will mean that these claimants will not lose money as a result of the changes.”
Elsewhere, they add:
Under these changes, most existing claimants on health benefits will not need to be re-assessed with a new Work Capability Assessment. Re-assessments will only take place under limited circumstances, which are:
When a claimant reports a change of circumstances in their health condition;
If a claimant has been awarded LCWRA for pregnancy risk, or cancer treatment where the prognosis for recovery is expected to be short-term;
In cases of suspected fraud.
Changes to the substantial risk rule
In their consultation on WCA changes in September, the DWP suggested that the substantial risk rule could be changed as follows:Alter the rule so that it would not apply where a person could take part in tailored or a minimal level of work preparation activity and/or where reasonable adjustments could be put in place to enable that person to engage with work preparation.
This appears to be what the DWP is now planning to do.
Getting about
The current points for ‘Getting about’ are shown below. These are to be reduced although we don’t know what to yet:15. Getting about
15 (a) Cannot get to any place outside the claimant’s home with which the claimant is familiar. 15 points
15 (b) Is unable to get to a specified place with which the claimant is familiar, without being accompanied by another person 9 points
15 (c) Is unable to get to a specified place with which the claimant is unfamiliar without being accompanied by another person. 6 points
15 (d) None of the above apply. 0 points
The removed mobilising descriptors
It appears that the DWP plan to stop the following mobilising descriptors allowing claimants to be places in the support/LCWRA group. These descriptors will still score 15 points for the purposes of limited capability for work, but will not allow access to the support/LCWRA group:1. Mobilising unaided by another person with or without a walking stick, manual wheelchair or other aid if such aid is normally, or could reasonably be, worn or used.
Cannot either:
(i) mobilise more than 50 metres on level ground without stopping in order to avoid significant discomfort or exhaustion
or
(ii) repeatedly mobilise 50 metres within a reasonable timescale because of significant discomfort or exhaustion.
Changes to the WCA revealed
A DWP press release has set out the changes they plan to make to the WCA:Remove the ‘Mobilising’ part of the assessment that currently places people into a group where no work preparation is required – this will reflect that many of the claimants with these issues in the modern world of work will be able to undertake some work or work preparation with the right support
Amend the regulations that determine whether mental health issues are assessed as putting claimants at ‘Substantial Risk’ if they are required to undertake any level of work preparation – these amendments will realign the regulations with the original intention of applying only in exceptional circumstances, whilst still protecting and safeguarding the most vulnerable
Reduce the points awarded for some of the Limited Capability for Work (LCW) ‘getting about’ descriptors, reflecting the rise of flexible and home working opportunities in modern workplaces.
Over 90% of people denied LCWRA will not move into work
Although the Chancellor announced today that there will be changes to the WCA, we don’t know which of the changes set out in their consultation in September they have decided to adopt.What we do know, however, thanks to the Office for Budget responsibility. is that the claims that the changes are to help people move into work are bogus.
The OBR has published its estimate of the changes to the incapacity caseload as a result of WCA reform.
By 2028/29 they estimate that there will be:
315,000 fewer people in the UC LCWRA group
56,000 fewer in the ESA support group
Making a total of 371,000 fewer people who get incapacity benefits without having any work related conditions.
But at the same time, they estimate that as a result there will be:
290,000 more people on LCW UC
51,000 more people in the ESA WRAG
Making a total increase of 342,000 (possibly some rounding) who have conditions applied to their benefit.
So, the OBR are expecting around 29,000 people, just 8% of claimants who are denied LCWRA/support group, to actually move off benefits as a result. The other 92% will stay on incapacity benefits but just be around £400 a month worse off and subject to sanctions.
Thanks to Tom Pollard for tweeting about this.
Half a million people to be offered mental health treatment
The chancellor says they will halve the flow of people signed off work with no work search requirements:Over 180,000 more people will be helped through the Universal Support programme and nearly 500,000 people will be offered treatment for mental health conditions and employment support.
Over the forecast period, the OBR judge these measures will more than halve the flow of people who are signed off work with no work search requirements.
At the same time we’ll provide a further £1.3 billion of funding to offer extra help to the 300,000 people who have been unemployed for over a year without any sickness or disability.
But we will ask for something in return.
If, after 18 months of intensive support, jobseekers have not found a job, we’ll roll out a programme requiring them to take part in mandatory work placements to increase their skills and improve their employability.
And if they choose not to engage with the work search process for six months, we will close their case and stop their benefits.
Taken together with the labour supply measures I have announced in the spring, the OBR say we will increase the number of people in work by around 200,000 at the end of the forecast period, permanently increasing the size of the economy.
WCA to be ‘reformed’
The chancellor confirmed that changes are to be made to the work capability assessment (WCA) and to the fit note process, though no further details were given about the precise changes to the WCA.The Chancellor said:
Every year we sign off over 100,000 people onto benefits with no requirement to look for work, because of sickness or disability.
That waste of potential is wrong economically and wrong morally.
So, with the secretary of state for work and pensions, I announced our back to work plan.
We will reform the fit note process so that treatment rather than time off becomes the default.
We will reform the work capability assessment to reflect greater flexibility and availability of homeworking after the pandemic.
And we’ll spend £1.3 billion over the next 5 years to help nearly 700,000 people with health conditions find jobs.
LCWRA element of Universal Credit (UC) from April 2024
We’ve calculated the 6.7% uprating for the LCWRA element of Universal Credit for next April as follows:LCWRA element of UC up from £390.06 by £26.13 to £416.19
PIP rates from April 2024
We’ve calculated the 6.7% uprating for PIP for next April as follows:Daily living standard rate up from £68.10 by £4.56 to £72.66
Daily living enhanced rate up from £101.75 by £6.82 to £108.57
Mobility standard rate up from £26.90 by £1.80 to £28.70
Mobility enhanced rate up from £71.00 by £4.76 to £75.76
Pensions triple lock maintained
The Chancellor announced that from April 24th “we will increase the full new state pension by 8.5% to £221.20 a week, worth up to £900 more a year.”Local Housing Allowance to be unfrozen
The Chancellor announced that he will “increase the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) to the 30th percentile of local market rents. This will give 1.6 million households an average of £800 of support.”Benefits to be uprated by September CPI
Good news on uprating. The chancellor has confirmed that in April 2024 benefits will be uprated by September’s Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation, which stood at 6.7%. There had been speculation that benefits would be uprated by the lower October rate.Autumn statement updates
The Chancellor delivers his Autumn statement at around 12.30pm on 22 November 2023.Benefits and Work will be providing updates on this page on how the Autumn statement affects claimants, as information becomes available.
In the meantime, heavy hints are being dropped by the government about what may be in it.
Claimants in LCWRA may have to look for work from home
A number of media outlets are suggesting that claimants who are in the Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) group will be required to look for work they can do at home or lose the LCWRA element, worth £4,680 a year.This is likely to be a follow up on the consultation on changes to the work capability assessment (WCA), which took place in September.
If this does go ahead, it is unlikely to happen before the next general election and so may be cancelled by an incoming government.
Cut in benefits uprating
Benefits are normally uprated in April by the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate for the previous September.But there have been numerous suggestions that benefits may be uprated by the lower CPI rate for October 2023 of 4.7% rather than the September rate which was higher at 6.7%.
This may apply to UC and ESA but may not apply to PIP.
Back To Work Plan
We already know quite a lot about the ‘Back to Work’ plan which involves tougher sanctions and mandatory work placements for some UC claimants. More details may be released as part of the Autumn statement.Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Share
Joss
Current car: Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol"Men fight for liberty & win it with hard knocks. Their children brought up easy, let it slip away again, poor fools. And their grandchildren are once more slaves" - D.H. Lawrence
Im afraid labour may also hold little hope for the disabled
This is the man who will take away that hope
If your unable to work and deemed to be so having successfully navigated all the DWP hoops and shifting goal posts and won your strongly supported medically proven award then dont worry this sneaky little fella is going to de-risk you and all will be well
He failed to mention that many people only won their awards after being denied them by the DWP and then having to appeal thus causing months of worry and stress,most won because their claim had strong supporting evidence
THEY WERE DEEMED UNFIT by medical professional supporting evidence and that evidence was shown to be correct and the DWP had every opportunity to challenge but was unable to so and an award was made
Perhaps seeking an update from those same medical experts would be the fairest way forward but imo that would not suit their real aims?
Another circus different ring master imho
Read between the lies/lines imo
At the end of the day if you don’t want the Tories to Govern for another term, there is only one alternative, as Labour are the only other party capable of forming a Government.
Voting for any other party is a wasted vote, as they cannot be anything other than a protest party, bumping their gums.
No matter if/how you vote or who wins imo
I dont care
My point is the disabled are screwed either way
I dont think either are capable of governing tbh
No matter if/how you vote or who wins imo I dont care My point is the disabled are screwed either way I dont think either are capable of governing tbh
I think you have to remember which party created the NHS and the Welfare State and I think all us disabled should be grateful for that.
On the other hand we know which party want’s to dismantle the NHS (and privatise it) and dismantle the Welfare State.
One party you are making assumption’s of how they will Govern the country (which you are entitled to do) but the other party we know only too well with their track record how they are doing and how much they care about the (so called scrounging) disabled and the working class in general.
Like every individual, it is entirely up to you how or if you vote, but if you vote Tory or don’t vote at all, you can hardly complain about how the Tories are running the country and affecting the disabled, as you would have effectively helped them gain power and let them contribute to ruining the lives of the rest of us disabled and working class.
Maybe I missed it, but I do not remember them say (other than getting us back to work) how they were going to help us disabled, such as cut down our waiting times for doctors, hospital appointments and treatment/operations to help us improve our condition other than to save them money and get us back working again, without any the health improvements I mentioned.
Todays autumn statement got me pondering on what (if any) home work i could possibly do.
If push comes to shove home based customer services rep was all i could come up with but due to health issues anything more than 1 or 2 hours every other day would likely be my limit. More than that would definitely compromise my already failing health.
The clamour to hire me from businesses the length and breadth of the country is gonna be mega – not.
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