MSE News: Half a million could lose disability benefits

Former_MSE_Guy · 15 May 2012 at 11:28AM

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"500,000 face losing their disability benefits under government plans, it has emerged ..."

Read the full story:
Half a million could lose disability benefits

cosmic-dust · 15 May 2012 at 11:43AM

The majority will probably be those on LRC and LRM. I'm pretty sure I have read that there will no longer be low rates when PIP comes into force.

I see no problem with people being re-assessed.

Suarez · 15 May 2012 at 11:53AM

The fact that some people haven't even had an assessment is scandalous!

Credit-Crunched · 15 May 2012 at 11:55AM

I see this as a positive, those that deserve and need help get it, those who dont that are lazy and playing the system dont.

Seems fair to me.

clemmatis · 15 May 2012 at 11:57AM

I doubt they can save that much just by abolishing LRC. My MP (who sat on the Commons Committee) thinks a fairly large number of LRC claimants will get the new Standard Rate PIP. But yes, very many people who qualified fully for LRC DLA will not qualify for PIP.

DLA has two rates for mobility, so does PIP. Some people on DLA LRM will get Standard Rate Mobility PIP. The saving on mobility will come largely from moving people down from HRM DLA to Standard Rate PIP.

Re-assessments, already in the DLA system, could have been expanded/more fully implemented, without introducing PIP.

Invalidation · 15 May 2012 at 12:09PM

The system is still flawed..
I was adjudged 'Disabled for life' with a degenerative back condition in 1993, I was then examined at home by a DLA Doctor who also stated I was DFL and should not do any work as I could be a danger to others as I fall a lot, yet I am still to be made to take another medical? (or pseudo medical as it isnt a medical at all). My condition is 'Degenerative' NOT REgenerative. It aint gonna get better and it isnt.

MacMickster · 15 May 2012 at 12:27PM

I'm sure that both the old and new systems could be made to work, but would need a much more detailed face to face assessment to understand each claimant's needs.

I don't see, for example, how the ability to walk 50 metres should determine the amount of money someone receives. If they have a bus stop outside their front door and shops next door to their house, then someone who can walk only 50 metres may need far less help than someone who can walk 200 metres, but lives a quarter of a mile from any amenities.

Also, those with variable conditions may be able to get about and work for 3 weeks out of 4 (albeit with difficulty) but would need to pay for taxis the other week when their condition is worse.

Until a much better system of assessment is devised then there are always going to be one group of people who benefit from unnecessary financial assistance whilst another don't receive assistance which is actually neededto enable them to cope with their disability. The question is where we draw the line, and how many people we are prepared to consign to the latter group to prevent people falling into the former, or vice versa.

wathowl · 15 May 2012 at 12:29PM

The D.W.P says that fraudulent claims for this benefit runat around 0.05% yet around 20% of the number of claimants will be cut from thebenefit, why? because call me Dave and his pals think any government spending is wrong, disabled people are an easy target, I like most of the people onD.L.A have been through at least one medical, all claimants GP's and consultants are sent a form to complete describing the claimants disability and how it affects them no one has been given a life time award since the90's your now given an award for an indefinate period I have reached the stage where I will have start dialysis in the next few weeks this along with my other major disabilities are all organic (simple blood tests prove all my disabilities) and like most people suffering from my disabilities it is well know how it affects us in the medical community, will this stop people losing their lifeline? No do I wish there was a miracle cure that would make me well again? Of course I do I would trade my benefits tomorrow for a cure, I work full time as a self-employed person as and when I am not sat in hospitals.

Take last week two full days waiting in hospital waiting rooms for treatment this week just one full day, next week five appointments to see different consultants, the week after admission to have my fistula done so that I can start dialysis, plus two further appointments to see consultants, then when I start my dialysis three half days a week to have the dialysis, plus at least two appointments for treatment for my other conditions per week the rest of the week is spent trying to earn a living, I lost £40.00 when they altered working tax credit last month, I would be around £38.00 a week better off if I stopped my self-employment and went back on benefits and now I live in fear of losing my D.L.A. which will mean I am housebound as my car would go we already know that the Invalidity benefit (I.V.B.) reviews have resulted in 100’s of thousands losing I.V.B. and that of the ones appealing around half of them win back their benefit on appeal only for them to be sent back for a ATOS review which again removes the benefit some people are on to their fourth review it’s like a war of attrition.

So yes we live in fear of a bungling like the ATOS medicals have been, we hear Duncan Smith talking about soldiers who have lost limbs inconflicts fighting for Queen and Country being told that if they have an artificial limb then they don’t need Mobility component of the D.L.A.

I am all for stopping fraud but we know that this governmentis not interested in fraud they are interested in cutting the total number ofclaimants by 20% while cutting the top rate of tax to around 14000 pepole by four hundred pouds a week, yes we are all in this together.

rogerblack · 15 May 2012 at 12:34PM

The 30% figure is a headline-grabbing lie.

Yes, DLA has increased 30% in the last years.
This is due to several factors - not widespread fraud - which is estimated by the DWP at 0.5% - but a combination of demographic shifts and other things.

The population is getting older.
People entitled to DLA at age 65 are not reassessed.
Young people with severe disabilities are surviving longer.

It's only working age claimants that will be affected by PIP.
The rise in working age claimants is 16%.

In addition.
70% are not 'lifetime' awards - they are indefinite awards.

These are not scheduled for review - but can be reviewed at any time by the DWP, or when the claimant reports a change in their condition.
'But who would do that' - I note the 0.5% fraud figure.

Criticising lifetime awards, without recognising that lifetime needs occur is insane.

Broke_n_Broken · 15 May 2012 at 1:04PM

DIDN'T YOU KNOW???

All disabled people are lying, cheating, benefit scrounging scum.

Not one disabled person works.
They are all happy to sit on their backsides raking in thousands of pounds a week!

All disabled people are experienced fraudsters, with law degrees, who dedicate their lives to cheating the poor defenceless government out of tax payers hard earned money.

Some even chew through their own arm or leg so they can claim more money!

The poor, underpaid ministers, who work their backsides off 52 weeks a year are trying their bestest, to defend the tax payer.
Spending their own meager salary & never claiming benefits or expenses they are committed to reducing taxes for all hard working bankers!
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

DomRavioli · 15 May 2012 at 1:20PM

I receive DLA, and I am more than happy to be assessed or re-assessed. The way I see it is that I have nothing to hide, and would give the world not to be disabled. If it makes people who don't need the help no longer have it, then so be it.

MSE News: Half a million could lose disability benefits

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