Welfare Revolution

hamstercheeks_2

The other post about welfare reform was going off at a tangent. This gives more information re figures etc, hope this helps

Labour wants one million back at work... but will welfare revolution benefit you?

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By Damien Fletcher 28/10/2008
It's the biggest benefits shakeup in half a century.
More than 2.6 million people on Incapacity Benefit will see their payments replaced by a new Employment and Support Allowance.
Ministers say the new system will help as many as a million people back into work, and crack down on false claimants.
However critics say that vulnerable people will lose out.
So what does it all mean for you?
WHAT'S CHANGING?
From this week the new Employment and Support Allowance replaces the old incapacity benefits system. New claimants may receive ESA instead of Incapacity Benefit and Income Support.
WHO QUALIFIES?
Anyone who cannot work due to ill-health or disability.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Esa money is paid to people in return for undertaking workfocused interviews and, when possible, a work-related activity, such as a training course.
If you make a claim, within a few weeks you'll be asked to go for a medical assessment to see if you're eligible for the new benefit.
Catherine Torazzo of the Citizen's Advice Bureau says: "The Government says it is designed to look at what people can do rather than what they can't, and to ensure those who can work are given help and support to get back to work, making sure nobody is written off and consigned to a life on benefits."
SO HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?
The Work Capability Assessment is a face-to-face meeting, lasting up to 75 minutes, exploring how any illness or disability affects your ability to work.
It's made up of three parts and will assess what you are able to do, rather than - as was previously the case - what you cannot.
HOW MUCH MONEY WILL I GET IF I CLAIM ESA?
During the first 13 weeks you will be assessed to find out whether you can work and you will get a basic of £60.50 a week. After that, those with the most severe disabilities and the least welloff will get a minimum of £102.10 a week. The exact amount of ESA you get depends on age, family circumstances and whether you have paid national insurance contributions.
WHAT OTHER BENEFITS CAN I CLAIM?
You can claim housing benefit, council tax benefit and disability living allowance if you are severely disabled - but not Jobseeker's Allowance.
HOW DO I CLAIM?
By calling JobCentre Plus on 0800 055 6688 or textphone 0800 023 4888. Or you can visit https://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
WHY HAS THE GOVERNMENT BROUGHT IN THE NEW SYSTEM?
Lynn Eccles of the Department for Work and Pensions says: "In Great Britain, over 2.6 million people depend on incapacity benefits, and yet nine out of 10 new customers tell us that they want to return to work.
"With the introduction of Employment and Support Allowance we are improving the package of support to help people return to the workplace.
"There is also evidence which shows that being out of work can contribute to poor health, whereas being in work can deliver real benefits and self esteem."
SO WHY ARE SOME PEOPLE COMPLAINING?
The Child Poverty Action Group says it will result in more hardship for thousands. CPAG's Paul Dornan says: "Government commitments that claimants would not receive lower amounts on the new benefit have not been kept for all groups.
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"We have also not seen sufficient emphasis to encourage employers to open up decent job opportunities while the recession means fewer jobs for people to move into."
WILL I BE PUNISHED IF I REFUSE TO ATTEND TRAINING SESSIONS?
Yes. With the exception of those who are so severely disabled, you must attend and apply for jobs.
I'M ALREADY ON INCAPACITY BENEFIT. HOW WILL ALL THIS AFFECT ME?
All new claimants will be assessed under the new system but people already claiming will be affected too.
Catherine Torazzo says: "Anyone already claiming incapacity benefits will not see a change straight away.
"And there are proposals regarding people who are still unemployed after a long period of time, more than two years, to ask them to work for their benefits. But they will be assessed under the new scheme when they have their reviews from 2010."
I HAVE JUST LOST MY JOB, WHAT BENEFITS CAN I CLAIM?
If you are sick or disabled, you may be able to get ESA. Otherwise you may receive Jobseeker's Allowance.
UNEMPLOYMENT IS RISING - WILL THIS MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
The Government claims it will help get more people into work, even as jobless numbers increase.
Lynn Eccles says: "These changes are even more important now because it's about making sure people are ready for a job when it becomes available.
"By ensuring people are working on their CVs and improving skills, we are improving their chances of finding work."
I'M A SINGLE MUM. ARE MY BENEFITS GOING TO CHANGE?
At the moment you can claim Income Support for kids up to 16 but there are plans to drop this to 12, then down to 10 in October 2009 and seven in 2010.
Lynn Eccles says: "At the moment there's no requirement for you to look for work if you're on Income Support, so we're asking lone parents of older children to prepare for work."
ARE THERE ANY OTHER CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM?
Under new rules which also came into force yesterday, parents will no longer be forced to go through the Child Support Agency to get maintenance money.
Instead they can rely on making their own arrangements. They can also keep £20 a week of any maintenance paid before benefits are affected, which is double the previous amount.
CLAIMS IN NUMBERS
2.6million people claim incapacity benefit. The Government wants to get one million of them back to work by 2015
939K Number in UK claiming Jobseeker's Allowance
742K lone parents claim income Support
300,000 lone parents will be affected by the changes to the benefit system
It is designed to look at what people can do, rather than what they can't

healy

This needs to be locked or moved to discussions otherwise there will be a repeat of yesterdays nonsense.

emweaver

Is there any more info for ppl already on incapacity benefit? Im confused as to what it means for me

[Deleted User]

emweaver wrote: »

Is there any more info for ppl already on incapacity benefit? Im confused as to what it means for me

TBH the goal post seem to be moving every week,but it still appears that current claimants wont see any change till 2010,remember there are 2.6 million on I/B and the new work capability medical takes 75 minutes per customer
But whatever the time scale its still true to say that the govt are picking on those least able to defend themselves:mad: :mad: :mad:

pipkin71

hamstercheeks wrote: »

I'M A SINGLE MUM. ARE MY BENEFITS GOING TO CHANGE?
At the moment you can claim Income Support for kids up to 16 but there are plans to drop this to 12, then down to 10 in October 2009 and seven in 2010.
Lynn Eccles says: "At the moment there's no requirement for you to look for work if you're on Income Support, so we're asking lone parents of older children to prepare for work."

From what I have been told, on 30th October, there will be a be a discussion on the proposals to see lone parents back into work once the youngest reaches 12, by the Sixth Delegated Legislation Committee. It will then go before both Houses of Parliament.

Following the Social Services Advisory Committee consultation, it has been recommended by SSAC that the Government do not go ahead with these proposals.

From the SSAC recommedations:

Overall the Committee recommended that the Government does not proceed with the regulations, primarily due to the concerns members had about the appropriateness of the JSA regime and increased conditionality for lone parents.
The Committee did, however, recommend that should the Government decide to proceed, further consideration should be given to the implementation of the regulations.

A House of Lords [Merits of Statutory Instruments] committee has also discusssed this and produced a fairly critical report. They are also asking for clarification about the practicalities of how the system will operate and whether it is feasible particularly in how it relates to wrap-around childcare. They also felt the proposals, in relation to younger children, those with special needs and those being educated at home were contentious.

Of course, the Government can still go ahead with this, despite objections, so it will be interesting to see whether it passes once it goes before both houses.

Pipkin xxxx

Gemmzie

This doesn't belong here

Jenna_Appleseed

welfare reform opposition reaches fever pitch


Petition for a better welfare state