Meeting with MP

cit_k

quick update - the dwp are apparently allowing recording (tcell.org.uk for more details) - but still worth asking - but this could mean the reply about the police helping investigate atos is whitewashed with a reply along the lines of "but the dwp now allow recording so their is no need for official undercover police recording to take place".

You can counter that with - yes - BUT when the DWP get atos to record, they dont use LIMA (the software (and you have to wonder what they have to hide...)) and also the assessor is pre-warned to be on best behaviour, so its still vital to investigate undercover.

Tobermory

"The biggest change is for couples with children who can currently get working tax credit if at least one partner works at least 16 hours a week.
From April 2012, such couples will have to work at least 24 hours a week, with one partner working at least 16 hours."

Please could you query the fairness of this change to WTC where one/both partners are disabled/Carer and therefore only one can work, and not necessarily more then 16 hours.

Someone eligible for Carers allowance would need to work 30+24=54 hours a week to qualify for WTC !

24 hours at Minimum wage would take them over the £100 threshold so they would lose Carers' Allowance.

Thank you.

pwales_2

Tobermory wrote: »

"The biggest change is for couples with children who can currently get working tax credit if at least one partner works at least 16 hours a week.
From April 2012, such couples will have to work at least 24 hours a week, with one partner working at least 16 hours."

Please could you query the fairness of this change to WTC where one/both partners are disabled/Carer and therefore only one can work, and not necessarily more then 16 hours.

Someone eligible for Carers allowance would need to work 30+24=54 hours a week to qualify for WTC !

24 hours at Minimum wage would take them over the £100 threshold so they would lose Carers' Allowance.

Thank you.

thank you !
i have been asking the same question on here but nobody seemed to get the implication and how it effecteds a couple with 1 disabled.
i have emailed my mp about this but have had no reply i emailed 2 days after the spending review

Tobermory

And a more general question on behalf of Carers: What is the future of the Carer's Allowance ?

Will it be included in the Universal Credit, and if so will it be means tested (either on income/assets) - this could lead to a loss of not only of what is sometimes a Carer's only regular income, but also their entitlement to National Insurance Credits towards their State Pension.

If it remains as a separate 'benefit', will there be any progress towards increasing the amount paid nearer to a 'minimum wage' for what is 30+ hours work a week.

Edited after a point made by IDS on the BBC just now: It seems the emphasis is to 'make it easier for Carers to balance their work hours with their care hours' - an honourable idea, however I worry that they do not appreciate that for many Carers this is not a choice and they are fully employed, 24/7, with their caring role and cannot take on additional paid work.

Edited again (sorry), after reading the Welfare Reform White Paper: There is a note on Carers' Allowance that needs to be clarified/followed up on -

"The Government is carefully considering whether changes to Carer’s Allowance will be necessary to take account of the introduction of Universal Credit and provide clearer, more effective support for carers"

???

dmg24

Touching on something bertiebat has asked - Why will there not be transitional protection for those on IB who get migrated into the WRAG? Previously when a benefit has been remodelled, those on the earlier benefit have been protected from fundamental changes (such as those on IB* prior to the pension income rules). Following this rationale, those currently on IB should be allowed to remain on CB ESA in the WRAG for as long as they qualify.

* Or was it IVB moving onto IB?

Looking towards the Universal Benefit, how will SMI be treated? Is there a reason why a discretionary fund has not been implemented for those affected by the change in calculation, or indeed why there is not such a fund for all claimants, in the same way as with LHA?

To expand on the above, there are significant differences between SMI, HB and LHA that are unfair. Those on SMI are limited to claiming at an IR that is below what the average benefit claimant is likely to claiming. The BofE average rate does not take into account that claimants will not have access to most of the better rates, and many will be tied into higher fixed rates. Those on LHA have a discretionary fund to top up any gap between their benefit payment and their actually rent. Whilst this fund is intended to be a short term measure, there are cases where it has been paid for years. Probably most unfair is that those in social housing get their full rent considered, irrespective of whether the size of property is suitable for the claimant.

It would be interesting to know what the true average interest rate paid by those claiming SMI is, and also what the budget impact would be if those living in social housing paid market rents and/ or were assessed according to LHA criteria (perhaps with a lower allowance to take into account the lower rents). I would imagine that the latter would be pretty massive. All of these questions are answerable, albeit not immediately.

Hope that makes sense. There are lots more things I could usually think of, but I have major brain fog at the mo.

cit_k

dmg24 wrote: »

Touching on something bertiebat has asked - will there be transitional protection for those on IB who get migrated into the WRAG? Previously when a benefit has been remodelled, those on the earlier benefit have been protected from fundamental changes (such as those on IB* prior to the pension income rules). Following this rationale, those currently on IB should be allowed to remain on CB ESA in the WRAG for as long as they qualify.

Unfortunately not.. Those on IB who are migrated to contributory ESA will be booted of the benefit at the end of 12 months.

Direct from the DWP themselves - read more here.

edit to add: just to avoid confusion for any readers in teh future, this only applies to those in the wrag on contributory esa.

dmg24

cit_k wrote: »

Unfortunately not.. Those on IB who are migrated to contributory ESA will be booted of the benefit at the end of 12 months.

Direct from the DWP themselves - read more here.

In that case, I'll edit my question to why.

JS477

cit_k wrote: »

Unfortunately not.. Those on IB who are migrated to contributory ESA will be booted of the benefit at the end of 12 months.

Direct from the DWP themselves - read more here.

edit to add: just to avoid confusion for any readers in teh future, this only applies to those in the wrag on contributory esa.

A ray of hope exists in the current White Paper on Welfare Reform for those finding themselves in the WRAG of CB ESA viz.

"However, for those in the assessment phase and those assessed as being in the Work Related Activity Group their Contributory Employment and Support Allowance will now be time-limited to a maximum of one year. After this time, qualifying recipients may be able to receive Universal Credit instead"

Broken_hearted

Tobermory wrote: »

"The biggest change is for couples with children who can currently get working tax credit if at least one partner works at least 16 hours a week.
From April 2012, such couples will have to work at least 24 hours a week, with one partner working at least 16 hours."

Please could you query the fairness of this change to WTC where one/both partners are disabled/Carer and therefore only one can work, and not necessarily more then 16 hours.

Someone eligible for Carers allowance would need to work 30+24=54 hours a week to qualify for WTC !

24 hours at Minimum wage would take them over the £100 threshold so they would lose Carers' Allowance.

Thank you.

Yes please would love to know, carers are in a similar situation to single parents so should have the same rights.

Tobermory

How did the meeting go John ?