Anyone else worried about the ESA time limit changes?

Cpt.Scarlet

signis wrote: »

It's not difficult to understand really. What would you think that the vast number of the public would say if you put this thread to them?

I would like to think, that unlike you, they would say that those who qualify for benefits, should receive them.

Now you'll have to forgive me, I've tried several times to explain, in increasingly simple language how the system actually works rather than how you believe it should and I've run out of ways to so.

I hope for your sake you never end up needing to use the system, because I fear you will suffer badly.

heater

Signis,

YOU are getting a little annoyed?!! EQUALITY IS NOT PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT. Additionally, you appear to make a lot of generalisations about people in receipt of sickness benefits. IB and ESA have never been seen in the same light as unemployment benefit. Contributory Unemployment Benefit was paid for up to one year. In October 1996, contributory Unemployment Benefit became contributory JSA which was only ever paid for 182 days. The time limit therefore seems to have been there since the start and was inherent to the new benefit. Conversely contributory Invalidity Benefit and Incapacity Benefit have never been subject to time limiting. And rightly so. There is a vast difference between someone on benefits who is able to work and can be confident of a productive future ahead of them and someone on benefits who is sick and does not feel able to work or indeed someone who could perhaps do some work with support but would have to show a poor health record and/or huge gaps in their employment history to a prospective employer. All this is without taking into account the greater expense of being disabled that are often too costly to be covered by even the highest rates of DLA.
Why shouldn’t people be believed when they put their signature to an official form? I can think of no other arena where people are treated with as much suspicion and interrogation, having filled a form in. Fraud with regard to the benefits system actually constitutes a very small percentage of people in spite of what we are lead to believe by certain sections of the media. A little empathy, understanding and tolerance wouldn’t go amiss for those in a less fortunate position than yourself.

However I refuse to allow you to distract forum members from the important matter in hand which is as follows.
Disabled people are finally receiving some support from Labour and the LibDems. Please write to your MP as soon as possible and ask them to sign EDM 1791
Early day motion 1791
» Session: 2010-11
» Date tabled: 11.05.2011
» Primary sponsor: Sarwar, Anas
» Sponsors:
» Durkan, Mark
» Russell, Bob
That this House believes that it is the sign of a responsible society that it supports disabled people to lead an independent and fulfilling life; further believes that, while reform is needed, the Government’s current plans are causing unnecessary uncertainty and creating risks for disabled people up and down the country; further believes that the Government has failed to appreciate the cumulative impact of the changes it is proposing; further believes that ill-thought through reform of disability benefits could push thousands of disabled people into poverty; considers it irresponsible to time limit to one year the payment of contributory employment and support allowance which will affect people suffering from cancer and fluctuating conditions; calls on the Government to abandon plans to remove the mobility component of disability living allowance from 80,000 people in residential care homes; further calls on the Government to retain automatic entitlement for people who have severe impairments, meaning that blind people, the mentally impaired and double amputees will not have to face the distress of applying for support that they genuinely need; expresses serious concern that 100,000 families with disabled children will see their support halved as a result of the decision to replace the disability element of child tax credit; and further believes that disabled people should have to wait only three months rather than six months before they can apply for the new personal independence payment.
　
　

heater

signis wrote: »

Err sorry there are very few exemptions!

I haven't worked for 2 years + and have no intention of going back to work due to illness and disability.
My GP certified that to the insurance companies involved and within weeks the policies kicked in. They will pay out until I get to my OAP in 3 years time. After that, and providing the GP will again confirm my condition, they will continue until I am 75.

The payments are equal to 75% of my highest earnings in the last three years before I was sick up lifted annually by the rate of inflation.

I took responsibility for my own life and not expected others to pay for it!

I presume from the lack of comment about the old IB system, you would expect ESA to follow the same lines? Continual payment for as many years as you can get sick notes for irrespective of whether or not there is any improvement however slight it may be. A life on the sick - why not! And expecting me to fund it!!! You have a cheek!

Hold on a minute, you haven't worked for 2 years because of sickness and have no intention of going back! It's you who has the cheek! You expect others to be well enough to get off ESA and back to work after a year and you call people for apparently being happy to stay on benefits and yet you appear to have no intention of getting better and are relying on insurance company payouts and looking ahead to drawing a pension. Unbelievable! I wonder how you would feel if your GP suddenly decides that there you could work but you didn't feel able to?

Supernatural

I know we shouldn't rise to it... but pardon me for unexpectedly going a bit blind prematurely before I sorted out my insurance. Whoops, my bad.

Seriously, there but for the grace of god go I, and all that.

heater

heater wrote: »

Hi AWindsor

Welcome to the forum! It may be worthwhile making an appointment to see your MP and explaining your case to them. Some Labour MPs are contesting the ESA time limit and they can always do with case studies to back up their arguments. However if your MP is Tory or Liberal you will be wasting your time.

I stand corrected. EDM 1791 has so far attracted 52 signatures, the majority of whom are Labour MPs but there is one Conservative MP and a few Lib Dems. Please everyone ask your MP to sign EDM 1791 asap - the EDM contains the clause "considers it irresponsible to time limit to one year the payment of contributory employment and support allowance which will affect people suffering from cancer and fluctuating conditions;"

pinklady21

Thanks Heater for bringing this one up - I have sent an email to my MP to ask him to sign the EDM. Fingers crossed!

heater

EDM 1791
60 signatures so far!

pinklady21

Mine still hasn't signed.... must chivvy him up!

heater

Stop the proposal to time limit contributory Employment and Support Allowance now!

Please go to http://www.38degrees.org.uk. On the right hand side, click on“Community: What should we campaign on next?” Find gaskel’s comment and like!

heater

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked Professor Harrington to undertake a second independent review of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). As part of this process, Professor Harrington has launched a call for evidence to gather information from a wide variety of stakeholders on the WCA. I strongly invite you to contribute to the call for evidence by submitting evidence relevant to the questions asked in the document.
The call for evidence and can be found at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2011/wca-call-for-evidence.shtml.
The closing date for the call for evidence is 16 September 2011 – please send your responses to [EMAIL="wca.evidence@dwp.gsi.gov.uk"]wca.evidence@dwp.gsi.gov.uk[/EMAIL] (or hard copies to: WCA Independent Review Team, Floor 2, Section B, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA) by then.