Attn : rogerblack, and others

dori2o

equitable wrote: »

Esther McVey MP - Minister for Disabled People - 03 January 2013

‘Reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner’ We note that the terms ‘reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner’ have been reworded, are not contained within the regulations, and are now intended to be included within the assessment guidance.

"When such terms are only included in guidance, they are not
applied to the descriptors during the assessment process"

"It is vital to establish whether the terms are being used accurately or even at all"

"We note that the terms ‘reliably, repeatedly, safely and in a timely manner’ have been reworded, are not contained within the regulations, and are now intended to be included within the assessment guidance"

"Whether a person with the condition can undertake an activity reliably and is especially important to assessing an individual’s capacity to move around"

Esther McVey MP - Minister for Disabled People Tuesday 5 February 2013

If individuals can walk more than 20 metres, but cannot do so in a way that is safe, repeatable and reliable, they should receive 12 points and the enhanced rate

Taken from the Hansard, dated 7th February

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason the requirement that individuals should be able to perform tasks reliably, safely, repeatedly and in a timely manner in terms of those who will undertake mobility disability assessments has been removed from the draft Personal Independence Payments scheme. [141922]

Esther McVey: We have always been clear that the assessment for Personal Independence Payment should not just consider whether an individual can complete an activity, but the manner in which they do so. This has always been a key principle of the assessment and will remain so.
Originally we had intended to include this in the guidance; however, recognising the strength of feeling on this important safeguard, the Government has agreed to include it in regulations. We will lay an amending regulation once the main PIP entitlement regulations are made by Parliament, ensuring that the change is included before the PIP regulations come into force from 8 April.

Richie-from-the-Boro

dori2o wrote: »

Taken from the Hansard, dated 7th February

HiYa dori2o,

I don't understand your #32 post - what does it mean ?

dori2o

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

HiYa dori2o,

I don't understand your #32 post - what does it mean ?

It's the latest commons debate (7 February) where Esther McVey confirmed that the words Safely, repeatedly and reliably would be included in the regulations and not just the guidance. Despite this confirmation it seems that, as per the information you posted, this is not the case..

Richie-from-the-Boro

dori2o wrote: »

It's the latest commons debate (7 February) where Esther McVey confirmed that the words Safely, repeatedly and reliably would be included in the regulations and not just the guidance. Despite this confirmation it seems that, as per the information you posted, this is not the case..

Fair comment, I didn't see that entry. We will see if it is included before the PIP regulations come into force from 8 April. The we will see if the PIP Assessment Guide changes the two different contradictory rules. Then we will see how case law interprets it - I hope it and you are correct.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Fresh 'stats' update just today, if you believe them. I am aware they have been completely removing existing stat tables [ literally including night-shift working] for almost a fortnight, and replacing them with a brand new 'replacement' set. Simultaneously followed by bile filled - disability articles in both the Sun and the Daily Mail. Joseph Goebbels would be proud of these REDTOPS.

- “If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.” - Joseph Goebbels

- “The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it.” - Joseph Goebbels, Die Tagebücher. Geschichte & Vermarktung

- “Think of the press as a great keyboard on which the government can play.” - Joseph Goebbels

- “Success is the important thing. Propaganda is not a matter for average minds, but rather a matter for practitioners. It is not supposed to be lovely or theoretically correct. I do not care if I give wonderful, aesthetically elegant speeches, or speak so that women cry. The point of a political speech is to persuade people of what we think right. I speak differently in the provinces than I do in Berlin, and when I speak in Bayreuth, I say different things than I say in the Pharus Hall. That is a matter of practice, not of theory. We do not want to be a movement of a few straw brains, but rather a movement that can conquer the broad masses. Propaganda should be popular, not intellectually pleasing. It is not the task of propaganda to discover intellectual truths.” - Joseph Goebbels

- “Our starting point is not the individual: We do not subscribe to the view that one should feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, or clothe the naked … Our objectives are different: We must have a healthy people in order to prevail in the world.” - Joseph Goebbels

“If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.” - Joseph Goebbels - WIP - Richie from the Boro

UC when introduced as a necessary cost saving measure in 2010 would cost £2.2 billion.

The GOV Major Public Authority watchdog has awarded the UC programme an amber/red warning - meaning successful delivery of the project is in doubt and urgent action needs to be taken to tackle problems in a number of areas.

Computer experts writing for Computer Weekly have revealed that the DWP's total project cost for introducing Universal Credit has crept up to a hideous £12.8 billion - over six times the original amount of £2.2 billion when it was introduced in to Parliament as a necessary cost saving measure in 2010.

The Impact Assessment for Universal Credit is here is says additional taxpayer costs will be £0.3 bi££ion with a projected saving of £0.7 bi££ion - where hidden in these words is the is the £12.8 bi££ion real cost ?

Richie-from-the-Boro

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

- before the 2012 turkey is even cold, here's your next years reference library, all in one place - New Regulations, no crystal ball needed.

Already passed and live

ESA [Sanctions][Amendment] Regs 2012 - in force 3rd December 2012
Benefit Cap [HB] Regs 2012- comes into force April 15th 2013
JSA [Sanctions][Amendment] Regs 2012 - in force 22nd October 2012

Draft, not yet passed and not yet live

Social Security [PIP] Regs 2012
Transitional PIP Draft Regs - Dec 2012 - comes into force 8th April] 2013
DLA, AA and CA Draft Amendment Regs - Dec 2012
UC Regs - comes into force April 29th 2013
UC [Transitional Provisions] Regs comes into force April 29th 2013
JSA Regs - comes into force April 29th 2013
ESA Regs - comes into force April 29th 2013
UC, PIP JSA & ESA [Decisions and Appeals] Regs 2013
Social Security [Payments on Account of Benefit] Regs 2013
HB [Amendment] Regs 2012
UC, PIP and Working-age Benefits [Claims and Payments] Regs 2012
PIP [still draft proposed] Assessment Criteria

Draft PIP claim forms released Feb 2013, standard letters and other resources :

- forms are here
- standard letters (notifications) are here
- individuals check how Personal Independence Payment affects you tool, here
- 'organisational’ - ‘toolkit here

Updates from HOC & HOL Library released Feb 2013 - relevant to the above :

The Housing Element of UC - Last updated: 6 February 2013
The State Pension Uprating 2010 onwards - Last updated:7 February 2013
The Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill - Last updated: 6 February 2013

Just what does all this mean in £sd terms

Overview and in my view the greatest mind in accurate guesstimates evidenced over the years thinks this is what will be the real-world outcome

---

Update & bump 28th March '13

Social housing in general, changes starting in April '13 include :

.1. 1st April central GOV are abolishing Council Tax Benefit and replacing it with a local Council Tax Support Scheme called Council Tax Reduction [CTR] meaning councils will no longer be able to pay the same level of help as they currently do.

Working age people will have to pay at least 20% of the liability shown on their bill. If you currently receive Council Tax you do not need to do anything the CTR assessment will be worked out for you. If your circumstances change you will need to re-apply for CTR. If you are pensionable or above age none of the above applies to you.

To meet the shortfall in Council Tax support you council may make changes to second homes [50% charge] / empty properties / 24 month rule [150% charge] empty properties and structural repair properties.

.2. Bedroom Tax. From April 1st you are of working age and are living in a Registered Housing Association property, you are classed as under occupying if you have more bedrooms than you need. You need one bedroom each for :

- adults aged 16+
- and adult couple
- 2 same sex children 16 -
- 2 children under the age of 10 gender regardless
- a single child [if you only have 1]
- a carer or carers, who do not live with you, but provide care for you or your partner or your partner
- there are 2 rates, 1 extra bedroom 14% of the total rent, 2 extra bedrooms 25% of the total rent

.3. DLA / PIP a two part [daily living & mobility] starts its transition from 1st April '13 - nuff said already.

.4. Benefit Cap From April '13 a limit to the aount of benefits you can get will be put on working age [16-64] people. Exact dates will be put out by each LA when they are confirmed by central GOV.

If you already get benefits, and could be affected by the cap - expect to hear from the DWP. The general level of the cap will be :

- £500pw for couples [with or without children living with them]
- £500pw for single parents [with children living with them]
- £350pw for single adults [who don't have children or whose children don't live with them]

You wont be affected by the benefit cap if you get Working Tax Credit or any of the following :

- DLA
- PIP
- AA
- IIB / WDP / AFCS
- ESA if you get the support componant
- war widows or war widows pension

If you are pensionable or above age none of the above in .4. applies to you.

Justiceforme

Hi are you a trained or qualified benefits advisor?
You seen to have a good knowledge about the benefits system.
I need some advice regarding the above topic.
Can you direct to any specified sites that are Law based but easy
enough follow?


With thanks

rogerblack

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

.1. 1st April central GOV are abolishing Council Tax Benefit and replacing it with a local Council Tax Support Scheme called Council Tax Reduction [CTR] meaning councils will no longer be able to pay the same level of help as they currently do.<snip>

If you are pensionable or above age none of the above in .4. applies to you.

In Scotland, most of the CTB changes do not happen this year.
It's unclear what happens next year - some indications are that funding will face an even sharper drop for Scotland than the rest of the country - meaning that either the Scottish government/councils will need to subsidise this to a much larger degree, or impose similar schemes.

It's my understanding that mixed age couples - for example, one partner of pensionable age, one 5 years below, may face the benefit cap.

Richie-from-the-Boro

David Pitchford, the captain [£200,000 p.a - Universal Credit ] resigns an hour ago, anyone left to steer this [STRIKE]stinking[/STRIKE] sinking ship ?

Richie-from-the-Boro

Update on appeals costs

More than 1.2 million cases involving claims for disability and unemployment allowances have been taken to the special tribunals since April 2010, latest Ministry of Justice data reveals.

With each case costing an average £377 to process, according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Act, the bill has been £475million.

Rising unemployment, a large backlog and confusion over welfare reforms and controversial work capability assessments mean that the figure is forecast to hit nearly £1billion by the end of this Parliament in 2015. The numbers were compiled by researchers at ilegal, the internet forum for law specialists.

Worried campaigners paint a picture of chaos with tribunal judges bogged down by paperwork while welfare claimants are frequently having to suffer long waits for justice.

Court buildings previously earmarked for partial closure under the Government’s cost-cutting programme have had to be reopened to house the tribunals due to lack of space elsewhere.