ESA Cuts.

flipperni

ESA being cut by £30 per week for new claiments, how can this be justified? How are people going to be able to survive with such a big cut.

KxMx

I encourage anyone as disgusted with this change as I am to get writing to various MP's.

rogerblack

As posted elsewhere - it's policy making based on the sound-bite.
"ESA is two groups, one support group for the most disabled, and the other for those who are likely to be able to work in the near future".

On the basis of this, the recent decisions - limiting contributory payment of ESA in the work related group to one year as well as this latest announcement - make sense.

'71% of people in the work-related group want to work' says the chancellor.
Great.
Now how many of them actually can do meaningful work with the most helpful employer, without jeopardising their health and costing the NHS more.

'Additional help for people to work, like in job seekers allowance'.
Yes, that's really going to help someone who got ESA because they can barely understand simple messages most of the time, and are exhausted to the point of being unsafe by 45 minutes sitting down and paying attention get into employment.

It needs at the least to be combined with a change in the criteria so that this reduction can only happen when there is a genuine prospect of the person having a significant chance of getting employment.

Disability has real additional costs over and above the costs purely due to that disability.
If I'm long-term sick, I can no longer rely on things I bought when I was better continuing to work for 5 years.
I need to replace clothing that has gotten beyond the pale.
I can't rely on being able to search for bargains as easily as if I was fit.
...

baxie

rogerblack wrote: »

As posted elsewhere - it's policy making based on the sound-bite.
"ESA is two groups, one support group for the most disabled, and the other for those who are likely to be able to work in the near future".
...

Pity they forgot about people that don't fit into either category, for example, do not meet the descriptors for Support Group, but placing them in WRAG is inappropriate because they will probably never work again.

In the efforts to streamline benefits they have missed the target by having two groups that do not cover everyone.

I have mental health issues that mean I will probably not work again, however I get put into WRAG because although my condition is chronic and deteriorating, it will never match the descriptors to get into Support group.

My Work related activity consists of getting a phone call every 6 months and asked how I am, then told they will phone again in 6 months.

When I asked what help is available I was informed I had to be well enough to work before they could tell me.

As to the reduction for new claimants, do the governement have secret knowledge that illnesses and disabilities will become easier and cheaper to deal with?

bclrx

You mean like me I've been in the WRAG for almost 4 years now. And I'm petrified. Will any assessment mean that it's a new claim?

rogerblack

bclrx wrote: »

You mean like me I've been in the WRAG for almost 4 years now. And I'm petrified. Will any assessment mean that it's a new claim?

Details have not been published.
In general, it seems likely that this would be for sigificant changes of circumstnce.
So - if you were in the support group, and got somewhat better - you may lose the work-related component.

But if you remain on the work-related group, you would remain entitled.

Laurensalive

Details are being published tomorrow.

LostandAfraid

Some information about the esa cuts here from MIND.

http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/your-stories/budget-2015-how-it-affects-you/#.VZ7N4PlUJS7

I am not great with links so sorry if it comes up huge,although MIND are for mental health the information will apply to all.

A reasessment will not be a new claim even if you go from support group down to wrag according to them,hope it helps someone.

faerielight

thanks Lost and Afraid.. that is the most helpful guide I've read yet