Universal Credit - New WCA Rules

HillStreetBlues

Muttleythefrog said:

Interestingly the government thinks (and states so with regard planned changes) working can be beneficial to people's mental health (there is little doubt that for many that would be true)... but they seem to have missed the idea that leaving the home can be beneficial to people's mental health (and there is little doubt that for many that would be true). I'm one of those who has fought for well over a decade to try to get out more... last thing I need is another solid reason not to like homeworking... but of course at the heart of these changes is not the wellbeing of the disabled and sick.. it's saving money and getting more into work.

In line with what Robbie says I would add... there seems to be a seriously flawed assumption that the home is where people will suffer less disability in relation to work.... I can't imagine I'd be the only outlier in that it is the home itself which is the most disabling factor in my life... despite severe mental health related problems out of the home they remain far less impacting than those within it.... so bad that in recent times despite having my own home and wife/carer in it I spent time sleeping in woodland to survive. Environment is a key driver of many illnesses and symptoms experienced... it is a significant determinant of disability... but changes to the WCA seem to look only one directionally at that in assuming home working is a safer (important a consideration given the specific changes to 'substantial risk - LCWRA' criteria) less disabling place.

I agree.
Also the opposite can be true. A home can be the only place a disabled person feels safe, away from the pressures of the world outside. Bring work into that place, then home just becomes part of the outside world.

tifo

There's always the possibility that an incoming (IF) labour govt could change this policy  .....

HillStreetBlues

tifo said:

There's always the possibility that an incoming (IF) labour govt could change this policy  .....

That is what many of us are keeping our eyes on.
Considering over 1/3 million disabled people will be worse off under this proposed policy by this Government, it's very hard to see any other proposed policy being worse (but of course it could happen).
So in reality it will be down how much of an improvement (in financial terms, as that is what this site is about) any currently unknown policy will be.

As per forum rules not saying the rights or wrongs of any policy  just the financial implications that any policy could involve.