Cable Forum - The state benefits system mega-thread.

The changes (ESA and PIP) were brought about to reduce costs, including fraud. But the method has been too harsh, punishing the innocent along with the guilty. And it's costing them (us) more.

The wait for Tribunals, which often overturn the DWP's decisions, are rapidly rising. 18 months in some areas, so the DWP wants Tribunals to be switched to online. Imagine waiting 18 months to fight your case, unable to work, unable to claim Benefits, and sometimes all alone with no support, financial or emotional.

That's true, they have put sick & disabled through hell these past few years, it is costing the taxpayer more and people have had their support cut or stopped completely.

Government figures show that fraud for these benefits are less than half a per cent of all claims running live on the system. Efforts to weed out fraud have been made by every Government since Major, starting with the 'Benefits Integrity Project'. Each time, the vast amount of payments have been found to be correct, with a small number being overpaid and a small number being underpaid, so the net benefit (after administration costs) has actually cost the taxpayer more. As a result thousands of people have died, either through starvation or suicide.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34074557

Cameron then moved the goalposts and then proclaimed how many claims were not legitimate because his new rules meant people were now being disallowed their benefits on review.

I didn't realise that the backlog was so large for appeals, it's a disgrace. Figures show that appeals not carried out in the prescence of the claimant are less likely to succeed- I think that this is why this is being done.

denphone

05-03-2019 19:57

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.

Amber Rudd to scrap benefit reassessments for disabled pensioners in welfare shake-up.

https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk...ments-disabled

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...port?CMP=fb_gu

Quote:

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says that around 270,000 disabled pensioners will be affected from spring of this year, when the move is to be rolled out.

Quote:

Answering another question, Rudd also confirmed the benefits freeze would end after next year, as indicated by figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility.

jfman

05-03-2019 20:15

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.

Nice bribe for people in an age group more likely to vote Conservative.

richard s

05-03-2019 20:27

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.

Not a chance in hell from me.:td:

OLD BOY

05-03-2019 20:29

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard s (Post 35985459)

Not a chance in hell from me.:td:

Manna from heaven wouldn't satisfy you if it was handed over by a Conservative, richard.

RichardCoulter

05-03-2019 20:54

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf (Post 35982189)

Yup, PIP costs 20% more than the DLA system it replaced for working age peoplr and it's rollout is five years behind schedule, not to mention the stress & worry brought about by the changed goalposts and abysmal administration/quality of decision making.

denphone

05-03-2019 20:57

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter (Post 35985467)

Over 70% have won their appeals after being rejected in their initial PIP assessment.

RichardCoulter

05-03-2019 21:06

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35985468)

Over 70% have won their appeals after being rejected in their initial PIP assessment.

Yep. All needless worry for the claimant and extra costs to the taxpayer.

Taf	05-03-2019 21:07

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf (Post 35973162)

Our son's Disabled Bus Pass stopped working.... *SNIP* "driving licence rescinded or refused due to a condition other than alcohol or drug dependency".

I saw the new GP with my son for something else, and he asked if my son had a Disabled Bus Pass. I told him it had been rescinded, so he found a form and filled it out saying that my son would be refused a driving licence, and would need an escort on journeys he did not know well.

Bus Pass reissued, but it has to be renewed every single year. Plus he was told that the rules are about to change, and refusal of a driving licence may well be removed as a reason to get a Disabled Bus Pass in future.

In the meantime, his twin sister had her DLA-to-PIP assessment around Xmas. It just came back with ZERO points for ALL sections. Obviously the ex-ER Nurse had no background in Psychiatry, and even ignored the psychiatrist's letter confirming hher diagnosis and treatment.

I am preparing the Mandatory Reconsideration letter now, but expect it to be ignored, so it'll be a long wait for Tribunal again. :mad:

Quietly slipped into the news, hidden by BREXIT and Rudd's announcement to ease the pressure on OAP disabled, came the news that they want to combine PIP and Work Capability Assessments (ESA) assessments "for efficiency". To screw the disabled more quickly I say.... :mad:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...-work-14089513

OLD BOY

06-03-2019 11:02

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35985456)

Nice bribe for people in an age group more likely to vote Conservative.

Even the good news fails to be greeted by you, jfman!

nomadking

06-03-2019 11:15

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfman (Post 35985456)

Nice bribe for people in an age group more likely to vote Conservative.

Is that why Labour didn't introduce it for post-pension age DLA?

RichardCoulter

06-03-2019 13:11

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread.

PIP was introduced by the Tories under Cameron.

Taf	06-03-2019 18:41

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread.

Quote:

... between July and September 2018, 72% of PIP appeals heard found in favour of the claimant. Now that number is too high.

Too high as in too many won at Tribunal, or too high as in they didn't manage to put people off claiming?

Quote:

We will no longer regularly review the PIP awards for claimants who have reached State Pension age, unless they tell us that their needs have changed.

A step in the right direction

Quote:

..an integrated service for PIP and Work Capability Assessments from 2021.

To enable this we are developing a single digital system..

So they won't screw you for PIP, or screw you for ESA, they can screw you out of both at the same time. And yet another computer system to screw up at the same time!

https://www.gov.uk/government/speech...and-experience

pip08456

06-03-2019 18:53

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taf (Post 35985520)

Too high as in too many won at Tribunal, or too high as in they didn't manage to put people off claiming?

A step in the right direction

So they won't screw you for PIP, or screw you for ESA, they can screw you out of both at the same time. And yet another computer system to screw up at the same time!

https://www.gov.uk/government/speech...and-experience

Knowing HMGov that will happen.

richard s

06-03-2019 20:51

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread. Many merged.

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY (Post 35985460)

Manna from heaven wouldn't satisfy you if it was handed over by a Conservative, richard.

Not being religious or a Tory or Labour or Liberal voter either, damn does not leave a lot does it.:D

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