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

It’s hardly good news that the benefit system is being skewed away from the principle of supporting who is the most in need.

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

And there is the phrase behind it all, repeated over and over by Cameron.

"Most in need".

They are taking away aid for those "less in need" to give to those "most in need".

But who sets the levels of need? And does that level change?

To get the highest level of PIP Mobility (and therefore the offer of swapping that payment for a basic car) you need 12 points. So that means either....

Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided.

OR

Cannot, either aided or unaided, – (i) stand; or (ii) move more than 1 metre.

So loads of people have had to hand back their Mobility cars....

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

Yup, they changed the goalposts from DLA and then proclaimed how many people were getting help that didn't need it.

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

Are you actually aware of what some pensioners have to live on?

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread.
 

Seems to me that there are any number of claimants on more than average income that are draining the system of funds needed by the genuinely needy.

Something has to change so that the poorest in our society get the benefits that they actually need as opposed to those that see them as some kind of "top up" right for the luxuries in life.

How many times do I see the huge 4x4s and people carriers pull into the disabled bays at the local carvery to see the occupants leap gazelle like into the restaurant for a meal. :rolleyes:

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

It all depends what part of the country you are talking about as some pensioners have a fair bit of disposable income while others struggle to make ends meet.

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread.
 

That may have been me and my family, taking my 90 year old mother-in-law (who shuffles very slowly) to Sunday dinner - strangely enough, if she is in the car with us, we are allowed to park using her Blue Badge...

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

They have at least the minimum income as guaranteed by the guarantee element of pension credit and the associated passported benefits. PIP income is disregarded as part of this.

A disabled individual of working age doesn’t receive this and has to live on much less. Equally someone just over state pension age no longer qualifies for the mobility element of PIP. So you could have two individuals born on the exact same day, with the exact same medical conditions affecting their day to day lives to the exact same extent and one would retain PIP for life and the other never qualify based on the onset date of their condition.

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

Any current DLA/PIP entitlement when you reach pension age, continues afterwards.


Not sure what figure you're using for disabled pensioners, but the working age amount can easily add up. Eg ESA support group, plus PIP standard rate daily living, and enhanced mobility clocks up around £1,300/month. Then add housing benefit and council tax reduction.

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

That’s my point. Someone aged 67 who has their conditions deteriorate after state pension age wouldn’t qualify, but someone who qualified for PIP when they were 64 could retain it for life. That reads inherently unfair.

In all cases pension credit plus add ons exceeds ESA/Universal Credit plus add ons.

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

Same post-pension ages rules applied for DLA.



Attendance Allowance is there for care needs.

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread.
 

I don’t really know why you’ve quoted my post.

The fact the same rules applied to DLA doesn’t make the system “fairer”. Attendance allowance does exist but is a lower rate than both components of PIP. My original statements on this matter hold true.

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread.
 

At one time, there was only two sets of benefits for everyone- Mobility Allowance and Attendance Allowance.

Then they introduced DLA for everyone under pension age. They introduced a new lower payment for people with milder disabilities (which was scrapped when PIP was introduced). At the same time they scrapped Mobility Allowance for those not already on it after pension age.

I found it very odd to take away help with mobility for those with mobility problems arising after pension age as old age is often the time that most people become disabled as the body begins to wear out.

---------- Post added at 22:39 ---------- Previous post was at 22:35 ----------

People often equate being disabled with problems walking. This isn't always the case, the person you saw might have had something like terminal cancer before it had really taken hold or an invisible disability like a mental health issue.

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread.
 

You’ve answered your own question: “most people become disabled as the body begins to wear out”. The costs involved would be astronomical to a group that’s already a significant spend from the public purse in pension payments. Before someone jumps in that they paid in there’s no side pot waiting to pay out pensions - it comes from the taxpayers of today.

Re: The state benefits system mega-thread.
 

Mobility Allowance wasn't for those over 65 and was means tested.
From Hansard
If somebody has such a severe mental health condition that they qualify, then they almost certainly shouldn't be driving.