People on Carers Allowance to be studied more closely.

I suggest that if members cannot be civil and debate sensibly Then I will close this thread permanently..Use the ignore function if you can't.

I've been talking to both disabled rights groups I'm involved with and some political contacts none of whom are aware of any coming attack on carer's allowance or major changes to how it operates. You continue to use unsettling rhetoric Richard and so far have given absolutely nothing beyond your interpretation of a process that has been ongoing for many years and has actually helped many carer's. State fact or say nothing because many legitimate benefit claimants live in fear of their benefits being stopped or restricted in someway and it's not acceptable to create threads on something unless you have facts to back it up.

Given how your demanding protection for people online in another thread to act the way you have in this thread towards other members and concerning a very vulnerable group in society has me puzzled.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

I personally think that Carers should get double what they get. My wife is a 24 hour carer for my disabled son. I simply couldn't do. I love my son dearly, but sometimes he drives me nuts.

Any idea of having any sort of discussion is an insult to the disabled. Which is nothing unusual with this bloody government.

I have feelings of hatred towards this government. As my brother in law has had this benefit stopped for the past SIX WEEKS owing to a farcical medical. He was told to look for work DESPITE his GP saying that he cannot work due to medical reasons. And been told that he cannot get any benefit until the result of an appeal - in SIX MONTHS time.So when he asked about survival. They told him tough.

This government will do anything to stop making benefits to the vulnerable

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Taf

Please do not forget that Carers Allowance is both taxable and counted as income for benefits.

We are now in the situation that I have started to receive small pensions, and added to the C.A. my wife and I receive, puts us over the limit for any Income Support at all, and vastly reduced Rent and Poll Tax benefits. And it gets worse when Universal Credit starts "to act as incentive to get into work".

We're already "working" as full time Carers you twonks!

Good point, yes, it is completely taxable and counted in full for the purposes of means tested benefits.

To receive CA, the person has to care for the person for at least 35 hours a week, so this works out at £1.77 per hour.

If this is exceeded, the hourly rate of pay goes down. I imagine that most carers would not tell a severely disabled person who needs to use the toilet that they cannot as they have already done their 35 hours in the relevant benefit week!

I'm still waiting for details and a copy of the contract awarded to this firm for this new initiative.

---------- Post added at 23:30 ---------- Previous post was at 23:21 ----------

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

I personally think that Carers should get double what they get. My wife is a 24 hour carer for my disabled son. I simply couldn't do. I love my son dearly, but sometimes he drives me nuts.

Any idea of having any sort of discussion is an insult to the disabled. Which is nothing unusual with this bloody government.

I have feelings of hatred towards this government. As my brother in law has had this benefit stopped for the past SIX WEEKS owing to a farcical medical. He was told to look for work DESPITE his GP saying that he cannot work due to medical reasons. And been told that he cannot get any benefit until the result of an appeal - in SIX MONTHS time.So when he asked about survival. They told him tough.

This government will do anything to stop making benefits to the vulnerable

This is the fear of the welfare rights organisations that I've been in contact with Arthur.

I'm lucky enough to be able to pay for my carers privately, yet the Government seeks to penny pinch from the most vulnerable.

If the cuts that the Government want to make come to fruition, it would serve them right if all those in receipt of Carers Allowance were to say that they no longer wanted to carry out this function.

It would cost the Government far, far more than the pittance that carers receive for working long hours.

For a single person over 25, Carers Allowance is currently £62.10, whilst Jobseekers Allowance is currently £73.10.

---------- Post added at 23:56 ---------- Previous post was at 23:30 ----------

Update:

Contract details:

https://www.contractsfinder.service....b-ec6e38c59f10

It looks to be relating to the sick and disabled as well as their carers.

More information here:

https://kittysjones.wordpress.com/20...ns-laboratory/

The DWP seem to be reluctant to talk about this upcoming scheme to legal advocates, so, amongst other things, a Freedom Of Information request has been made.

I understand that the BBC have been briefed about this too.

Because of the attitude of some on here, I have been asked not to give out the contact details of those who can provide legal help and advice for anybody that is called into one of these 'meetings'.

If anybody needs help, please contact me (in confidence) by PM and I will let you have the details if they are genuinely required.

Incidentally, many sick and disabled people now face having their benefits reduced, stopped or delayed.

In the NW area, a charity that I support is now offering a scheme where frozen food can be provided free of charge. For those who need it, a free delivery service is also available.

Again, please contact me (in confidence) by PM if this would help you or somebody that you know and I will give you contact details.

*Priority will be given to those who have had both their DLA/PIP and ESA stopped*

The person asking for help must live in the NW area.

---------- Post added 30-08-2016 at 00:04 ---------- Previous post was 29-08-2016 at 23:56 ----------

Originally Posted by Rexz

ATOS was once just a test or an idea... Now look where it is. If this is indeed backed somehow by the government, it will end up being something in the pipeline, afterall, if the government can save on something and a company is willing to take it on they will.

You've got it in one Rex.

So still no facts that can be verified just more alarming rhetoric and on that note I'm out the stress levels amongst claimants are already high without unfounded alarmist rubbish like this getting attention.

[Anypermitedroute]

Originally Posted by nomadking

What are you wittering on about. The link you gave says what it's about. Click on the "Home" tab and look at the bottom. They facilitate various research projects. 2 are mentioned, one for OFGEM and the other for the DWP.It says that the meeting was about the carers self-employment journey. It is NOT about the claims of individuals, it is about trying to IMPROVE things for ALL claimants.








How is any of that vaguely sinister?

I concur, reading the contract it makes cash incentives for people to participate and has confidentiality clauses inserted for each participating party. This Is a classic case of someone jumping to conclusion and getting on their own horse without reading the detail (or worst stirring up trouble for their own pleasure which considering it's with carers of disabled people is quite frankly sick)

[nomadking]

Here's an example of the "evil things" the User Research get up to.

People who are aged between 16 and 64 and have less than 6 months to live can apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) under special rules. This means that the claim is treated as high priority, is processed without a face to face assessment, and the payments are made weekly. To do this they need to provide a DS1500 form, a report completed by a doctor or nurse containing medical information about their condition.
...
Previously, a DS1500 form could only be sent to DWP via post and the average time for it to be received was 10 days. However, I learnt quickly that it can take much longer than this.
Now, our service allows healthcare professionals to submit a DS1500 form electronically which is received by DWP instantly and securely.
...
We conducted user research with doctors and Macmillan nurses, visiting their hospitals and surgeries to understand how they work. I gained insight into their working day and they helped us understand the complex lives of their patients and the expenses patients can face. This includes the cost of heating their home after the impact of chemotherapy. The DS1500 enables patients to get access to motability schemes and blue badges, which makes it clear how valuable our service could be.
...

We’re continuing to introduce our service to more doctors and Macmillan nurses, getting feedback and asking them to use the service for real patients. So far, we’ve received the digital DS1500 forms in a matter of seconds, not days or weeks, meaning the claim can be processed more efficiently. Our service is about helping people in their final months, when time is precious. As a user researcher, seeing work being done to improve the lives of some our most vulnerable customers is incredibly rewarding.

Some of the rules for User Research

1. Make sure you know who said what

Label your observations so you can identify the people taking part in your research. An easy approach is to give each person you speak to a number, then label each observation you write down with the corresponding number.

1. Personal data

Finally, don’t capture personal information, which could allow someone to be identified. Names, national insurance numbers, addresses, etc., shouldn’t be recorded. You need to think: “If I lost this, could someone identify who this person is?”

User research gives your team the understanding it needs to design a good user experience. It also enables you to test your service and evaluate how successful you’ve been at meeting your users’ needs.
Without it, you won’t know what to build, how to build it or what problems you’re trying to solve.

From 2012 DWP report on Universal credit. Just to show that user research has been going on for years and is a good idea.

This report summarises the key findings of a programme of user-centred design testing work carried out between March and October 2011, to determine what is required to encourage desired behavioural changes, how users and staff have responded to the Universal Credit design so far, and suggestions for further attention.
In total, 160 users and approximately 30 staff were involved during the user-centred design phase so far. The majority of the user-centred design work took place in and around Manchester in order to enable the nearby Agile design team to view the sessions.

Just so everyone is clear on this, this thread is not closing.
I have removed all the recent off topic and wanna be modersting posts from this thread.

Two warnings have been posted already about the behaviour of people in this thread.
This is the final one from me, defy this one and you will be taking a rest from posting on the site.

Behave like adults, stick to the topic, do not post personal remarks or attacks or anything eles that breaks the site rules.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Please guys, stop slagging each other off. This is a great topic yo discuss.
I know from personnel experience. Not once but twice.
My disabled son has been hit. And also my brother in law. The Tories will always hit the vulnerable. And they will always win as we dont have a strong Labour Party to fight. Withat that **** Corbyn fighting a self destruction button.

This will continue to happen.

It is not a great topic to discuss Arthur because nothing sinister is going on this is a new company handling a contract in dealing with carer's and all the time this has been running it's been a benefit to carer's not a sinister plot to victimise them. As for slagging off most have asked for some facts to elevate this from one person misinterpreting something they read and so far none has been forthcoming.

[Kursk]

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

Any idea of having any sort of discussion is an insult to the disabled.

Sorry Arthur, I don't agree. It is surely the responsibility of every parent, person, carer, Government, whomever, to monitor their financial commitment and/or expenditure and to decide whether that commitment/expenditure needs adjusting?

The alternative is irresponsible. Changes are happening to tax-payer funded commitment all the time as I'm sure you would want it to be. You cut your coat according to the cloth.

Without exception.

[RichardCoulter]

It is not "one person" misinterpreting this. There are both individuals and organisations who are worried about the implications of this new initiative and wish to get to the bottom of it.

If don't think that it's wrong to question what the Government of any political colour is doing and why.

We have all seen the spin, but the DWP are refusing to clarify matters or answer questions put to them by legally qualified people who are concerned about this.

---------- Post added at 16:51 ---------- Previous post was at 16:37 ----------

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

They usually happen following a letter from the job centre Dili just inviting the carer to go in for a chat about things, my wifes have always been very informal and pleasant according to her.

Originally Posted by martyh

Only by you , people who have experienced these talks have no issues

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

I've been talking to both disabled rights groups I'm involved with and some political contacts none of whom are aware of any coming attack on carer's allowance or major changes to how it operates. You continue to use unsettling rhetoric Richard and so far have given absolutely nothing beyond your interpretation of a process that has been ongoing for many years and has actually helped many carer's. State fact or say nothing because many legitimate benefit claimants live in fear of their benefits being stopped or restricted in someway and it's not acceptable to create threads on something unless you have facts to back it up.

Given how your demanding protection for people online in another thread to act the way you have in this thread towards other members and concerning a very vulnerable group in society has me puzzled.

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

It is not a great topic to discuss Arthur because nothing sinister is going on this is a new company handling a contract in dealing with carer's and all the time this has been running it's been a benefit to carer's not a sinister plot to victimise them. As for slagging off most have asked for some facts to elevate this from one person misinterpreting something they read and so far none has been forthcoming.

This has nothing to do with any previous interviews that most (all?)* Carers have been to. Those interviews were often 'Work Focussed Interviews' used by the DWP to see if any carers could, at the present time or in the future, do some paid work as well as their caring responsibilities.

Similarly, no disabled people in the 'Work Related Activity Group's (WRAG) are likely to have been to one of these group meetings either.

* As the DWP refuse to enter into the usual dialogue with about this, it cannot yet be verified if anybody has attended these new meeting or not.

The DWP last did this regarding the number of people who had died following sanctions, medical assessments, decisions, policies etc made by them.

If there's nothing sinister about this, why aren't the DWP co-operating with representatives of the disabled community and their carers?

---------- Post added at 17:00 ---------- Previous post was at 16:51 ----------

Originally Posted by Kursk

Sorry Arthur, I don't agree. It is surely the responsibility of every parent, person, carer, Government, whomever, to monitor their financial commitment and/or expenditure and to decide whether that commitment/expenditure needs adjusting?

The alternative is irresponsible. Changes are happening to tax-payer funded commitment all the time as I'm sure you would want it to be. You cut your coat according to the cloth.

Without exception.

Leaving the human cost to one side, it is not cheaper for us taxpayers to stop paying (this has been mooted in the past) Carers Allowance and place disabled people into institutional care or have agency nurses paid for by the state.

They were hoping to save money by stopping the miserly payment altogether, whilst carers carried on without any payment whatsoever.

It might have worked with claimants looking after a family member, but this has now hopefully been kicked into the long grass.

Carers do a tremendous job and save this country a fortune every year.

[nomadking]

How many more times. I've given the quotes from the original link and the DWP. It is purely "user research", that they do all the time to try and improve things. It is only certain people from certain areas(mainly the north-west) that can VOLUNTEER. It is NOT about assessing them for eligibility or anything like that. It's about trying to improve how the system works. They seem to use it to test out online forms.

How is a new system, being tried out at the moment, that aims to really speed up claims for the terminally ill, a bad thing?

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by nomadking

How many more times. I've given the quotes from the original link and the DWP. It is purely "user research", that they do all the time to try and improve things. It is only certain people from certain areas(mainly the north-west) that can VOLUNTEER. It is NOT about assessing them for eligibility or anything like that. It's about trying to improve how the system works. They seem to use it to test out online forms.

How is a new system, being tried out at the moment, that aims to really speed up claims for the terminally ill, a bad thing?

The simple answer is that the reluctance of the DWP to enter into a discussion with legally trained professionals about this initiative is raising red flags.

I'm confident that they will eventually have to explain what this is all about to the people that they purport to serve- both the DWP and the Government.

If there is nothing ominous, I doubt that there would be such a wall of silence.

The DWP will not answer questions about something that doesn't exist you don't think they have enough to do and still none of the groups I'm involved with or any of the politicians have heard anything. This is about trying to get in this carer's involved in DWP matters that affect them and to look into streamlining the system of assistance and claim that currently exists and it's an ongoing process that's been around for year's. Disabled people are called into different meetings with the DWP to gauge their reaction and suggestions for future improvements.