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Major changes to most benefits systems from next year confirmed by DWP (www.dailypost.co.uk)

submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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cross-posted from: https://lemm.ee/post/8048406

The Department for Work and Pensions [DWP] has confirmed that it will be making major changes to PIP, Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) assessments from 2024. They said sickness and disability benefits will be assessed by the same provider in any given area of the UK.

The new service will be rolled out nationally from 2029, reports Birmingham Live. It follows criticism of the current assessments for PIP during a debate triggered by a number of petitions. One petition called for a "complete overhaul" of PIP, and called the process "inhumane and degrading."

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years ago (5 children)

I applied for PIP and I was denied. The whole process was so horrible, stressful, dehumanising and difficult that I couldn’t bear going through the whole appeals process - I am really lucky to be in the position of being able to work despite my disability, but a lot of my money is spent to compensate for or to somehow mitigate my disability - money spent on mobility aids, adaptations, additional transport costs, time out of work for appointments, and so on.

I’m also lucky enough to live in Scotland and I applied for the Scottish alternative to PIP (SADP) the day it was available for me to apply, and I qualified for the maximum amount available due to my level of disability. Which still isn’t much, by the way, and probably doesn’t really cover all of my disability related costs, but again, I am really lucky to have it.

There wasn’t any change in my health between applications, it’s just that the PIP process is literally designed to find any excuse to reject your application.

I’m doubtful that DWP really want to improve the process, I think they like it just the way it is. Probably all they want is to be able to farm the criticism out to third parties.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 years ago (2 children)

My Dad volunteered at a local advocacy group helping people with their PIP appeals - in one case a woman had been assessed as being able to walk 10m unaided when she couldn't get out of her chair without help. Turns out the assessor hadn't even visited her.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)

That’s good of your dad to do that. I got help from an advocate when I was having problems getting the help I needed from the NHS, and even having someone who could do little things like looking into how to get treatment plan organised by your GP etc. really helps relieve some of the pressure. When you’re disabled and working it’s like having at least three full-time jobs - caring for yourself, trying to figure out how to get help and actually getting it, and working all at the same time. I honestly can’t imagine how much harder it is to have kids to look after on top of all that. You can’t just say, “fuck it I can’t be bothered making dinner today” when you’ve got kids :/

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

That’s good of your dad to do that. I got help from an advocate when I was having problems getting the help I needed from the NHS, and even having someone who could do little things like looking into how to get treatment plan organised by your GP etc. really helps relieve some of the pressure.

Oh indeed..Just having someone who will spend the time on the phone waiting and then explaining all the ways they'd messed up frees up so much time, if you can even do that in the first place and some.of his clients couldn't. It feels like the system partly relies on making things just difficult enough that a good percentage of people give up.

I honestly can’t imagine how much harder it is to have kids to look after on top of all that. You can’t just say, “fuck it I can’t be bothered making dinner today” when you’ve got kids :/

Yes, no days off there.

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