Bye Bye Dla

[Joshua]

Dear Subscriber,

The DWP have confirmed that disability living allowance (DLA) is to be abolished and replaced by a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in 2013/14. All existing DLA claimants will be reassessed for PIP once it is introduced.

A brief consultation has begun – but not to decide whether to replace DLA, only to decide the finer details.

From the scant information available, we look at what’s staying the same, what’s changing, why your ESA medical may also be your PIP medical and who is most likely to lose out with the introduction of PIP – designed to reduce spending on DLA by at least one fifth.

Whether you have a PIP or an ESA medical, you can be sure that it will be Atos who carry it out. The coalition have now extended the Atos contract by a further three years, giving the multinational a virtually unbreakable stranglehold on benefits medicals.

And that may not be the end of your dealings with Atos. They are one of the companies shortlisted by the DWP to run compulsory schemes to get sick and disabled claimants back into work once they have been placed in the work-related activity group.

The voluntary sector did spectacularly badly in the same bidding war, with Shaw Trust being shortlisted in just one of the eleven regions. A consortium of nine charities, including Mind and Mencap, however, are desperately trying to become subcontractors to the big boys like A4E, Atos and security firm G4S. The charities are flaunting their combined £688 million turnover and cash surplus of £16 million in the hope of turning private sector heads and getting a few scraps of the billions being invested in getting claimants into work.

Not, we’re sure, that the charities see it that way or will thank us for publicising their consortium. Citizens Advice certainly weren’t happy with our unenthusiastic write-up of their ESA campaign – so much so that they asked for a right to reply, which we were happy to give them. Pop into the blog and see if you agree with what they say.

In other news, we have definite confirmation that the time limiting of contribution based ESA will be retrospective when it is introduced in 2012.

There’s nothing definite about the date when PCA exempt claimants will be transferred to ESA, however. A Benefits and Work member has used the Freedom of Information Act to uncover the fudge that the DWP are employing to deal with the issue of claimants with no renewal date.

Not that any other dates relating to the migration of IB claimants to ESA can be trusted, it seems. It has now emerged that there will be a delay of months after the first medicals before any IB claimant actually gets a decision about their ESA entitlement – or lack of it – due to DWP software not being ready in time.

Also delayed - for existing claimants at any rate - are the cuts to local housing allowance which were due to be introduced in April and October but which will now go ahead in January 2012.

benefitsandwork.co.uk

[tink_85]

FFS this post has made me day! :mad0233:

[mjk]

I'm really worried. Wish I hadn't read it now. :(

[lonelyheartemma]

this is going to be so bad :(

[piuma]

if you are ill then you will get help simples...dla going but pip comin in, so those who are entitled will get. i know some of u panicking, but if you have medical back and stuff you b fine ...:blink:

[lonelyheartemma]

maybe it won't be much different from dla, i spose it might be the same thing in a way but its got a different name. getting my dla was ok, the guy just talked to me a bit and i said a few sentences and he said i could go now except i didnt want to go down in the lift by myself and i couldnt find the stairs so i had to go back and ask where the stairs were and he got someone to go in the lift with me, that was bad but maybe it helped them see what i'm like.

[piuma]

im sure u'll get the new version, but hey maybe by the time this new one comes around u may be better :hug2:

[lonelyheartemma]

so it isn't happening straight away then? idk anything about it tbh, all I know is my mum keeps saying stuff like you do know you wont have that much longer in a warning voice that just scares me

[piuma]

no in 2o13 xx

[Joshua]

Thing is this company are being kept on (who do medicals) because they are saving the goverment money. They will only be kept on by doing the same thing, they are no impartial they have to get people off benefits to warrant keeping them on.

[ILostHer]

I just hope that they get actual trained people for ATOS to do the assessments, they should have people trained for the psychical and another for mental health. It's pointless seeing a specialist in a completely different field for mental health. They ask the wrong questions. They should scrap ESA and start again I think. Have it all more compartmentalised instead of grouping everyone together.

Arg, I hate all this kind of stuff, it really affects the genuine people.

[piuma]

well of course they gotta save money, that would be the case for anyone the government employed. thing is, its coming and we have to deal, lost charlotte said it affects those that are genuine, i cant see that as the case, if you are genuine you will get help. basically i dont think government can do anything to please all. things will change again im sure, i guess i can be ok bout it cos i havent had any trouble. i think esa is a great idea, they have been excellent with me, listening to me allowing me take things at my own speed, in fact the DEA cried when she saw me cos she said they just dont get many people come in wanting to be back in work one day.

i think if people are honest and dont shut off the idea of maybe being well again one day or at least well enough to do something anything, then you will get more respect and better help, or that is what i found in my experience.

i know its not nice to worried about losing money and stuff, but at the end of the day nobody is going to be left stranded you will move from one to another if needs be.

xxx

[donnam]

really worried

[ILostHer]

well of course they gotta save money, that would be the case for anyone the government employed. thing is, its coming and we have to deal, lost charlotte said it affects those that are genuine, i cant see that as the case, if you are genuine you will get help. basically i dont think government can do anything to please all. things will change again im sure, i guess i can be ok bout it cos i havent had any trouble. i think esa is a great idea, they have been excellent with me, listening to me allowing me take things at my own speed, in fact the DEA cried when she saw me cos she said they just dont get many people come in wanting to be back in work one day.

i think if people are honest and dont shut off the idea of maybe being well again one day or at least well enough to do something anything, then you will get more respect and better help, or that is what i found in my experience.

i know its not nice to worried about losing money and stuff, but at the end of the day nobody is going to be left stranded you will move from one to another if needs be.

xxx

When I said it has a bad affect on the genuine, I meant mentally. I think the genuinely ill worry more than the one's swinging the lead, they know it'll happen eventually and usually have other 'means' to get money.

It's good that there are cases where ESA are understanding, it's the government that aren't understanding...they aren't going to listen to anyone sobbing in fear, but yes the ESA people might. Mine did eventually when my cpn called, but an 'interview' every two months because I am in the work related activity group, not good enough in my opinion. It took my cpn to tell her I was "Acutely ill" to stop them. Which is when they should separate the abilities and have more groups, not just two.

Ah, I better shutup about this because I have too strong an opinion. Plus I fear I may have gone off topic a bit. Sorry.x

[sanctuary]

If I am still alive in 2013/2014 I will cross that bridge when I come to it. Until then, I would advise people to concentrate on the here and now and not fall into the trap of being fearful of a future that is unknown.

In the meantime, we should all hold the belief that if we need genuine help, we will get it. Wisdom can prevail but we have to believe it.

Believing in a future of less hope and more trouble ahead is scaremongering and I for one, would like to make it clear I think intentionally or not, this is what this post says... FEAR..

[piuma]

hey charlotte i wasnt havin a go xxxx

just sayin of course we will feel it, but we need to worry cos we are genuine. those that arent we sought out. was just trying to basically what sact said we need to just be now and not worry, thing will work out as they are meant to xx

[Joshua]

It isnt about creating fear, its about being aware of the facts and choosing to do something about it. Yes i wouldnt disagree that staying in the moment etc is useful but at the same time people must act today to prevent things that may happen tomorrow.

[walker]

forget it

[sanctuary]

It isnt about creating fear, its about being aware of the facts and choosing to do something about it. Yes i wouldnt disagree that staying in the moment etc is useful but at the same time people must act today to prevent things that may happen tomorrow.

And what exactly do you think we can do to 'act' upon this when we are the ones struggling with life on a daily basis?

[Russell]

If I am still alive in 2013/2014 I will cross that bridge when I come to it. Until then.....

Ha Ha thats exactly what was going through my mind.

Best solution I found for assessments is to get your Psychiatrist to write a detailed letter for the attention of the panel outlining your condition, your daily/weekly struggles and willingness to accept help/treatment. I failed my assessment, failed my appeal went to tribunal with a letter like above, slapped it on their desk and asked them if they could overrule my psych opinion! Needless to say they didnt have the balls so I was successful and DLA was reinstated as normal (love my psych)

2014 is still sometime away and things could change again before then - its all an unknown.

Take care all

Russ.

[Joshua]

People can struggle but still have abilities.

All of us face some struggle or another but can still assert our rights in some way.

Write a letter, make a phone call, join a group, demonstrate, etc etc. There is always a way to be heard.

[mjk]

People can struggle but still have abilities.

All of us face some struggle or another but can still assert our rights in some way.

Write a letter, make a phone call, join a group, demonstrate, etc etc. There is always a way to be heard.

Shit, if only I had the energy. :wacko:

[sanctuary]

Indeed, but personally I am doing enough educating friends and family thanks - that's hard enough considering I struggle to even send a birthday card let alone a letter to anyone about me...

[Joshua]

Yes and this is a choice your making but this isnt about you specifically. This is a post about changes in the current DLA systems, a simple news story i thought would be of interest.

[sanctuary]

don't patronise me joshua.... don't tell me it's my choice... I have to say if it were up to me I would do more but I can't so your assumption has really pissed me off.

also, the news is in our face 24/7 and I for one choose to ignore it alot of the time. Especially the benefits and work malarky. My sincere opinion is that people here can do without this type of shit... post title - bye bye DLA... that is a fucking scare tactic because in reality there will be something to replace it...

In my opinion, the DLA process is way out of date now anyway so something new to me, rather than be a threat is actually a good thing. After all, mental ill health is increasing and the old system didn't accommodate mental illness enough.

I err on the side of faith in those that need help will get it with the right support.

If anything, I prefer the sound of the new system.

Now, get a grip and STOP scaring people!