The other thread got a bit tasty and was closed, so let’s see if we can keep this one open.

As I see it, there are the following opinions, each of which seem valid:

a) DLA should be available to those who need it. Those who don’t should be given help to equip them with the skills to re-enter the job market.
b) Assessment of who does need it is, at best, tricky.

Are the current changes being made by the Government an ‘attack on the poor’, or a necessary consequence of a) and because of b), never going to be easy?

Discuss. First to rant loses.

dla has nothing to do with being in or out of work

dla has nothing to do with being in or out of work

Okay then, so what’s the fuss about?

I think the debate usually gets clouded due to B. I don’t think many people have a problem with A. There often seems to be a view that because it can be difficult on deciding who is eligible everybody who claims should be. There’s also a lot of people who genuinely believe they should be entitled who then get rather distressed when they find they aren’t eligible and blame the system rather than consider that they may not be the best people to make an impartial judgement on their circumstances.

Same argument applies to means testing general benefits, most people would agree the support should go to those who need it, exactly who those people are and how they are defined is where the different views come in.

Assessment of who does need it is, at best, tricky

No, it isn’t.

But it should be done by medical types, not French accountants.

Well if the primary aim of the government was to help disabled people, then I think we can safely say that the “current changes” would be warmly welcomed by the disabled and the organisations which represent them.

That however does not appear to be the case, in fact they appear to be vehemently opposed to them. Draw your own conclusions.

do you mean employment and support allowance? esa?

it should be done by medical types, not French accountants

Using what criteria? I assume it would have to be the same for everyone in order to be fair.

If you are able to work without assistance then you should. If the government can assist you back to work then you should take the assistance. There will be grey areas and disputes.

Suitable Work as for anyone not working for a prolonged period should be what you can do not what you want to do. Retraining and education are as much a part as removal of benefits.

However I believe dla is not work related.

if the primary aim of the government was to help disabled people

What if the primary aim was to prevent people claiming DLA that shouldn’t be? Is that a bad thing?

Racist, whats wrong with being French. I can see whats wrong with being an accountant, they all wan to be lion tamers.

The problem is PEOPLE. If there is a system people will play it. Some rich people play the tax system, some poor people play the benefits system. Get rid of people and it’ll all be fine.

do you mean employment and support allowance? esa?

I’ll be honest, I don’t know. I’m talking about the benefit that is threatened to be removed should the new assessments determine that someone is fit for work.

What if the primary aim was to prevent people claiming DLA that shouldn’t be?

Well if the primary aim was to prevent people claiming DLA that shouldn’t be, then I think we can safely assume that the disabled and the organisations which represent them would have no problem with that.

However the disabled and the organisations which represent them appear to be unconvinced by that argument.

glupton1976 – Member
The problem is PEOPLE. If there is a system people will play it. Some rich people play the tax system, some poor people play the benefits system. Get rid of people and it’ll all be fine.

POSTED 4 MINUTES AGO # REPORT-POST
This I tend to agree with.

Well if the primary aim was to prevent people claiming DLA that shouldn’t be, then I think we can safely assume that the disabled and the organisations which represent them would have no problem with that.However the disabled and the organisations which represent them appear to be unconvinced by that argument.

Or perhaps they represent both. As above the people in the middle of the judgements tend to be the least objective. Not saying they are right or wrong just not the person to make an objective decision

glupton1976 – Member
The problem is PEOPLE. If there is a system people will play it. Some rich people play the tax system, some poor people play the benefits system. Get rid of people and it’ll all be fine.

This government’s own report found that the fraud rate for DLA is 0.5%.

ATOS have been tasked with reassessing people and moving them onto the new PIP (personal independent paymetns), but at the same time cutting the number of claimants by 20%.

This is nothing to do with fraud.

ATOS have been tasked with reassessing people and moving them onto the new PIP (personal independent paymetns), but at the same time cutting the number of claimants by 20%.

Do you have a source for that figure?

one of the more sensible comments on the other thread was that you can agree with the “why” but not the “how”.

I think everyone is in favour of having a system there for people that need help, but at the same time ensuring that it’s not exploited. However, it seems like it’s the way that this has been done that is causing people significant distress.

Before they started the whole process, why didn’t somebody stop and say: “hang on…. taking benefits from disabled people? This has the potential to be quite controversial – lets make sure that this is done properly”

Doesn’t matter if you’re a leftist or a rightist – seems like a basic leadership issue

However the disabled and the organisations which represent them appear to be unconvinced by that argument.

+

There’s also a lot of people who genuinely believe they should be entitled who then get rather distressed when they find they aren’t eligible and blame the system rather than consider that they may not be the best people to make an impartial judgement on their circumstances.

it has the word disability in it, surely this will be closed.

I think everyone is in favour of having a system there for people that need help, but at the same time ensuring that it’s not exploited.

It’s impossible to have a perfect system, so you have to decide how many wrong decisions you’re prepared to accept. The greater the number of fraudulent claims turned down, the greater the number of real claimants who’ll also be rejected. The figure of 0.5% fraud sounds low enough to me (assuming it’s true), anyone think it should be lower?

The problem is that the assessment is being done by staff with no medical knowledge, and scant training. It has been rushed in with little thought to the very real consequences for the lives of the most disadvantaged in society.

Thus its very broad brush and simplistic. This leads to some horrendous errors. ie: people with terminal cancer being declared fit for work. The better half has seen first hand how the process terrifies those with serious mental health issues who are simply not equipped to deal with the process

Another problem is the widespread suspicion that there are clear targets for removing people from benefits.The government deny this but refuse to release the documents that prove this not to be the case. Which is a tad suspect, to say the least. If you’ve nothing to hide….?

Also, and most importantly: it is not achieving its stated aim. To reduce costs. as a huge amount of people who dispute the tribunals conclusions have their benefits reinstated on appeal. This is a hugely expensive process who’s cost is being born by the taxpayer, not ATOS who are making the mistakes. Yet another case of us picking up the tab for the mistakes of the private sector, while they continue to make money from a shoddy and ill-conceived service. G4s? A2E? Its all getting depressingly familar isn’t it?

It’s impossible to have a perfect system, so you have to decide how many wrong decisions you’re prepared to accept. The greater the number of fraudulent claims turned down, the greater the number of real claimants who’ll also be rejected. The figure of 0.5% fraud sounds low enough to me (assuming it’s true), anyone think it should be lower?

I completely agree. If the 0.5% figure is true…. and has been derived meaningfully – that’s acceptable to me (as a taxpayer).

It then becomes a question of public confidence in the system, something that will be hard to achieve for an issue that is difficult to debate publically (as we have shown!) for fear of being cast as a souless b*stard!

Thus its very broad brush and simplistic. This leads to some horrendous errors. ie: people with terminal cancer being declared fit for work

you can agree with the “why” but not the “how”.

You can have terminal cancer but (technically) be fit for work. BUT that very different to saying that benefits should be withdrawn from that person.

Depends on the remit given to the people conducting the assessments.

Before I get shouted at – I’m not saying that somebody with terminal cancer should get there benefits withdrawn!

t-minus ** seconds…

patriotpro – to be honest fella, you’re the only one not adding anything meaningful

You can have terminal cancer but (technically) be fit for work. BUT that very different to saying that benefits should be withdrawn from that person.

Depends on the remit given to the people conducting the assessments.

Absolutely. The benefit should be to support you because you are unable to work because you are ill, not just because you are ill.

Before I get shouted at – I’m not saying that somebody with terminal cancer should get there benefits withdrawn!

I suppose that I am saying that, if properly and fairly assessed.

Right – just to make sure everyone is signing from the same hymn sheet. What is the system that we’re moving from and what are we moving to?

Who makes/made the decision whether someone is fit for work, and who will do it in the new system?

Overall

1. A small number of those who get ESA are just taking the piss they could work but they ar elazy – my guess less than 1 %
2. a higher percentage/majority could work if
a) they recieve support
b)Employers adapt the workplace for them
c) someone funds it
I dont see a long list oif employers willing to take on the disabled – the public sectors outperforms th eprivate sector by about 10 X iirc in terms of employing the disabled
3. Some just need to retrain and consider their options – ie they cannot do thier old job so in the past they were declared unfit for worlk – eg brickie with shot kneess and back for example but could drive.
4. Some are just unfit for work whatever we do

This current system has F all to do with this and is simply a method of reducing costs by saying everyone can work

For example if you have OCD you get 12 month on ESA then you have to comply with JSA terms or loose your benefits – this is wher ethe great saving will be as many disabled will no tbe able to compley even if they try. I work with a lad with aspergers, everyone knows he wants work but he cannot comply with the rules even with support.

From what I can tell if you turn up for the appointment you are deemed fit to work – ie you can get there so you can get to work

the only person I know who di dget turned down has serious mental helath issues and pleaded and cried through the assement to be classed as fit to work

Whatever it is it is not about empowering disabled people or they would be thankfull.

FWIW everyone has a sick note from a registered Dr but only the view of the assement ones count – well till it gets overturned on appeal

I know of one person who worked up until 3 days before he died. That was his choice as he was a positive chap. It should not be a bureaucrats decision to insist on working up until the end as we profess to be a civilised society.

You can have terminal cancer but (technically) be fit for work. BUT that very different to saying that benefits should be withdrawn from that person.

If you’re terminally ill and were still at work before the illness then I think you should be entitled to some money, since unless a miracle occurs you won’t be claiming a pension.

IHN – Member
“ATOS have been tasked with reassessing people and moving them onto the new PIP (personal independent paymetns), but at the same time cutting the number of claimants by 20%.”

Do you have a source for that figure?

The Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9263453/500000-to-lose-disability-benefit.html

The cost of disability living allowance, which is intended to help people meet the extra costs of mobility and care associated with their conditions, now outstrips unemployment benefit and will soon be £13 billion annually.

…

An official impact assessment of the plans, released this month, reveals the scheme will cut benefit payments by £2.24 billion annually – and lead to about 500,000 fewer claimants.

The Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/jan/18/disability-living-allowance-data

Under the new proposals, those receiving PIP will be more rigorously assessed in order to continue receiving payment. The government estimates the proposals will save around 20%, or £2bn, from the current £12.6bn scheme.

Wow, just wow.

From what I can tell if you turn up for the appointment you are deemed fit to work

Junkyard – depressingly, that is exactly what is happening

Lifer – thanks.

However, what that lot says is that the government estimate that the scheme will produce a 20% saving.

That’s very different to saying that ATOS have been tasked to cut the number of claimants by 20%.

If you’re terminally ill and were still at work before the illness then I think you should be entitled to some money, since unless a miracle occurs you won’t be claiming a pension.

That’s not how it works, and not how it should work. There’s not an individual ‘pot’ of benefits cash that everyone’s entitled to before they die. You get it when you need it, and if you don’t need it, you don’t get it.

IHN – Member
patriotpro – to be honest fella, you’re the only one not adding anything meaningful

Not everything has to be meaningful. tbh i was just having a bit of fun, nothing else.

Which of these people is worthy of DLA?

i) ex soldier, leg blown off in afghanistan, uses prosthetic leg to get around
ii) person who gets panic attacks and cannot go out the house without company
iii) drug addict Alcoholic who’s alcoholic girlfriend claims for help feeding and washing him as he’s too pissed to bother doing it himself
iv) obese person who can’t get to the shops because they are too fat to get out the door (thank god for tesco home delivery service)

(ps. if someone is terminally ill, then they are automatically awarded DLA under the special rules)

That’s very different to saying that ATOS have been tasked to cut the number of claimants by 20%.

You are being rather pedantic. The Telegraph link states :

“An official impact assessment of the plans, released this month, reveals the scheme will cut benefit payments by £2.24 billion annually – and lead to about 500,000 fewer claimants”

I think you’ll find that “500,000 fewer claimants” represents a cut of about 20% in the number of claimants.