Merging ESA with DLA

Also remember it was never originally the intention to limit ESA for 365 days. This came in under the coalition 4 years after ESA was brought out by labour.

Put aside the above discussion for a moment and look at this from the perspective of a claimant. Sadly, the overwhelming majority are unable to distinguish between PIP for long term disability and ESA for unfitness for work. They equate both to having a disability or long term health condition. From the claimants perspective this makes sense even when it might fill us with horror. Put that together with the IDS perspective of rationalisation, cuts, simplification etc. and it’s, sadly, potentially a winning argument.

Mike Hughes - 05 October 2015 03:29 PM

Put aside the above discussion for a moment and look at this from the perspective of a claimant. Sadly, the overwhelming majority are unable to distinguish between PIP for long term disability and ESA for unfitness for work. They equate both to having a disability or long term health condition. From the claimants perspective this makes sense even when it might fill us with horror. Put that together with the IDS perspective of rationalisation, cuts, simplification etc. and it’s, sadly, potentially a winning argument.

You are right.

With the ‘withdrawal’ in 2017 of the WRAC there will be less confusion.

But hasn’t that always been the case from many claimants perspective? Destinguishing between the purpose of sickness and disability benefits. It’s now compounded by having two benefits ESA/WCA and PIP which are assessed by processes that look remarkably similar experience (even if the purpose and criteria are different).

The rhetoric about moving / assisting claimants back to work was a feature, to some degree, of all of the previous ‘reforms’. But maybe two points based schemes with the same assessment process (and a desire to save money!) makes it potentially easier for Govt. to make an argument about merging the two (and of course, thereby, assisting claimants into work) a bit easier to make?

Will claimants be the losers? Of course!

Engaged my brain and found my previous post on this just over 2 years ago.

http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/5663

Feeling all unnecessarily and inappropriately smug now in a “simultaneously sad” sort of way 😊

You feel as smug as you like, Mike. It’s allowed…and justified…..

1964 - 07 October 2015 02:10 PM

You feel as smug as you like, Mike. It’s allowed…and justified…..

And now I feel humbled, or is it humiliated :)