contrib based ESA 12 months

I have seen on yourable some mention that consideration was being given to extending the time limiting of contrib based ESA to 2 years instead of 1

Does anyone know about this ?

Is it authentic information ?

From my recollection, this comes from the Labour party, who said that they agreed with most of the welfare reforms but thought that the ESA(CB) time limit should be 2 years not 1. I don't know whether this is official party policy or just one opposition cabinet member's opinion.

Thank you. I had the idea it was a 'possibility' anyway, if enough fuss is made by opposition, protests, and charities/ CAB but only time will tell. I beleive it is by far the harshest and most threatening of all the welfare reforms, for many hundreds of thousands of claimants, and I cannot see the CAB or others are vocal about it yet

do we know when a decision may be made about this , 12 / or 24 months etc. many thanks Rap.

we will have to watch and wait. I can see the point about making sickness benefits harder to stay on, it saves money but it also acts as an incenctive to work, but there's something unfair about hitting people who have had a contrib based medically proven entitlement and yet having no time limit on those without a parner at work or savings etc, it somehow penalises thrift and saving for rainy day, and threatens relationships too.

In my humble opinion, a simple realistic and robust medical test is all thats needed, as well as a dole regime that doesnt make the sickness benefits in any way attractive

In the meantime, the assessment tyranny goes on and on