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Are PIP, DLA and AA to be means-tested?

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Benefits and Work has started receiving emails from readers concerned that disability benefits including PIP, DLA and AA are about to be means-tested.

Although there have been rumours about this for several weeks, the issue gained further prominence due to a question put by shadow DWP secretary of state Jonathan Ashworth to the current DWP secretary of state, Mel Stride on Monday.

Ashworth asked “Can he give a categorical assurance that in the Autumn statement he will rule out means-testing personal independence payment, carers allowance attendance allowance and disability living allowance for children.”

Stride’s response was to avoid answering the question: “The right honourable gentleman is inviting me to break with what has been a very, very long-standing and quite correct convention that when it comes to a major fiscal event, ministers simply do not provide a running commentary as to what may or may not be in that fiscal event.”

In reality that ‘long-standing’ convention was broken as recently as 19 October when Liz Truss told the House at PMQs that the triple lock for pensioners would be maintained.  However, in the same response on Monday, Stride also refused to confirm that the triple lock remained safe under Sunak.

So, at the moment, Benefits and Work can offer no reassurance to readers about what the current administration will or won’t do on 17 November.  All we can suggest is that people don’t assume the worst and instead wait for concrete information.

UPDATE 06/11
Writing about the conservatives budget plans in the Guardian on Sunday, political commentator Andrew Rawnsley quoted a senior Tory as saying “They are flying a lot of kites to see which ones attract most fire.”  

Readers who have strong feelings about the possibility of disability benefits being means-tested might want to contact their MP as a matter of urgency - especially if they are a conservative - to make sure that they are aware that this is a kite which is likely to attract a great deal of fire.

If you do email your MP, please considering posting a comment below and letting us know what you told them. It may encourage other readers to do the same.

UPDATE 15/11
A DWP minister has now said that PIP and DLA will not be means-tested

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Mike Wilkinson
    · 2 years ago
    I’ve just emailed my Conservative MP for Rushcliffe Ruth Edwards expressing my concerns that the Government  are even considering such a proposal, I have expressed in no uncertain terms that I consider this proposal to attempt to fix the country’s finances on the back of some of the poorest and neediest members of society totally unacceptable.
    Thanks to Benefits and Work for bringing this to my attention.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Roger Barlow
    · 2 years ago
    Hi, I’ve just written to my MP Richi Sunak ( also prime minister) telling him bluntly the barbarity of means testing PIP, AA, and childrens DLA
    I’m indebted to Benefits and Work for alerting me to the rumours that the government might be intending to this.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Linda
    · 2 years ago
    Email sent to Wendy Morton MP
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    tonysibbo
    · 2 years ago
    Dear Mr Bone, my useless tory   MP

    I have been sent an e-mail today highlighting that a question was asked of the DWP secretary that PIP and other disability benefits are to be means -tested ? The minister gave no reassurance to this question.

    I suffer with progressive MS which has no cure , and prevents me from working .If the government thinks that forcing people back to work or means testing PIP or any other benefit to save money is the way forward then i will not be voting for the conservatives ever again .

    Frankly  if Liz Truss  can  rip  the public off for 115,000 pounds  a year salary   for 6 weeks work  as a lame  Prime Minister then you  owe the  disabled of this country a decent  rise ..
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      patsy166
      · 2 years ago
      @tonysibbo I’ve just emailed Greg Stone my M.P.
      I’ve forwarded the Benefits and Work newsletter to him and asked him to speak out on behalf of his disabled constituents.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    J Smart
    · 2 years ago
    I’ve just emailed my MP. I doubt it will make much difference to how Richard “I have a whopping great estate and oodles of money so I don’t really care” (allegedly) Drax , but I’ve at least had my say.

    Dear Richard Drax,

    I live in your constituency and you are my MP. I am writing to you to request that you oppose any proposed means testing for any disability benefits such as the Personal Independence Payment.

    I have increasing disability from spinal injury, having long and hard on the education field all my working life. I had to take retirement from teaching at 60 as my mobility was beginning to impair my ability to work and thankfully I was able to start claiming my teacher’s pension then as I was one of the last to be able to do so at that age. It is not a full pension as I spent some years caring for our children when they were little.
    I am also one of those WASPI women born in the late 50s who has missed out on being able to claim my old age pension until I am 66.
    I am 64 and currently I live on my teachers pension and for the first time in my life have started claiming benefit; I qualify for and have been granted PIP recently. This pays for essential equipment, support and resources that enable me now to live with dignity and with improved access and mobility.

    I am not just advocating for myself. Any means testing is likely to not only cause stress and anxiety for anyone who claims a disability related benefit, but is going to almost certainly remove some or all of the benefits from people who are the most vulnerable in our society and are the least likely to be able to change their financial situation because of their disability limiting their choices for work.
    In my career I have worked in special schools and seen the financial strain even “middle class” parents who are benefit claimants are under when bringing up children with complex needs. I now have personal experience of how important an impartial benefit can be in being able to manage life, and I implore you to block any means testing.
    There for the grace of God go any of us.
    To quote Hubert Humphrey who served as U.S. Vice President from 1965 to 1969

    “The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the disabled.”


  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Alan
    · 2 years ago
    Dear Miriam Cates,

    I’m not sure if you are aware that YOUR government are considering means testing disability benefits including PIP DLA
    This must not happen in any circumstance especially if you call yourself a COMPASSIONATE conservative.

    Sorry reposted due to typo error THANKS
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Alan
    · 2 years ago
    I’ve just sent this message to my Tory MP

    Dear Miriam Cates,

    I’m not sure if you are aware that YOUR government are considering mean treating disability benefits including PIP DLA
    This must not happen in any circumstance especially if you call yourself a COMPASSIONATE conservative.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    James Barr
    · 2 years ago
    Well here we go again batter the sick and disabled to pay for the mistakes of the rich, it's a well known fact that the conservatives are not for the working class people, this was shown only a matter of weeks ago when they argued against higher taxes for the mega earners and ruled out a windfall tax on companies who are making obscene profits.
    All the big companies are making huge profits at the expense of the poor, all these companies including Starbucks and Amazon etc should be forced to pay top rates of tax instead of hiding it away.

    People who are sick or disabled do not get nearly enough benefits to help them to survive, the UK is one of the worlds worst benefit payers for the elderly and all disabled claimants, The UK is quick to dish out loads of money in foreign aid  to countries who are quick to denounce us or stand with us AGAINST TRYANTS LIKE PUTIN.
    There should be more money available from the aid coffers to help the sick and disabled in this country and whatever is left can be given away.
    I really think that is is a disgrace to even suggest that PIP etc could be subject to means testing.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Wendy Outram
    · 2 years ago
    Why do DLA & PIP need to be means tested?? They’re hard enough to get as it is.
    I have Multiple Sclerosis & now need a wheelchair.
    Am I not disabled enough for this Government. I had to get the help of Fightback4Justice last time.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Gary
    · 2 years ago
    I have emailed my MP - Henry Smith for Crawley, West Sussex.  This pot mess of a government must stand down
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Lesley Robertson
    · 2 years ago
    I have written to my local MP about this, as you suggested. I attach a copy in the hope it will encourage others to write to their own MPs. Feel free to copy it if you wish. I have removed my address from the bottom of my email for privacy.

    Dear Mr Stevenson,

    I am reading worrying reports that the government is considering means testing various disability benefits. The amount of money received on these benefits doesn’t even cover all the extra expenses incurred by a lot of disabled people and the thought of having them reduced is frightening. As it is the rates are supposed to be rising in line with inflation from next April. This is long overdue. Worrying already vulnerable people about what is going to happen is creating even more stress for us. I hope you will do the decent thing and push for the government to tackle other areas to decrease the deficit. Hitting those of us who need the money most will not be looked upon very favourably by the electorate and your popularity is already wobbly after the fiascos of the last few weeks.

    Yours,

    Lesley Robertson
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Jenny
      · 2 years ago
      @Lesley Robertson Lesley, 
      I hope you don't mind me using your letter as a template to my Conservative MP, ironically he has a disabled son so hoping he will understand our circumstances? 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Jeremy
    · 2 years ago
    I have also written to my MP and also Keir Starmer to highlight this issue.  This would appear to fly in the face of the promises made only a week or so ago by Rishi Sunak that this would be a compassionate government and one which would protect the most vulnerable.  It's hard to imagine a more vulnerable group than disabled people whether they be adults or children.  The Government seems to happy to consider reducing disability benefits but strangely reluctant to introduce further windfall taxes.  They fail to realise that, with regards to DLA for children, that it's not just about the money.  Entitlement to DLA also acts as a key to unlocking other services such as blue badges etc and entry as a disabled person to some venues.  Losing DLA would also mean losing access to these services as well.    
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Kanith
    · 2 years ago
    Just sent this to my MP:-

    'I have heard certain disability benefits such as PIP may be means- tested whereas now they are not.

    As a Conservative voter I wish to register a protest in the strongest possible terms about implementing this. Likewise, ALL welfare benefits must be increased in line with inflation and the Triple Lock guarantee upheld.

    Any country is judged on how it treats its poor and most vulnerable. It seems the present Governemt simply does not care about them given the uncertainties and deprivations it continually heaps upon them.'

    HOPE it makes a difference.  This Governement will have our children back up cleaning chimneys next.  Join 'Enough Is Enough' - because it is.








  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    just
    · 2 years ago
    Perhaps a little positive news on this front, who knows?

    A Response from 
    8th of November
    DWP Minister for Disabled People, Tom Pursglove, said: “Personal Independence Payment, as for all the extra costs disability benefits, is not means tested. No assessment has been made of the administrative costs of introducing a means test.”.



  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Patricia j
    · 2 years ago
    I have emailed my mp about it...waiting for a reply, i tjink its disgusting this goverment keep taking from the poor, old and disabled people...and not the ruch bankers... etc etc who get monstrous bonuses...and dont need it, plus energy people on extortionate profits taking it from us.....
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Crystal
    · 2 years ago
    I have sent an email to my RHMP Mike Penning Hemel Hempstead Dacorum ward(Con-servative).
    I also challenged him and the head of DWP to live on only disability benefits for three months.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Emma Moat
    · 2 years ago
    Dear Sir Roger Gale, 

    Good morning. I hope you're well. I remember meeting you at Herne Bay Police Station about 13 or so years ago when I was the Community Safety Sergeant. I've since had to take early retirement from the police. I now have a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia which is a highly debilitating condition, including symptoms of chronic fatigue, widespread pain, stiffness,  migraines, memory loss, brain fog, there are over 200 symptoms and I have many. I am therefore in receipt of PIP.

    I am a single parent, receive a small police pension, own my own home (with 25 yr mortgage) with 3 children. One of whom is now an adult but waiting to start an apprenticeship with Border Force. I work very part time from home, for a utility company (self employed) and can go months without working due to my health. 

    Once upon I time, under the old benefits system, I would have been afforded Working tax credits to support my income,  which is under the previous threshold used of £16190. This figure was used to assess free school meals. I am no longer entitled to any benefit (except PIP) , I receive no help. I've managed the best I can and was relieved when the 2 yr energy cap was introduced, it gave me breathing space. With predictions saying it will move from £2500 to over £4.5k a year (for the average user, I am above average with a family of 4 and my need to be warm with my health issues) I am frightened as to where that leaves me. I own my own home and am deemed to earn too much (under 16k) to be seen as an in need person, everything else the government looked at has been related to those receiving the non disability related benefits, such as UC, ESA, working tax credits, child tax credits etc. 

    How can I fall between the cracks and that be ok? 

    I'm raising this because I'm not sure MPs necessarily understand there are cases like me who don't earn much, don't get benefits and are not going to survive....

    I am happy to provide more info should you need it.

    Kind regards, 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Mike
    · 2 years ago
    Thanks benefits and work 
    I have just emailed my MP,will let you know when l get reply.
    Thanks for all you do,keep up the good work.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Louise
    · 2 years ago
    Emailed my MP today about this. Thanks for highlighting. Pray to god that this doesn’t happen.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Aton
    · 2 years ago
    Sent an email to my MP just now after reading that PIP , DLA and AA might be means tested. 
    This would be very cruel for a lot of people who rely on this money .

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