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Lords Committee calls for benefits cuts

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The cross-party House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee (EAC) has today called for the government to “accelerate its plans to reform health-related benefits”, warning that the country now spends more on incapacity and disability benefits than on defence  

The 14 member EAC has four each of Labour, Conservative and crossbench peers and two Lib Dems and includes former Tory Chancellor Norman Lamont.

The EAC claims that 3.7 million people of working age receive health-related benefits, 1.2 million more than in February 2020. They argue that the UK is now spending more on incapacity and disability benefits (almost £65 billion) than defence – and that figure is set to rise.

The committee also says it has seen no convincing evidence that deteriorating health or high NHS waiting lists have been the main driver of the rise in health-related benefit claims

It argues that there has been “a wealth of analysis” of the problems with the benefits system along with credible solutions.

The EAC’s recommendations include

  • A reform of the fit note system
  • Individuals who are signed off work for more than a month should undergo additional or ongoing assessments
  • Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is not rigorous enough and susceptible to error. The assessment should be face-to-face and seek to establish what work an individual can do rather than looking to corroborate what they cannot do.
  • If people return to work, they should not be at risk of immediately losing benefits; or, if the job proves unsuitable, they should not be immediately faced with having to reapply for these benefits.
  • Just as unemployed people have a work coach, so should those on incapacity benefit for the first two years of their period on benefits.

The call will add to growing pressure on Liz Kendall to make cuts to benefits, at the same time as last week’s High Court Judgement will oblige her to be honest about the financial effects of those cuts on claimants.

You can read the committee’s call for urgent action here.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    rtbcpart2
    · 54 minutes ago
    The Lords committee has some great ideas, right? So where's the costing, where's the money coming from to implement them? Sink extra billions into actioning UC managed migration, work coaches, health assessors, consultations, enquiries, 'a wealth of analysis', anything but give the money to the sick and disabled, better to spend it on guns.

    I know, cut benefits and boost defence at the same time: make all disability claimants join the armed forces. That would make us... paramilitaries.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Harry
    · 3 hours ago

    I posted this previously in another Benefit and Works thread.

    The main Disability Charities now need to step up.


    I've put this here as I believe it's relevant.I fully agree with the DPO,why haven't the Main Disability Charities not applied more intense pressure on this Government to halt or slow down the process to UC or stop the cuts to disability benefits,and other heinous measures that are causing severe human suffering to disabled people.



    Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) have made a plea to the government to listen to their “authentic” voices rather than disability charities that are not led by disabled people, which they say are “actively harmful” to their movement. In a response to the […]

    https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/disabled-peoples-organisations-tell-government-big-disability-charities-are-actively-harmful-to-our-movement/
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Matt
      · 1 hours ago
      @Harry I can only comment in regards to RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People). They are currently undertaking an organisation wide consultation in relation to staff numbers. The charity is £10 million in the red (this is public knowledge via In Touch, Radio 4).  Assuming that other charities are in an equally parlous state financially, and the costs of mounting judicial reviews (good lawyers are expensive) I wouldn't hold out much hope that the disability charities will be able to assist greatly. They'll complain etc but actual action....?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    John
    · 12 hours ago
    As a disabled person I feel we should be left alone if we can’t work . It’s very scary. But I try to get on with my life . But I still worry at times . 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Tom
    · 16 hours ago
    Am super worried as some one who has epilepsy and autism and cerebral palsy and dyslexia and ocd 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    tom
    · 17 hours ago
    "Individuals who are signed off work for more than a month should undergo additional or ongoing assessments" Great way of wasting even more money, do these parasites have a financial interest  in the companies doin these assessments?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Steve
    · 18 hours ago
    I have read the Lord's letter to Liz Kendall and I was stunned that 2.7 million people, around 6% working-age population, are claiming out of work disability benefits without a clinical diagnosis.

    Therefore, the tories called for focusing more in conditions itself not only the effects of it when deciding PIP and after the tories, the labour is talking about an end of self-diagnosis when it comes to disability benefits.

    I do not know if you agree with me or not when I say it is fair that a medical diagnosis must be required for the entitlement of disability benefits so people most in need get the help and support they are entitled to.



    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 1 hours ago
      @Steve
      "I was stunned that 2.7 million people, around 6% working-age population, are claiming out of work disability benefits without a clinical diagnosis."

      That would indeed be stunning if it were true. But it's not. It may well be that the number of people on out of work disability benefits is around 2.7 million - it's been at that sort of level for a long time. But the idea that anyone (let alone around 2.7 million people) are claiming without a clinical diagnosis is for the birds. if you don't have a diagnosis your chances of successfully claiming are slim to zero.

      "I do not know if you agree with me or not when I say it is fair that a medical diagnosis must be required for the entitlement of disability benefits so people most in need get the help and support they are entitled to."

      A medical diagnosis is already required to have any chance of claiming disabiity benefits. At the very least you need written evidence from a GP and preferably a consultant. Even then, it is common for the assessors who carry out these absurd assessments to ignore that evidence or dismiss it out of hand. That is in spite of the fact that GPs and especially consultants have far more knowledge of the claimant's condition than the assessor, so you frequently have assessors dismissing evidence from medical professionals who are far more medically qualified than the assessors themselves. Remember, the vast majority of claimants are assessed by someone who has no specialist knowledge of the claimant's condition.

      " labour is talking about an end of self-diagnosis when it comes to disability benefits."

      There is no such thing as self-diagnosis when it comes to disability benefits. You can self-diagnose as much as you like - if you don't have written evidence to back up the diagnosis from a GP or consultant then you have no chance of claiming disability benefits.


    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Scorpion
      · 3 hours ago
      @Steve "2.7 million people, around 6% working-age population, are claiming out of work disability benefits without a clinical diagnosis."

      But this is absolutely untrue.

      This is a baseless claim to build their misleading dishonest argument.

      Everybody who has has been to the WCA knows that they enclosed their ESA form with clinical diagnosis from their medical practitioners, or the latter filled in part of the form and have provided their details.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      MJ
      · 3 hours ago
      @Steve I don't understand this "self diagnosis". I can't believe you can obtain disability benefit without, whether physical or mental without a professional diagnosis. Jeez, it is hard to get it with one! can't imagine how someone gets it without.  

      I would say everyone on here has had a medical diagnosis.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      welshval
      · 4 hours ago
      @Old Mother Agree in a perfect world an official diagnosis is preferred but lets not kid ourselves this is purely a cost cutting exercise because they have chosen not to tax big business and the rich
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Old Mother
      · 6 hours ago
      @Steve I don’t disagree, but it brings into play discrimination when there is unfair access to diagnostic reports.  GPs are gatekeepers for referrals to consultants. GPs are variable in ability and motivation. Availability of consultants / appointments in nhs is poor to non-existent. 

      Waiting lists means years waiting to see someone, if you get referred at all.  

      So yes, could be a win for Labour. Restricted system means less payouts. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    c.lloyd@btintern
    · 22 hours ago
    Isn't it time the Lords or any Government minister or MP accept there are people who are disabled and really couldn't work. Being brain injured from 23 months and now in my mid 40s hasn't been a  laugh. It is very much a hidden condition but no one seems to care except my family. I have a carer arranged by the local authority which I pay for from my PIP. My carer doesn't come in for fun. If I get sent for medicals few people understand brain in jury.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    philip
    · 1 days ago
    There is a funny whiff about all of this. I have claimed health benefits for a very long time and had to go to tribunal 3 times just to get ESA, not even PIP. The default position has since 2010 been to deny benefits. Hence the tribunals. Now suddenly we are seeing a massive increase in claims being allowed. PIP as well. How come the increase ? Political cover to make across the board cuts to levels ? if not claim numbers ? One can't help but wonder.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Aldo
    · 1 days ago
    Why don't all the lords and politician's give up their bonuses and benefits? Maybe stop banking abroad in offshore accounts too? I'm sure that'd plug any gaps in the country's economy soon enough. Oh yeah I forgot it's just easier to go after those who can't really defend themselves isn't it?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Lill
    · 1 days ago
    People need to get emailing the disability charities this need to go high court and people need to get all their medical evidence what other evidence they got  and get to citizens advice  and find out how to stop the government before they even try  they taring everyone with same brush it's not right .
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Anon
      · 17 hours ago
      @Lill As the government hasn't announced any plans yet then there isn't any case to take to court. Also, citizens advice have no power to stop the government.
      We all need to wait and see what the government announces. It's unlikely the government will be prevented from pushing ahead with reforms, they always get their plans through the HOL in the end.
       
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Anon
    · 1 days ago
    The only proof I have is  a letter from a consultant going back to 2013 stating my GAD, paranoia and OCD. 

    Just hope that still counts as a clinical diagnosis not the self diagnosis Labour keep banging on about; roll his eyes.

    I e also switched to the Greens from Labour; took a while to decide on that issue.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Anon
      · 12 hours ago
      @Steve Yes I still take regular medications as they are the only things that help. 

      Thankyou
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Anon
      · 12 hours ago
      @Matt Thank you.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Matt
      · 17 hours ago
      @Anon You may want to see your GP to be referred back to the Consultant. I had to get re-registerd as sight impaired when I was transferred from DLA to PIP. My original certificate of visual impairment was 'lost' by Devon County Council 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Steve
      · 18 hours ago
      @Anon Taking regular medications with this letter means you have ongoing health conditions.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Alex
    · 1 days ago
    I honestly feel like they want to kill us off.  All of the evidence suggests that we are considered to be nothing more than a burden on the economy.  

    The freezing of LHA rates in a time of huge rent increases and a housing crisis.  My LHA barely covers half of my rent.

    The removal of the warm home allowance unless your house is deemed to be too cold.  

    The forced migration to UC that stops us getting any inflationary increases for the next few years as our transitional protection erodes.

    The freezing of the capital and savings allowance, so we can't budget for a crisis. 


    And now the attack continues, with:

    Reforms to sick notes?  We know what this means, a doctor who trained for years apparently isn't qualified enough to decide if we're fit to work.  Instead we'll probably get an incentive driven, unqualified work coach to decide what we can or can't do.

    Long term sick and disabled to get ongoing assessments?  They CLAIM to be trying to cut the bill, yet will need to employ more people to do these assessments, which will end up with lots of claims being cancelled, and tons of mandatory reconsiderations and appeals, which they will lose en masse and it'll end up costing them way more than they saved. 

    The only part I agree with is that we shouldn't be penalised for trying to return to work.  Some people may want to dip their toes in the water and see how they get on, and it might not work out for them.  So an easy path back to safety is a good thing.  But I don't trust the government, they try to put a positive spin on every nasty thing they do, so I don't have much faith in this idea either. 

    At the end of the day, they are yet again going after the most vulnerable in society, when we all know that INEQUALITY is the problem.  Tax the corporations and the rich, rather than attacking the poor every single year.  The benefits bill and the NHS bill could be covered if corporations paid their fair share, rather than getting tax break after tax break.


  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    CarolK
    · 1 days ago
    If these politicians in their ivory tower did the work they expected us to do they'd soon change their tune.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    sevenbees
    · 1 days ago
    I guess they are going to filter out those who do not have clinical diagnosis from claiming disability benefits and making harder for those who have to get the higher rate of it.
    However, I feel that the proposed changes to disability benefits will stop short of meeting these key recommendations as some of it are not achievable, in my point of view.
    Anyway, we have to wait till March to see the DWP response and their proposals of changes to the disability benefits.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Dave Dee
    · 1 days ago
    It's rather ironic, Lords many of whom are in their 90s talking about benefits. The house of lords is a club where people sit around, do nothing and get what 300 pounds a day for doing so? Who are the real scroungers off of the taxpayers eh? It's funny how this flies over the heads of the Daily Mail readers who salivate at any attempt to demonize the incapacitated and disabled. 

    I'm tired of all of this, someone said disability benefit reform whilst pushing Euthanasia at the same time isn't by chance and you know what? I agree. I have to look after someone who is physically and mentally disabled, I keep tabs on what is going on and I've become so bitter at a section of the British public who have this vendetta against disabled people but I've never actually met anyone who thinks like that.

    We spend more on welfare than defense, that is the fault of the last Government who had 14 years to change that, it is NOT the fault of disabled/incapacitated people. A sign of a coward, a sign of a bully is when they pick on what they believe to be the weakest. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    MrFibro
    · 1 days ago
    I wonder if this so-called committee would also like their wages and expenses cut right down to the bone, or even completely stopped.

    What do they get over £300 quid a day + expenses, just to doss around and blow hot wind & nodd off in the bargain.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      James
      · 19 hours ago
      @MrFibro It is 361/day From April 24 plus expenses  and 342/day currently. Plus expenses. Of course, they will agree with the government
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Eloise
    · 1 days ago
    Yet another ignorant report that has consulted zero disabled people or organisations supporting them. 

    That tiresome old twaddle about "focusing on what people can do rather than what they can't" appears again. How can you determine eligibility for disability benefits that way? Unless you are in a coma virtually everyone could theoretically do some work at some point in a perfect world. Meanwhile back in reality...(not a place these pampered, entitled Lords frequently inhabit)
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    James
    · 1 days ago
    Scapegoating the disabled and sick for their failures with the economy
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Rose
    · 1 days ago
    I'm so unwell, I have multiple auto immune diseases that are incurable.

     On top of these illnesses I have awful side effects from my multitude of medications. 

     I'm sick of being vilified for being unwell, abd always having to worry about the pittance I get, being taken away from me.

     All this cuts, green paper, white paper, vouchers, reforms is now starting to take a real toll on my mental health.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Gladioli
    · 1 days ago
    I agree that if people return to work, they should not be at risk of immediately losing benefits; or, if the job proves unsuitable, they should not be immediately faced with having to reapply for these benefits. I think that some of the increase is disability benefits is that the increasing cost of living has encouraged more people who have a health condition to report this in order to get enough income to get by. Also with the increase in State Pension Age there are older people claiming Universal Credit who in previous years would be drawing a pension. Having more work coaches for those on incapacity benefit is fine but what specialist training are they going to receive, what is their caseload going to be and are they going to be able to offer tailored support? 

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