tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11269329992313115732024-03-05T12:39:23.225-08:00I'm sure I put it down here somewhereRobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-79537637896212621962017-02-26T14:29:00.001-08:002017-02-26T14:32:11.429-08:00Challenge change to PIP mobility for people with mental illnessesThe government is planning to restrict access to Enhanced Rate Mobility PIP, blocking people who experience "severe psychological distress" from qualifying on those grounds.<br />
<br />
Labour are challenging this, as are a group of Lords (I think).<br />
<br />
If you want to encourage your MP to challenge this change, please email them. You can find your MP here: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mps/<br />
<br />
The text of my letter is below - you don't have to use it, it's just there in case it's helpful.<br />
<br />
I'll be calling my MP's constituency office tomorrow as this is a time-sensitive thing, to ask if your MP is able to challenge this change. Emails can take a while to be read, and a call will help get it seen!<br />
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<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16.6667px;">Dear My MP</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16.6667px;">
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The recent government decision to refuse Enhanced Rate PIP to people who can't travel outside alone because of severe psychological distress directly contradicts one of the reasons we were originally told DLA was outdated and needed to be replaced.<br />
<br />
In the DLA to PIP consultation, it was noted that people qualifying for Higher Rate Mobility tended to be people with physical conditions, and this was to the detriment of people with mental or cognitive reasons for being unable to travel alone.<br />
<br />
This was included during the October 2013 government response to the consultation on PIP (Moving around activity).<br />
<br />
"4.3<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">When developing the Mobility criteria, we were aware that although DLA includes deeming provisions which award the higher rate Mobility component to claimants who are deaf blind, severely visually impaired and severely mentally impaired, the higher rate Mobility component is predominantly awarded to claimants with physical mobility difficulties only. The DLA lower rate Mobility component has been awarded to those individuals who require guidance or supervision outdoors. This means that many claimants with mental, intellectual and cognitive impairments do not receive DLA higher rate Mobility, despite facing significant barriers to mobility and therefore to independent living.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small; font-weight: bold;"> The PIP Mobility component has been designed to reflect the impact of impairments on an individual's ability to get around, regardless of whether it has a physical or non-physical root cause. The Government was aware that this approach would mean a reprioritisation of finite resources and those individuals with a physical health condition or impairment would be more likely to see a reduction in the mobility support they receive relative to those with non-physical impairments requiring support for moving around." </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">(my emphasis)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/251631/pip-mobility-consultation-government-response.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1488234359121000&usg=AFQjCNFP5pUkr5UpvjvEdsyuZPHvfreTdA" href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/251631/pip-mobility-consultation-government-response.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/<wbr></wbr>uploads/system/uploads/<wbr></wbr>attachment_data/file/251631/<wbr></wbr>pip-mobility-consultation-<wbr></wbr>government-response.pdf</a></span><br />
<br />
This was also referenced during Steven Sumpter's court case where he unsuccessfully challenged the consultation process.<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
What was also raised during the case, by the DWP's barrister was:<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><br />"126<br />i) So far as assistance with mobility was concerned, the policy intention was to treat those with physical impairments and those with non-physical impairments equally."</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">in reference to the 2012 consultation on reforming DLA. </span><br />
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2014/2434.htm&source=gmail&ust=1488234359121000&usg=AFQjCNFYTL1Qffnw8DG9w2Er-5YTKvANMw" href="http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2014/2434.htm" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.bailii.org/ew/<wbr></wbr>cases/EWHC/Admin/2014/2434.htm</a><br />
<br />
Now according to reports in the FT & Morning Star we are being expected to accept a change where people with non-physical conditions aren't deemed to be disabled enough to need support outdoors?<br />
<br />
(referring to: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en-GB&q=https://www.ft.com/content/2b3a7aa8-faa8-11e6-9516-2d969e0d3b65&source=gmail&ust=1488234359121000&usg=AFQjCNEt9GlOC_anWzB9hn3Fa0eaKQZyiA" href="https://www.ft.com/content/2b3a7aa8-faa8-11e6-9516-2d969e0d3b65" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">https://www.ft.com/<wbr></wbr>content/2b3a7aa8-faa8-11e6-<wbr></wbr>9516-2d969e0d3b65</a>)<br />
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Anxiety disorders and other conditions that cause "severe psychological distress" are incredibly disabling, and not easily mitigated for. The financial support and stability enhanced rate PIP provides will help meet extra costs incurred as a result of struggling to leave the house, and acts as a passporting benefit indicating that individual as being significantly impaired by their condition.<br />
<br />
Please challenge this change. It is cruel, and further shows up the change from DLA to PIP as being more about cutting costs than about better spreading the welfare budget around.<br />
<br />
Please can you raise this with the relevant Minister?<br />
<br />
According to the FT article Labour members are looking to challenge this this week, please feel free to forward this email on whereever it might be of use.<br />
<br />
Yours sincerely</div>
</div>
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-38969157049231586912016-08-27T04:21:00.001-07:002016-08-28T02:04:15.244-07:00UK Disability inequality enquiry required<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've just written a quick letter to my MP asking that Theresa May conduct an enquiry into the inequalities disabled people face.<br /><br />This is the text of my letter - I'd encourage you to write to your MPs also, feel free to use my letter as a guide, but it's not particularly great so it's probably better if you write your own.<br /><br />Dear My MP<br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I'm glad to see Theresa May announce plans to examine racial inequality within the UK. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I'd also like to see her looking at how disabled people fare in the UK currently, would she consider a similar process to look at the impacts of government policies on disabled people?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I understand the UN is currently examining the government's treatment of disabled people as potentially breaching their human rights obligations, so it may feel like overkill for the government to also conduct research into the same area. However, the government has persistently refused to acknowledge how much damage their policies has done to disabled people.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Disabled people are most likely to be living under the poverty line, to be digitally excluded, to be under-employed, to be struggling to participate in society. The only line we get from the current government is that they seek to improve the potential for disabled people to get into work. This ignores those for whom work is unrealistic, those who can only work part time so will always have a limited income, those disabled people who have caring responsibilities, and the fact that not all problems disabled people have will be fixed by getting a job! </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Please could you ask Theresa May if she would look at researching inequalities faced by disabled people in the realms of social inclusion, education including further and higher education, access to public services, access to healthcare, access to employment, the effects of central government cuts to council funding on social care, and access to housing? And if she isn't willing to open such an enquiry, given the level of inequality disabled people experience, how can she justify not doing so? </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">Yours sincerely etc<br /><br />Editing to add:<br /><br />You can find your MP via http://www.parliament.uk/get-involved/contact-your-mp/<br /><br />The reason I suggest this rather than set up a government petition is, petitions asking for government action on disability inequality have in the past struggled to get signatures. If you ask your MP to ask a specific question of another MP, they're obliged to do so.<br /><br />Petitions are great for popular issues, but, here's the irony of the whole thing, disability inequality isn't a popular issue - yet another inequality disabled people face! So I need you to make the effort to write to your MP personally.<br /><br />You don't have to support them, you don't have to have voted for them, you just need to live in their constituency.<br /><br />Thanks for your time,<br /><br />Robin</span></span></span>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-14899210776508979262014-10-16T02:36:00.001-07:002014-10-16T02:59:03.512-07:00Access to Work - the government's in charge of another car crashThe government is actively making decisions that make it harder for disabled people to find and stay in work.<br />
<br />
This, despite their rhetoric of work being good for you.<br />
<br />
You'd think a government scheme that brings in £1.48 for each £1.00 spent on it (ref. 1 below) would be a flagship scheme, widely trumpeted and funded to the gills. But no, Access to Work, a fantastic scheme, that met the costs linked to meeting disabled people's access needs so they wouldn't disadvantage either employer or employee is being screwed around with, and is turning into a car crash.<br />
<br />
Disabled workers are being made to wait 6 months upwards for decisions on whether the scheme will cover their needs. For some, this is too long, and people are having to leave jobs before decisions are made.<br />
<br />
Previously, Access to Work was administered from multiple regional offices. Individuals would be linked to a specific advisor, who would understand the detail of their conditions, work, and requirements. This meant less admin time for both worker and government employee as explaining every last detail of work roles, conditions, and needs only needed to happen once.<br />
<br />
Now, those regional offices have been closed, and a smaller number of central offices have opened. Those experienced in the system have lost work, and new staff have been employed. Workers no longer have a dedicated advisor, so have to go into minute detail every time they contact the AtW office. Hours can be lost to repeated phone calls - all time spent on admin that a non-disabled worker doesn't have to do. And all costing taxpayers' - our - money, as an inefficiency has been added to the system.<br />
<br />
I have a small amount of self employed work as a printmaker. I need to go to art fairs to sell my work - just relying on internet sales isn't enough. I am medically unfit to drive, so need to take my work - including framed prints up to 60cm square - on the bus, or in taxis. I struggle to lift and carry heavy items, so need help with this.<br />
<br />
Formerly, AtW would help with taxi costs (within reason) to get to fairs, and a support worker, to help with physical tasks I can't manage. Bear in mind this is stuff a non-disabled person could do alone. However, recently AtW are asking for proof I have a profitable business before they'll consider me eligible for support. <br />
<br />
How many self-employed people turn a profit in the first couple of years of operation?<br />
<br />
I am only taking the same risks that a non-disabled person might take, but to have my access costs funded, I'm being asked to prove I'm paying NI and turning a profit immediately. To do that, I need to get to fairs, to expose my work to the public. To do that, I need support to get to those fairs. To get that support to got those fairs I need to apply to AtW. And if I cover the the support myself, I'm having to earn half as much again before I turn a profit because 50% of my earnings would go on access support... You see the Catch 22? <br />
<br />
Access to Work should be more widely available and better funded. It can really act to remove barriers to work for disabled people, and secondarily creates employment through both the infrastructure of the scheme, and through the employment of trainers, mentors, support workers and interpreters.<br />
<br />
I strongly believe if there is any contraction in the Access to Work scheme the government is both shooting itself in the foot as fewer disabled people will be able to stay in work, and will be making yet another decision that actively worsens conditions for a group of people who already face systemic discrimination.<br />
<br />
The government can choose to act to remove barriers to work for disabled people here. Challenging systemic discrimination should not be falling on the shoulders of those who already carry the burden both of that discrimination, and live lives that carry the challenges of impairment. As a government, you have the capability to lift that burden significantly, and not to do so is to shirk your duty. Those who have been placed in power by the country should use that power to better the lot of those with the least, and disabled people are amongst those both with the least, and who will struggle the most to change their own situations.<br />
<br />
Ref. 1: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/49779/sayce-report.pdf">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/49779/sayce-report.pdf</a><br />
<br />
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Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-88689775090101896162014-01-13T13:05:00.001-08:002014-01-13T13:05:11.698-08:00Steroid & anaesthetic injections in hipsI had steroid and anaesthetic injections in both hips just before Christmas to try and reduce the burning nerve pain I have down the outside of my legs, and to make it clearer whether the pain I have is coming from my hips or back (or both, and to make it clear what is coming from where.)<br />
<br />
Before the procedure I was given very little information, and nothing I could find online was particularly clear or detailed. My main anxiety was down to this lack of information. I knew it was a common procedure with low complication rates, and that if it didn't help, it was unlikely to make things worse.<br />
<br />
A friend's sister is having the same jab, but in a different place, and wanted a bit of info, so I sent the following as an email. It seemed sensible to put that here so maybe it will be useful for someone else, too.<br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The procedure was amazingly low discomfort - so much that I'd not worry about getting my back done, and am thinking of asking about that.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I went in early in the morning, it's counted as day surgery, but it's not done with any sedation or anything, just local anaesthetic where the injection will be done. I was allowed to eat & drink as normal beforehand.<br /><br />I walked into the theatre & hopped on the table, they swabbed my hips with iodine stuff and stuck sterile drapes over my midriff, with just two holes where they needed to get to the skin. They did the anaesthetic injection which was a little stingy using a thin & not very long needle. They did a couple of jabs of anaesthetic each side, using the same syringe & needle for each. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />A portable x-ray machine had been wheeled in shortly after I lay on the table. They</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> took a first image, and they popped the first big injection in - it was a spinal needle, so 4-5cm long or so, with a cannula around it. They took another image to check it was in the right place, then took the needle out leaving the cannula in place. Then they attached a syringe to the cannula and popped the steroid / anaesthetic mix in, checking after it was all in with another x ray.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">These were lowish dose x-rays, so several in the same day isn't a problem,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">At one point there was a dull pressure ache down my thigh, as the steroid went in, but the whole thing was far less painful than anything my body does to me. </span> Each side took about 5 minutes maximum. </div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When they had finished, the peeling off of the sterile drape was the most painful part, as the adhesive part of the drape gave me a free waxing >_<<br /><br />After this, I was wheeled up to recovery, then to the obs ward to have a cup of tea & biscuit, and show the nurse I could walk - which I could.<br /><br />I had no increased pain at all, it was like the burning in my legs was switched off. This is a good response, and some increased pain for a couple of days can be experienced. As the local wore off, before the steroid kicked in my hips were a little grumpy, but less than they had been.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> I went to the shop I do odd shifts at for my shift straight from the hospital, sitting on hard chair thee for about 4 hours with no more than my regular pain.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /> Pain wise, it's been 2 months now and my thighs sometimes have a bit of soreness, my hips ache a bit, but it's dialled right down, and has let me get a lot more exercise. I feel like it might be starting to wear off, annoyingly, but I need to see how it goes. I've not needed my crutches since the jabs, and have been able to reduce my tramadol intake by 1/3.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />Overall, it's a very straight forward procedure, and although unpleasant, is IME less unpleasant than dental work and a lot less sore than the pain of trapped nerves.<br /><br /></span></div>
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-79296466019520568502013-08-04T13:16:00.003-07:002013-08-04T13:16:54.504-07:00DWP Consultation on PIP assessment - Moving Around activity<span style="font-size: small;">This is my response to the DWP's consultation on the Moving Around activity - specifically with regard to their plan to not automatically award Enhanced Rate to people who can only walk from 21 - 50m, with or without mobility aids.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">It's not amazing, but I want it to be in public so the DWP can't try and claim no one was clearly against the distance reduction. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Someone
who can only walk 21-50 metres with a mobility aid does not have enough
mobility to not need considerable support to live a full and independent life. The
very use of a mobility aid often makes doing some things harder. I walk with
crutches – automatically this means I can’t carry more than a very small amount
of shopping, for example. Whilst they mean I can walk further than I could
unaided, they also create an access barrier. On balance I find them worth that
inconvenience, but that barrier is still very real, with real consequences. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Given
access to schemes such as Motability are based on receiving higher rate DLA,
and then Enhanced Rate PIP, people who have a small amount of mobility will be
severely impeded by losing access to those schemes. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>The
DWP itself has estimated some 90,000 people will lose their Motability
eligibility – which includes the hire of powerchairs, so that really is causing
people to lose their means of mobility. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Many
people can’t drive precisely because of their impairment. If public transport
is inaccessible to people because of distance to stops / stations, or not being
able to get on trains or tubes, or buses causing pain or nausea or sensory
overload, the only alternative is to take taxis. Taxis are expensive, so
without access to adequate benefit payment – which Enhanced PIP would provide –
taxi journeys would be out of of reach for people on Standard Rate. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>If
people need to use taxis to get around £20 won’t pay for more than 2 or 3 cab
journeys, if you’re lucky. Which will see people who need to travel having to
decide between which to travel to - GP, hospital appointments, adult education,
the Jobcentre, voluntary work, - heaven forefend disabled people should want a
social life and to see friends or family!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>21-50
metres is not far enough to get to many bus stops, or from one’s front door to
a local corner shop, or between benches on a high street. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>To
get to work many people – including disabled people – need to get from public
transport to their place of work. For how many people is this less than 50m? I
suspect not many. For me, it’s a 180m walk. Taxis can’t get to all workplaces
so Access to Work isn’t necessarily going to be able to meet people’s transport
assistance needs. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Supermarkets
are bigger than a 21-50m walk to get around. Bus stops near supermarkets tend
to be more than 20m away from the front door. The assumption that everyone has
access to a car to get them to a supermarket is deeply flawed.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Many
disabled people need to have shopping delivered. The cumulative delivery costs
of shopping online for the bulk of one’s needs shouldn’t be a burden on
disabled people. The point of benefits like DLA / PIP is to mitigate these
extra costs. If it is only a small sum, there’s no way it’ll stretch to meet
all of these extra costs. Someone with mobility as restricted as only being
able to walk up to 50m is likely to also have trouble standing for extended
periods – problems queuing are difficult to mitigate. Problems carrying
shopping means often having to rely on other people to carry things for you –
which if someone lacks support of people who can do this, means needing to pay
people to do this. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>Being
unable to walk less than 50m even with an aid, should qualify someone
automatically for Enhanced Rate PIP. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>I
will go further. Being unable to manage 100m should continue to be the distance
at which it is considered someone’s mobility is considerably impaired. That is
far enough to hobble to a corner shop & back, over to a post box &
back, or from a bus stop to a shopping centre’s wheelchair hire office. Being
effectively tied to one’s house by a piece of string 50m long (because you have
to get there AND BACK) is incredibly restrictive. If that piece of string is
cut down to 10m, that’s only to the garden gate. That is cruel, and is going to
further restrict disabled people who are already living lives restricted by
pain, fatigue and immobility. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>There
is a choice now with PIP. Choose to enable people living with impairments, or
to further disable those people. A government that actively creates policies
that worsen the lives of disabled people is inhumane and cruel.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span>I
also want to add when I responded to the PIP criteria before, 20 metres
distance was nowhere to be seen – this late addition consultation should never
have been needed. Again, this adds a burden to disabled people, requiring us to
repeatedly consult.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-22421045154854262122013-07-18T04:02:00.003-07:002013-07-18T04:15:40.496-07:00New Bus for London - an emblem of Boris Johnson's contempt for disabled people?The New Bus for London / New Routemaster has been chugging around selected London routes, <a href="http://www.boriswatch.co.uk/2013/07/17/has-the-new-bus-for-londons-air-cooling-been-fixed/" target="_blank">boiling its top-deck passengers</a> and irritating me every time I see one.<br />
<br />
I loved the old Routemasters, but I also appreciated that they'd done their job and needed to be retired. They weren't comfortable to travel on, and if you had luggage / shopping / a buggy / were a wheelchair users / had impaired mobility / long legs... etc etc they were either less than ideal or totally inaccessible.<br />
<br />
As a bus designed from scratch, the New Bus for London could have been designed with all of London's passengers in mind. Instead it seems to be a step backwards in accessibility terms. Design choices have been made that are active barriers for some disabled people.<br />
<br />
The wheelchair user's space has been designed with, seemingly, only smaller manual wheelchair users in mind. Handrails have been put in awkward spaces, and it's just not big enough for larger powerchair users.<br />
<br />
The destination blinds are in white-on-black, which goes against <a href="https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/specification_for_london_buses#incoming-206328" target="_blank">TfL's own standards for legibility. </a>When I asked about this choice, I got the following response:<br />
<br />
"Black and white blinds were chosen when designing the New Bus for London as these are in keeping with the traditions of the original iconic Routemaster bus, which partly inspired the design of the bus and its front and rear profile. They provide information in a format that is clear and legible for passengers, particularly at night when it is back lit.<br />
<br />
<b>As it meets legibility standards for contrast and visibility</b>, no consultation was required" (my highlighting)<br />
<br />
Most guidance I can find on legibility says yellow text on black provides best contrast for visually impaired readers, and the response from TfL contradicts the earlier information on TfL's legibility standards.<br />
<br />
To me, this seems like a backsliding of access provision - a choice
of style over readability for a wider group of people, and as such is a
discriminatory choice. <br />
<br />
This, combined with the decisions around
the space for wheelchair users being less than ideal (and again, worse
than existing spaces on other buses) makes me feel like the design team
for this bus and Boris Johnson as the figurehead of this project, don't
care about disabled people being able to travel around London, and are
happy to actively place barriers in people's way.<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-18336548835063997062013-02-06T13:19:00.001-08:002013-02-06T13:36:31.289-08:00How do Tories actually "help the most vulnerable in society"The Independent Living Fund was a scheme whereby people with high levels of care needs were enabled to live independently, in their own homes rather than in residential care, through personal care being funded from central government.<br />
<br />
Local councils have a responsibility to provide care for residents who have care needs, but in reality many councils are rationing this care and only providing it to those in the most desperate need - and then, only providing the minimum required. So someone who isn't incontinent, for example, may be put in nappies overnight rather than fund a personal assistant to assist that person with toileting.<br />
<br />
Some councils are also looking at putting people into residential care if it would be cheaper to care for them there rather than in the community. (<a href="http://www.worcesterstandard.co.uk/2013/01/01/news-Legal-challenge-over-council%27s-care-cap-59039.html">http://www.worcesterstandard.co.uk/2013/01/01/news-Legal-challenge-over-council%27s-care-cap-59039.html</a>) The ILF has previously been used to top up people's care funding meaning disabled people could continue to live in the community.<br />
<br />
Yes, it is councils' responsibility to provide social care, but the
Coalition knows councils have shrinking budgets - they're the government
providing those bloody shrinking budgets to the councils! All they're
doing is going "Not my problem" about everything, and shoving it all
onto other people's budgets. <br />
<br />
I think the Tories hide behind "localism", and know people
will suffer as tasks fall to different regions to legislate, when
dealing with some things nationally is realistically the only way to
ensure fair access to those things. <br />
<br />
There are many people supported by the ILF - one woman is someone I know through work, Sophie Partridge, who has put a video together voicing her concerns.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LIzCtAsBV4M" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
Further discussions with people affected by closure of ILF:<a href="http://falseeconomy.org.uk/blog/people-affected-by-the-closure-of-the-independent-living-fund" target="_blank"> http://falseeconomy.org.uk/blog/people-affected-by-the-closure-of-the-independent-living-fund</a><br />
<br />
The Independent Living Fund really did support some of those the Tories refer to as "the most vulnerable in society", people with incredibly complex care needs, who need 24 hour support. The Tories have closed it, and councils will be expected to pick up the tab, but the money is just not there.<br />
<br />
How is this "supporting the most vulnerable"? As far as I can see it's just making those "most vulnerable" not their problem, passing the buck, handing over responsibility, and ultimately not giving a toss as long as their bottom line isn't affected.<br />
<br />
Here is a letter from the DWP about the closure of the ILF:<br />
<br />
<span id="internal-source-marker_0.8212042180021955" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Thank
you for your recent correspondence, raising issues arising from
Government policies which are the responsibility of this Department.
Government Ministers receive a large volume of correspondence and they
are unable to reply personally on every occasion. I have been asked to
respond to some of your points.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There
are just over 19, 000 ILF users. There are approximately 13,000 users
in England, 3,000 in Scotland, 2,000 in Wales and 750 in Northern
Ireland.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The average weekly ILF payment is £347. The most common use of ILF funding is to pay for personal assistants. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There
are approximately 3,000 Group 1 users (joined pre-1993). While many
Group 1 users receive some support from their local authority, this
input is not part of their ILF eligibility criteria. There are
approximately 16,000 Group 2 users (joined in or after 1993). Group 2
users have care packages which include a minimum contribution of £200
per week from their local authority. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">94%
of ILF users receive support from both the ILF and the local authority.
Around 41% of these users receive direct payments from both the ILF and
their local authority but under different eligibility and charging
functions. Around 1, 200 ILF users do not have a known local authority
contribution to their care package.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Having
carefully considered all the responses to the consultation, the
Government believes that closing the ILF in 2015, with funding devolved
to local government in England and the devolved administrations in
Scotland and Wales, is the best way forward. The significant changes in
the wider system of care and support for disabled people mean that the
care and support needs of current ILF users can, and should, be met
within a single cohesive system. It is not justifiable to continue to
support those disabled people who were ILF users when the fund closed to
new applications, in a different way from other disabled people with
similar needs. I can reassure ILF users that the Government remains
fully committed to maintaining current ILF user’s care packages up to
April 2015.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We
believe that individual local authorities are best placed to provide
locally tailored funding and services integrated around individuals’
needs through direct payments and personal budgets. Local Authorities
already have a statutory responsibility to assess and fund the care
needs of all disabled people – those who have been ILF users and those
who have not. Over 18,000 existing ILF users already receive expert
assessment and a contribution to their care funding through their Local
Authority and discretionary ILF payments and have never taken precedence
over this. However, operating the ILF in addition to the mainstream
care and support system has duplicated functions and created unnecessary
bureaucracy for both users and local authorities."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I don't find that letter satisfactory. It offers absolutely no assurance that people <span style="font-family: Arial;">will <span style="font-family: Arial;">continue to get the support they need to continue to live<span style="font-family: Arial;"> <span style="font-family: Arial;">their own li<span style="font-family: Arial;">ve<span style="font-family: Arial;">s<span style="font-family: Arial;"> as we all have the right to<span style="font-family: Arial;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-3849004921051525342012-11-25T11:16:00.001-08:002012-12-19T02:17:02.766-08:00Response to Minister for Disabled People's letter of 17th November 2012<span style="font-size: small;">This is my response to this letter: <a href="http://misplacedmarbles.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/letter-from-esther-mcvey-dated-17th-nov.html" target="_blank">http://misplacedmarbles.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/letter-from-esther-mcvey-dated-17th-nov.html </a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Dear Ms McVey,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Thank you for your reply to my letter dated 12/10/2012, on support for disabled people.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I'm
glad to see you take on board the importance of ensuring disabled
people have the right support in place, and in jobs that suit individual
requirements. However, some of my points have not been addressed, so I
feel the need to write back asking for clarification.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">You haven't really addressed the point that there are some disabled people for whom work is not a realistic expectation. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">There
are those with life-limiting conditions who may not wish to spend their
final months on Earth sitting in the Jobcentre chasing menial and
minimum-wage work. There are people living with conditions that cause
relentless chronic pain and fatigue where going to work would render
them unable to do anything else, once back home. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">People with profound and multiple impairments who require 24 hour
care may wish to enter work with a lot of support, but pressure should
not be put on people to enter the very competitive world of the "jobs
market" when they can't compete on a level playing field.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Why are people who can't participate in the regular working world
expected to live on a pittance, fighting a cruel system for every penny
that is begrudgingly given, government who on the whole persist in
selling the line that disabled people are scroungers? When MPs
themselves commit far more fraud than benefit claimants (some 30%
involved in the expenses fraud scandal, compared to 0.5% of benefit
claimants.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Given the closure of the Independent Living Fund which supported
those who are so profoundly impaired they require 24 hour care, or would
need to live in institutions, how can you even think of saying your
government wants to help the most vulnerable? Council budgets are being
slashed, social care is only going to those in desperate need, so what
is going to replace the ILF? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Access to Work will clearly help those who are in work, with
work-related costs. But for support with life outside work. PIP will
have a smaller caseload, so there will be more disabled people going
totally unsupported with daily living tasks. What are we supposed to do?
What will the estimated 100,000 disabled people who lose Motability
vehicles supposed to do? How will they remain independent, or if
working, remain in work having lost their accessible transport?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I have heard the line "we have consulted extensively with disabled
people and disabled people's organisations." before, but I'm having
trouble believing it without seeing evidence.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">thanks
to an FOI request by Disabled People against the Cuts I found the
following organisations were met with during PIP consultations, but very
few had positive things to say:</span>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">1. Action for ME;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">2. Action for Blind People</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">3. Action on Hearing Loss;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">4. CALL Scotland;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">5. Capability Scotland;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">6. Citizens Advice</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">7. Centre for Mental Health;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">8. Child Poverty Action Group;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">9. Crohn’s and Colitis UK;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">10. DIAL Peterborough;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">11. Disability Action In Islington;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">12. Disability Alliance;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">13. Disability Lambeth;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">14. Down’s Syndrome Association;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">15. Dystonia Society;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">16. Ecas;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">17. Enfield Disability Association;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">18. Essex Coalition of Disabled People;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">19. Family Action;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">20. Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">21. Hackney Carers;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">22. Hayfield Support Services with Deaf People;
</span></div>
<hr style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">23. Headway Glasgow;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">24. Haemaphilia Society;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">25. Inclusion Scotland;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">26. Independent Living in Scotland Project;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">27. Leonard Cheshire Disability;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">28. Limbless Association;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">29. Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">30. Macmillan;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">31. Margaret Blackwood </span><wbr></wbr><span style="font-size: small;">Housing Association;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">32. Mencap;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">33. Middlesborough Welfare Rights Unit;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">34. MS Society;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">35. Mind;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">36. Momentum Scotland;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">37. National AIDS Trust;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">38. National Autistic Society;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">39. National Deaf Children’s Society;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">40. National Rheumatoid </span><wbr></wbr><span style="font-size: small;">Arthritis Society;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">41. National Federation of the Blind;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">42. Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">43. Parkinson’s UK;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">44. Papworth Trust;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">45. People First;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">46. Poverty Alliance;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">47. Quarriers;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">48. Royal National Institute of Blind People;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">49. Scottish Association for Mental Health;</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">50. Scope.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Courtesy of: <a href="http://www.dpac.uk.net/2012/02/so-we-all-wanted-to-know-who-miller-and-the-slash-and-burn-gang-were-talking-to/" target="_blank">http://www.dpac.uk.net/2012/<wbr></wbr>02/so-we-all-wanted-to-know-<wbr></wbr>who-miller-and-the-slash-and-<wbr></wbr>burn-gang-were-talking-to/</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Of that list, the following
organisations publicly do not approve of your reforms, having real
concerns for how disabled people will fare if the reforms go through as
planned.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mencap: "Mencap’s chief executive, Mark Goldring, said: “We are extremely
disappointed by the government's rejection of the Lord’s amendments, and
failure to listen to the concerns of disabled people and their
families."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.mencap.org.uk/news/article/esa-time-limit-amendment-reversed" target="_blank"> http://www.mencap.org.uk/news/<wbr></wbr>article/esa-time-limit-<wbr></wbr>amendment-reversed</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The RNIB: "This report adds to a growing evidence base that shows the Government
cannot follow through on its Big Society agenda and its commitment to
give disabled people control and independence by stripping away the very
benefits and services that enable them to take part in our communities"</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.rnib.org.uk/getinvolved/campaign/yourmoney/welfarereform/Pages/MTMTE_report.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.rnib.org.uk/<wbr></wbr>getinvolved/campaign/<wbr></wbr>yourmoney/welfarereform/Pages/<wbr></wbr>MTMTE_report.aspx</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Mind: "we are still very worried about
the impact the introduction of the new
assessment will have on people with mental health problems." "we remain
unconvinced that the breadth and detail of activities to be
considered is sufficient to properly capture the barriers to
participation faced by people with mental health problems"</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.mind.org.uk/news/6011_mind_responds_to_new_pip_assessment" target="_blank">http://www.mind.org.uk/news/<wbr></wbr>6011_mind_responds_to_new_pip_<wbr></wbr>assessment</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The National Autistic Society: "We are
concerned about how the assessment will work for the new benefit, as
well as about proposals for regular re-assessments."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.autism.org.uk/en-gb/get-involved/campaign-for-change/campaigning-by-issue/work-and-benefits/campaigning-on-disability-living-allowance.aspx" target="_blank">http://www.autism.org.uk/en-<wbr></wbr>gb/get-involved/campaign-for-<wbr></wbr>change/campaigning-by-issue/<wbr></wbr>work-and-benefits/campaigning-<wbr></wbr>on-disability-living-<wbr></wbr>allowance.aspx</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Scope: "Scope warns that the government is in danger of repeating mistakes with its new benefit assessment.
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The charity says that up to two million disabled people risk losing
essential financial support because the new £6 billion Personal
Independence Payment, introduced to replace Disability Living Allowance
(DLA), will use a flawed eligibility assessment." </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.scope.org.uk/news/benefit-assessments" target="_blank">http://www.scope.org.uk/news/<wbr></wbr>benefit-assessments</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Leonard Cheshire: "There have been some positive changes agreed in the Lords, but
as the plans stand there are still real fears that many thousands of
disabled people will be pushed into poverty and financial hardship if
they are found ineligible for support through the new Personal
Independence Payment"</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.lcdisability.org/?lid=21724" target="_blank">http://www.lcdisability.org/?<wbr></wbr>lid=21724</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The National AIDS Trust: "NAT does not
consider the proposed functional assessment a more accurate method for
identifying disability-related needs than the existing DLA assessment"
"NAT is extremely concerned that the reform process is being driven by a
pre-determined 20% budget cut" "The decision to focus PIP on those with
‘greatest needs’ is also a move away from the principles of DLA"</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.nat.org.uk/media/Files/Policy/2011/NAT_submission_WPCommitteePIP_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.nat.org.uk/media/<wbr></wbr>Files/Policy/2011/NAT_<wbr></wbr>submission_WPCommitteePIP_<wbr></wbr>FINAL.pdf</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Capability Scotland: "These amendments could be the difference between
a family being able to heat their home and put food on the table
and complete financial devastation. Unfortunately the UK
Government does not have a great track record on listening when it
comes to Welfare Reform"</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.capability-scotland.org.uk/news-events/latest-news/capability-urges-westminster-to-listen-to-peers/" target="_blank">http://www.capability-<wbr></wbr>scotland.org.uk/news-events/<wbr></wbr>latest-news/capability-urges-<wbr></wbr>westminster-to-listen-to-<wbr></wbr>peers/</a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin-left: 18pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Joint response from Centre for Mental Health, Hafal,
Mind, Rethink, The Royal College
of Psychiatrists and the Scottish Association for Mental Health: "We do not support
the objective of an overall reduction target for the basis of DLA reform – the
reform should be based on supporting disabled people to lead fulfilling lives
and not primarily concerned with reducing costs."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"We are concerned about the focus on those with
‘greatest need’ – this may be counterproductive and significantly disadvantage
those eligible to lower rates of benefit, who may still have high disability
costs."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/DLA_Consultation_Response_CFMH_Hafal_Mind_Rethink_RCPsych_and_SAMH.docx" target="_blank">http://www.<wbr></wbr>centreformentalhealth.org.uk/<wbr></wbr>DLA_Consultation_Response_<wbr></wbr>CFMH_Hafal_Mind_Rethink_<wbr></wbr>RCPsych_and_SAMH.docx </a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Citizens Advice: "A benefits cap is just one of a number of welfare reforms that
will have a disproportionate impact on some of the most vulnerable
families, including children, breadwinners who have lost their job, and
others forced to give up work because of illness The government is right
to try and simplify a benefits system which is far too complex, but
unless some safeguards are put in place the combined impact of these
sweeping welfare reforms and huge cuts will be catastrophic for a lot of
families already stretched to the limit."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/pressoffice/press_index/press_20120123.htm" target="_blank">http://www.citizensadvice.org.<wbr></wbr>uk/index/pressoffice/press_<wbr></wbr>index/press_20120123.htm</a> </span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In addition, along with the Papworth Trust, these organisations have
called for a pause to the Bill because their concerns are so severe:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Papworth Trust<br />Action on Hearing Loss
<br />Brandon Trust
<br />Campaign for a Fair Society
<br />Disability Rights UK
<br />Disability Wales
<br />Ekklesia
<br />Leonard Cheshire Disability
<br />MS Society
<br />The National Autistic Society
<br />Rethink Mental Illness
<br />RNIB
<br />Sense
<br />Three Cs
<br />United Response
<br />The Westminster Society</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.papworth.org.uk/news-detail.php?aid=280" target="_blank">http://www.papworth.org.uk/<wbr></wbr>news-detail.php?aid=280</a></span> </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Breast Cancer Care "Breast Cancer Care, along with other cancer charities, met with
Maria Miller MP, Minister for Disabled People and DWP officials in
July, to discuss the changes we wanted to make to the Welfare
Reform Bill for the benefit of cancer patients. We provided case
studies of people with breast cancer to the Minister’s office to
demonstrate the possible negative impact of the changes if they go
ahead." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/campaigning-volunteering/campaigning/current-campaigns/welfare-benefits/what-have-we-done-so-far" target="_blank">
http://www.breastcancercare.<wbr></wbr>org.uk/campaigning-<wbr></wbr>volunteering/campaigning/<wbr></wbr>current-campaigns/welfare-<wbr></wbr>benefits/what-have-we-done-so-<wbr></wbr>far</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">MS Society "The MS Society, along with other major charities, have today urged the
Government to pause the Welfare Reform Bill and carefully consider the
future of <a href="http://www.mssociety.org.uk/glossary#Disability_Living_Allowance" target="_blank"><acronym>Disability Living Allowance</acronym></a>" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.mssociety.org.uk/ms-news/2012/01/major-charities-call-pause-on-welfare-reform-bill" target="_blank">http://www.mssociety.org.uk/<wbr></wbr>ms-news/2012/01/major-<wbr></wbr>charities-call-pause-on-<wbr></wbr>welfare-reform-bill</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Sense "Sense is deeply concerned the Government’s decision to get rid of the
automatic entitlement to DLA mobility component for deafblind people
will leave many out in the cold and the needless bureaucracywill create
confusion and cost the tax payer more. The Government’s short
sighted focus on disabled people with solely higher needs means
preventative support will be slashed. This financially irrational
approach is not sustainable and will cut many deafblind people off from
participating in society" <br /><br />And as for your press office being
open 24/7, maybe you need to tell your fellow MPs to check with them
before talking to the media. Your own colleagues are using inaccurate
statistics and wrong information - Ian Duncan Smith linking DLA with
in-work benefits, when it isn't. Repeated use of the "30% growth in DLA"
figure, which is inappropriate as it includes children and older adults
- when PIP will only apply to working age people, so relevant growth is
only about 14% when demographics are accounted for. Whenever a minister
talks about fraud they use the 5 Billion punds figure - but that is
fraud AND ERROR - Approx £1 Billion is claimed fraudulently and £4
Billion lost through DWP error! Add to that the £17 Billion
UNDERCLAIMED, and the fraud figure pales into near insignificance.
However I've not heard Ian Duncan Smith mention the huge amount
underclaimed.</span>
</div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">I look forward to your respone</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Yours sincerely</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Robin</span>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-73223369295346419512012-11-24T10:07:00.004-08:002012-11-24T13:35:55.725-08:00Save Lewisham Hospital's A&E departmentLewisham Hospital's A&E is being threatened with closure. Not because it is failing - almost the reverse. It is doing really well, and has recently been renovated. No, because the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich is bankrupt, the administrator wants to close Lewisham to drive more business to the Queen Elizabeth, meaning they get more funding!<br />
<br />
Lewisham Hospital serves a borough with a large population - nearly 250,000 people - as well as taking in people from surrounding boroughs if, for whatever reason, they can't go to their local hospitals.<br />
<br />
If Lewisham A&E closes, its maternity and ICU services will be reduced as emergency care on site won't be possible.<br />
<br />
If Lewisham A&E closes, people will have to travel further on public transport to get to other hospitals - the QE or Kings College Hospital. The QE, for me, is an hour by buses, and then a 10 minute walk. If I'm sick enough to need to go to A&E, I don't want to have to sit on one bus for 20 minutes, wait at a bus stop, sit on another bus for 20 minutes, and then walk 10-20 minutes from the bus stop to the A&E department. Kings is a great hospital, but it already serves a large population, and is already very busy and overstretched.<br />
<br />
How many people will end up more impaired by extended waits to get to A&E? Strokes, heart attacks, loss of blood - these things need very rapid treatment. An ambulance taking 15 minutes longer to get someone to hospital reduces survival rates by a huge amount, and those who do survive are likely to have poorer outcomes and live with unnecessary impairment afterward.<br />
<br />
You can help. Go here: <a href="http://www.savelewishamhospital.com/how-to-respond-to-tsa/">http://www.savelewishamhospital.com/how-to-respond-to-tsa/</a> and respond to the consultation as advised - we have only two weeks to do this.<br />
<br />
All consultation documents, including Easy Read are here: <a href="http://www.tsa.nhs.uk/document-downloads" target="_blank">http://www.tsa.nhs.uk/document-downloads </a><br />
<br />Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-26805540081614139652012-11-24T04:12:00.000-08:002012-11-24T10:12:05.504-08:00Minister for Disabled People responds to my letter of October 12thLetter from Esther McVey, dated 17th Nov 2012 replying to <a href="http://misplacedmarbles.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/dear-esther-mcvey.html">http://misplacedmarbles.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/dear-esther-mcvey.html</a> <br />
<br />
Dear Robin,<br />
<br />
Thank you for your e-mail of 12 October regarding support for disabled people.<br />
<br />
Thank you for your comments on the difficulty of ensuring the right support is in place for disabled people to work. I agree that it is important to make sure that the right support is in place, ensuring the job is suitable for the individual.<br />
<br />
Access to Work is a specialist disability programme delivered by this Department, providing practical advice and support to disabled people and their employers, helping them overcome work-related obstacles, resulting from their disability. Access to Work funds the support that is beyond what an employer should provide, as reasonable adjustments.<br />
<br />
To ensure the right support is in place, the Access to Work process includes an assessment of the applicant's needs; carried out in their workplace. I agree that it is also important to ensure that the job is suitable for the individual, to help achieve this, the scope of activity that Access to Work funding can support has recently been expanded to include people taking part in a Work Trial arranged by Jobcentre Plus, and young people gaining Work Experience as part of the Youth Contract.<br />
<br />
I should add that throughout the process of Disability Living Allowance reform, we have consulted extensively with disabled people and disabled people's organisations.<br />
<br />
This includes formal consultations earlier this year on the second draft of the Personal Independence Payment assessment criteria, and the detailed rules that will underpin the new benefit. We received a total of 2,600 responses to our consultations and are now carefully considering these responses.<br />
<br />
While I am not able at this stage to reveal the contents of any discussions or submissions from any of the organisations that responded, I can tell you that the Government intends to publish its responses to the consultations later this year, once our considerations are complete. We will also be publishing organisations' responses to the consultations.<br />
<br />
I understand you took the opportunity to share your views with us on our proposals by participating in our consultation activity, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for that. As you may be aware, more information about Personal Independence Payment can be found on our website at <a href="http://www.dwp.gov.uk/pip">www.dwp.gov.uk/pip</a>.<br />
<br />
Furthermore, disabled people have been telling Governments for some years that media tends to highlight the negative and these types of stories are used to affirm some people's prejudices about disabled people. This is not a new issue.<br />
<br />
However this Government fully accepts that whilst laws are in place to ensure equality, we need to work together and do more to challenge and change negative attitudes towards disabled people.<br />
<br />
That is why we are currently developing our new "Disability Strategy" - which focuses on the responses of thousands of disabled people who gave their views to our "Fulfilling Potential" consultation over the summer.<br />
<br />
One of the key areas of the Strategy looks at is promoting positive attitudes and behaviours towards disabled people and tackling discrimination and harassment wherever they occur. We received over 2,200 comments which related to this theme.<br />
<br />
Suggestions include the Government benchmarking attitudes in order to properly understand how to make changes over the long-term; producing and launching a media guide for journalists; and training for frontline Government staff to embed disability issues at the start of the policy-making process.<br />
<br />
To help deliver the Strategy, we are carry forward ideas proposed by disabled people themselves and we are now setting up a new Disability Action Alliance.<br />
<br />
Convened by Disability Rights UK and supported by the Office for Disability Issues, the alliance will join forces with private sector and public sector organisations to help change attitudes and create "inclusive communities" around the country.<br />
<br />
Finally, the Department's press office operates a "24/7" service so there is always someone available to help explain the statistics to journalists and help ensure accurate reporting.<br />
<br />
I hope this reply explains the position.<br />
<br />
Kind regards<br />
<br />
Esther Mcvey MP<br />
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Disabled People.<br />
<br />Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-17862104561142288412012-11-16T13:15:00.001-08:002012-11-16T13:15:01.042-08:00Pudsey's WCACrossposted from <a href="http://samedifference1.com/2012/11/16/pudsey-bears-wca/">http://samedifference1.com/2012/11/16/pudsey-bears-wca/</a><br />
<br />
By SameDifference1<br />
<br />
<strong>As a celebration of Children In Need, I gave Pudsey Bear a WCA.</strong><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Pudsey Bear’s WCA</b></span><br />
Here’s what happened when Pudsey, the disabled bear, went for a Work Capability Assessment to the offices of ATOS.<br />
<b>ATOS Worker: </b>Hello, please sit down.<br />
(Pudsey sits, looking confused)<br />
<br />
<b>ATOS Worker: </b>So, he can sit independently. How are you today?<br />
<br />
<b>Pudsey: </b>Good, thank you.<br />
<br />
<b>ATOS Worker: </b>Hold your arms out, turn your hands over. Straighten your fingers.<br />
<br />
<b>Pudsey</b>: I don’t have hands, or fingers.<br />
<br />
<b>ATOS Worker:</b> Hmmm… stand up on your tiptoes.<br />
<br />
<b>Pudsey: </b>I don’t have toes… or feet.<br />
<br />
<b>ATOS Worker: </b>Hmm… please remove that horrible scarf from across your face. Open your right eye.<br />
<br />
<b>Pudsey: </b>It’s not a scarf, it’s an eye patch. And I don’t have a
right eye. One of the children pulled it off.<br />
That’s why I had to stop
working. I’m partially sighted.<br />
<br />
<b>ATOS Worker: </b>Children? You have children? You’re not disabled! Disabled people can’t have CHILDREN!<br />
<br />
<b>Pudsey: </b>They’re not my children… I’m a charity mascot… they’re the children I help.<br />
<br />
<b>ATOS Worker: </b>A charity mascot? So, you already have a job. Disability benefit fraud… well well well.<br />
<br />
<b>Pudsey: </b>But I’m a partially sighted teddy bear with no fingers, hands, toes or feet…<br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>ATOS Worker: </b>Well, Mr Pudsey, if you’re fit to be in the same room as children, you’re fit to work. Close the door on your way out. NEXT!<br />
<br />
*******<br />
<br />
My addition: Oh no! What will happen to Pudsey next? If he's forced onto the Work Programme how will he fundraise for all those Children in Need? Will the Coalition Government not think of the disabled children?!Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-7614540325742705602012-11-12T02:50:00.004-08:002012-11-12T02:50:50.516-08:00Spartacus Report into the Work Capability AssessmentTaken directly from <a href="http://wearespartacus.org.uk/wca-peoples-review/">http://wearespartacus.org.uk/wca-peoples-review/</a><br />
<br />
"Anticipating the publication of Professor Harrington’s third (and, for
him, final) annual review of the Work Capability Assessment, the
WeAreSpartacus group have published our own review, from the lived
experience of the sick and disabled people going through it. <a href="http://wearespartacus.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/The-Peoples-Review-of-the-Work-Capability-Assessment.pdf" target="_blank">The People’s Review of the Work Capability Assessment</a> includes
the experiences of more than 70 claimants who have been wrongly
assessed, humiliated, badly treated and forced to go to tribunal to
secure the benefits to which they are legally entitled. The review also
highlights press reports of some of the claimants who have died after
being found fit for work or whose suicide has been linked, at least in
part, to the stress of a process which is essentially abusive, demeaning
and not fit for purpose. In the final section of the review, we examine
what has been said about the WCA by the Government, MP’s, courts,
professional bodies, medical organisations and individual medical
professionals. This section includes full references, including replies
to Freedom of Information requests, so readers can check the facts for
themselves."<br />
<br />
I suggest you have a big cup of tea ready, a comfy blanket, and something to hug when you read this review. Then send it onward - send it to your MP ESPECIALLY if they are Lib Dem or Tory. Tell them how this makes you feel. Let them know that they can change this system, and unless they do, they aren't getting your vote.<br />
<br />
Screen readable report can be downloaded here: <a href="http://wearespartacus.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/The-Peoples-Review-of-the-Work-Capability-Assessment.doc">http://wearespartacus.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/The-Peoples-Review-of-the-Work-Capability-Assessment.doc</a> <br />
<br />
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-73724412686489221652012-11-08T01:49:00.001-08:002012-11-08T01:49:09.507-08:00Complaining about Atos Drs.Having seen a doctor at Atos' Croydon Assessment centre who made some interesting medical statements about my abilities, I decided to complain about her assessment of me.<br />
<br />
First, I made a complaint to Atos - by emailing their customer relations email address. Details of their Customer Charter and the email address are here <a href="http://www.atoshealthcare.com/claimants/our_customer_charter">http://www.atoshealthcare.com/claimants/our_customer_charter</a><br />
<br />
It's only been three weeks since making the complaint, so I don't expect to have heard anything back yet. I'll give them a month and then I'll email to ask how the complaint is progressing.<br />
<br />
I'm also contacting the General Medical Council to complain. Their complaints procedure is outlined here: <a href="http://www.gmc-uk.org/concerns/making_a_complaint/a_patients_guide.asp">http://www.gmc-uk.org/concerns/making_a_complaint/a_patients_guide.asp</a><br />
<br />
I've not been able to get through to the online complaints form, so I'm printing out their paper form, and rather than handwrite the whole thing, I'll type it up and add the typed pages to the form.<br />
<br />
<br />Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-41213147872397283982012-10-21T14:08:00.001-07:002012-10-21T14:08:44.586-07:00A Future that Works march - October 2012<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mysight/8110088297/" title="Remploy Worker by Odd_dog, on Flickr"><img alt="Remploy Worker" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8194/8110088297_3f315593ea.jpg" width="374" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mysight/8110102322/" title="Purple Block by Odd_dog, on Flickr"><img alt="Purple Block" height="374" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8332/8110102322_e966eea722.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mysight/8110099131/" title="GMB banner by Odd_dog, on Flickr"><img alt="GMB banner" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8046/8110099131_d80120e6d3.jpg" width="374" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mysight/8110119790/" title="Brighton Feminists by Odd_dog, on Flickr"><img alt="Brighton Feminists" height="374" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8474/8110119790_52f40faee5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mysight/8110107421/" title="Demon train by Odd_dog, on Flickr"><img alt="Demon train" height="374" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8186/8110107421_2cddfefbbd.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g0ReDadzW-ycjdk5Dg5ThdBd-abH4I3c08sF7Opei-uSMUK_Bz8qfRlzVUEepxaGMtWKBqtWxCRPL8L9fmoTZq0B6w2EKieou6feyYad-sff7PUiK4CY93GJgVmWky0KxR6A-Qxs7GI/s1600/Made+by+Disabled+Workers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4g0ReDadzW-ycjdk5Dg5ThdBd-abH4I3c08sF7Opei-uSMUK_Bz8qfRlzVUEepxaGMtWKBqtWxCRPL8L9fmoTZq0B6w2EKieou6feyYad-sff7PUiK4CY93GJgVmWky0KxR6A-Qxs7GI/s320/Made+by+Disabled+Workers.JPG" width="275" /></a></div>
<br />Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-19141445040134400232012-10-17T14:09:00.002-07:002012-10-17T14:09:50.380-07:00Non ranty post!I was hit with inspiration for a Christmas-type card today, so adventured up to Blade Rubber for some pink mock-lino with which to make a Festive Pylon!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJ5jXaDNvLMrbicSLj8ryzUR8PGKruFxvX_fNWKq_L7dTMvuCQr1oNt4bqo445fYeCOzJatPlegdYaY_qQ3UqEKf7AKIP2iryYOjdD9by8w-1oMp_4zZyincnto-lo0EdRHy2zEknSng/s1600/4+colour+pylons+standing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJ5jXaDNvLMrbicSLj8ryzUR8PGKruFxvX_fNWKq_L7dTMvuCQr1oNt4bqo445fYeCOzJatPlegdYaY_qQ3UqEKf7AKIP2iryYOjdD9by8w-1oMp_4zZyincnto-lo0EdRHy2zEknSng/s320/4+colour+pylons+standing.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
If you'd like to send some seasonal industrial architecture to your nearest and dearest, then drop me an email! They're £2.00 each, with 40p postage for the 1st card, and 10p postage for each additional card. Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-7747325331913807672012-10-16T03:22:00.002-07:002012-10-19T07:11:42.991-07:00Disability Benefit AcronymsFor quick reference if you're not familiar with many of the acronyms used around disability benefits. <br />
<br />
<b>DLA</b> - <u>Disability Living Allowance</u>. Benefit paid to help with additional costs of living with impairment. NOT means tested or work-related. Has two components - Care, and Mobility. Care has three rates - High,Middle, and Low. Mobility has two rates, High and Low. High Rate Mobility can be exchanged to hire an adapted car from Motability. Being replaced in 2013 - 2014 by PIP.<br />
<br />
<b>PIP</b> - <u>Personal Independence Payment</u>. DLA replacement benefit. Will have smaller budget and tighter eligibility criteria. DWP estimate 500,000 fewer disabled people will qualify for PIP.<br />
<br />
<b>ESA</b> - <u>Employment and Support Allowance</u>. Unemployment benefit paid to chronically sick and disabled people who go through WCA. Has two levels - WRAG and SG. Is replacing Incapacity Benefit. Workers who are off sick without pay can also claim ESA.<br />
<br />
<b>IB </b>- <u>Incapacity Benefit</u>. Unemployment benefit paid to chronically sick and disabled people who are considered unable to work. Is being replaced by ESA.<br />
<br />
<b>WCA</b> - <u>Work Capability Assessment</u>. Medical assessment carried out by Atos on behalf of the DWP to determine level of ESA an unemployed disabled person is eligible for.<br />
<br />
<b>WRAG</b> - <u>Work Related Activity Group</u>. Level of ESA where an unemployed disabled person is expected to be ready for some work at some point in the future. Has two types - contribution based, and income based. Contribution based is for those who have paid some NI, and runs out after a year. Income based is for those living in a very low income household.<br />
<br />
<b>SG</b> - <u>Support Group</u>. Level of ESA where unemployed disabled person is considered too impaired to be able to manage any work at all, ever. Very stringent criteria apply to get into this group, such as those considered terminally ill with less than 6 months left to live.<br />
<br />
<b>DWP</b> - <u>Department of Work and Pensions</u>. Government department with responsibility for benefit administration. <br />
<br />
<b>Atos</b> - <u>IT company</u> who have many government contracts, including carrying out medicals for both ESA and DLA.<br />
<br />
<b>JSA</b> - <u>Job Seekers Allowance</u>. Benefit paid to unemployed people, including unemployed disabled people who aren't deemed to require any support to seek work.<br />
<br />
<b>HB</b> - <u>Housing Benefit.</u> Benefit to pay toward rent cost of social tenants on very low incomes. <br />
<br />
<b>LHA</b> - <u>Local Housing Allowance</u>. Benefit to pay toward rent cost of tenants privately rented accommodation on very low incomes.<br />
<br />
<b>CA</b> - <u>Carer's Allowance</u>. A sum paid to someone providing full time care for a disabled person who is in receipt of certain benefits. CA is means tested.<br />
<br />
<b>AA</b> - <u>Attendence Allowance.</u> A benefit paid to people over pension age who have additional support needs similar to those that qualify someone for Disability Living Allowance. Has two components - Care and Mobility. Both have two rates, High or Low.<br />
<br />
<b>SDA</b>- <u>Severe Disablement Allowance.</u> Old unemployment Benefit for disabled young people who hadn't accrued enough NI contributions to qualify for Incapacity Benefit. Was phased out in 1997-8, but those with historic claim may continue to receive this benefit. Will be replaced by ESA.<br />
<br />
All of this information can be found here: <a href="http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/index.htm">http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/index.htm</a> This is intended to be a quick quide for easy reference. Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-58203553247318293892012-10-12T05:37:00.001-07:002012-11-24T05:13:15.965-08:00Dear Esther McVey...<br />
Firstly, Congratulations on your appointment as Minister for Disabled People.<br />
<br />
I've had a look at your blog over on the Wirrel Conservatives website, and I'm really pleased to see you wanting to be clear about your role as Minister for Disabled People.<br />
<br />
I confess I do have concerns, but they may be unfounded, it may simply be that Maria Miller's tenure has left me mistrustful and scared that you have no idea of the challenges life lived with impairment brings, and have no genuine desire to actually engage with real disabled people to ensure Conservative policies don't leave us all far worse off.<br />
<br />
A Minister for Disabled People has an important role, and should be doing a number of things:<br />
<br />
- Working for disabled people's equality in society.<br />
- Understanding the needs of disabled people by listening to disabled people. <br />
- Challenging stigma attached to disability by:<br />
- Openly challenging the media when they publish wrong or misleading stories about sick & disabled people.<br />
- Openly challenging fellow ministers when they use wrong and misleading statistics in parliament, and in the media. <br />
- Educating government ministers about disabled people's needs and rights.<br />
- Being held accountable by disabled people.<br />
<br />
You will do well if you listen to what disabled and chronically sick people are saying, then act on what you learn. Look at where disadvantage occurs and ask us why we think that is, and what we would like to do to fix it.<br />
<br />
Please understand that there's a big difference between "fit for some work with the right adaptations" and "fit to compete in the current jobs market." I work in an organisation that employs people with a range of impairments - from those who require little support, to people that require 24 hour personal care so I know that almost anyone can work, however, it isn't as simple as just finding a job. That job must be correct for that individual, and the right support must be in place.<br />
<br />
For those who can't work - and there are many who can't - realistic alternatives must be available. People must be given enough money to live on. Disability and chronic illness are not choices, and allowing people to live in conditions where they have to choose between heating and eating sees people's health deteriorate.<br />
<br />
Please look at the cumulative impact the current cuts are having on the whole of disabled people's lives - don't see the cuts in isolation. We are people who use hospitals, GPs, allied health services, local authority services, libraries, leisure services, adult education, transport.We make up around 1/6 of the UK population, so wherever people are, disabled people are. Whatever services are out there, disabled people are using them.<br />
<br />
I'd like to ask about your new Disability Alliance. Who will make up this alliance? How many disabled people will be part of it? What charities will be involved? How many are Disabled Led? How many charities were critical of the plans for PIP?<br />
<br />
If you only take one thing from this please let it be that you actively listen to us. That's all.<br />
<br />
Yours sincerely<br />
<br />
Robin<br />
<br />
Edited to add - Ms McVey responded - copy of letter here: <a href="http://misplacedmarbles.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/letter-from-esther-mcvey-dated-17th-nov.html" target="_blank">http://misplacedmarbles.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/letter-from-esther-mcvey-dated-17th-nov.html </a>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-11466775930761676492012-10-07T04:35:00.004-07:002012-10-08T06:14:27.548-07:00Have the DWP done the maths?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
The DWP have estimated between 310,000 and 500,000 disabled people will
lose all support following the reforms to Disability Living Allowance, which will only affect working-age
disabled people, including the 2,010,000 who currently claim DLA.<br />
<br />
These
are not (all) fraudulent claimants – at least 209,500 non-fraudulent DLA
claimants will lose out - assuming every one of the fraudulent claimants is weeded out during the reassessment process. (The DWP estimates that 0.5% of DLA claimants are
fraudulent. 2,010,000 x 0.5% = 100,500. 310,000 – 100,500 = 209,500. The higher figure is 500,000 - 100,500 = 400,500 disabled people losing benefit support)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve spent Sunday afternoon using DWP reported figures to
work out:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a) the current numbers of working-age disabled people
getting each combination of DLA rates</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
b) what the new PIP regime will look like in terms of
different types of claimant</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
c) from that, where the cuts will come from to reduce the
numbers of claimants by 310,000</div>
<br />
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<br />
Total DLA expenditure currently £12,000,000,000 (From <a href="http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/adhoc_analysis/2011/analysis_of_disability_living_allowance_DLA_awards.pdf">http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/adhoc_analysis/2011/analysis_of_disability_living_allowance_DLA_awards.pdf</a> )</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Total number of claimants = 3,203,000</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Number of working age claimants = 2,010,000</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Number of claimants under 16 = 335,000</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Number of pensioners = 857,000</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(claimant numbers from <a href="http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-dla-reform-wr2011.pdf">http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-dla-reform-wr2011.pdf</a> ) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Percent of claimants that are working age = 2,010,000 /
3,203,000</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
= 62.7% </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>I will round to 63%</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
63% of current budget £12,000,000,000 x 0.63</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>= £7,560,000,000</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">£7,560,000,000 / 2,010,000 = £3,779 </span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Average of total budget
spend per claimant = £3,779</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PIP will have 20% decrease in total budget = £9,600,000,000</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PIP is only for working age claimants. Pension age claimants
will continue to get DLA, and not be reassessed for PIP.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Only working age claimants affected by change to PIP. So
100-63% = 37% of CURRENT budget must go to claimants not of working age (children and pensioners). = £4,440,000,000</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Amount left for working age claimants will be</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
£9,600,000,000 – 4,440000,000 = £5,160,000,000</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
£5,160,000,000 / 2,000,500</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">= £2,579 per head</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">So if the total
number of DLA claimants simply transfers to PIP, each claimant will, on
average, lose £1,200 a year, or £100 a month.</b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">However, the DWP itself accepts that will not happen - people will lose their benefit support. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The information below uses the DWP figures from “Disability
Living Allowance Reform, Equality Impact Assessment. May 2012”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-dla-reform-wr2011.pdf%20%20Table%208">http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-dla-reform-wr2011.pdf<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Table 8</a>, Page 12 for proportions of each
claim rate. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Who currently gets
DLA and at what rates?</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are the current numbers of people getting each combination
of DLA rates.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: none; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Lower Rate Care</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: none; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Middle Rate Care</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 18.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Higher Rate Care</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Care – no award</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" rowspan="3" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Lower Rate Mobility</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">LRM & LRC</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">LRM & MRC</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">LRM & HRC</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">LRM</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 18.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">190950</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 18.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">347730</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 18.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">122610</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 18.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">80400</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">9.50%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">17.30%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">6.10%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">4.00%</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" rowspan="3" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Higher Rate Mobility</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">HRM & LRC</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">MRC & HRM</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">HRC & HRM</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">HRM</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 18.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">271350</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 18.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">271350</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 18.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">299490</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 18.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">184920</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">13.50%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">13.50%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">14.90%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">9.20%</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td nowrap="" rowspan="3" style="border-bottom: solid black 1.0pt; border-left: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">Mobility – No Award</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">LRC</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">MRC</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">HRC</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">XX</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 18.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">188940</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">42210</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">8040</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">0</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 18.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">9.40%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 18.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">2.10%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; height: 18.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">0.40%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 18.75pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;" valign="bottom"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">0%</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Table 1 – percentage
of working age claimants getting each combination of DLA rate and number of
claimants at each rate.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Figure in middle cells indicates number of claimants,
calculated using total number of working age claimants = 2,010,000, and
percentage provided in table 8 of referenced document. Some rounding has
clearly been used in the DLA Table 8 as the percentages do not add to 100%, and
total claimants is 2,007,990. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is my estimate of how PIP will look – based on some
assumptions described beneath the table.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 4.55pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 525px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17.25pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 83.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Care – standard rate</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Care – enhanced rate</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 100.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Care – no award</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 33.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 33.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 83.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mobility – standard rate</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 33.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">C-SR & M-SR</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">12%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 33.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">C-ER & M-SR</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">15%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 33.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 100.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">M-SR</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">6%</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 32.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 32.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 83.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mobility – enhanced rate</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 32.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">C-SR & M-ER</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">12%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 32.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">C-ER & M-ER</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">23%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 32.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 100.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">M-ER</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">15%</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 37.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 37.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 83.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="111"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Mobility – no award</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 37.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">C-SR</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">14%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 37.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">C-ER</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">3%</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 37.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 100.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">XX</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Table 2 – estimated
proportions of PIP claimants by rate, projected from DLA proportions.</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note. I have estimated the proportions of people receiving
PIP based on the following assumptions and evidence:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The reforms claim to be helping those in greatest need – so
I’ve increased the proportion getting enhanced rate benefits slightly, and assumed some lower rate claimants will lose out. Also, people who can "mobilise" effectively may be considered not in need of mobility support. "mobilise" includes using a wheelchair. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are fewer rates to choose from, so I’ve combined DLA
claim proportions to map across to PIP (e.g. MRC & HRC have combined to
C-ER)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Total projected number of PIP claimants in the DWPs analysis
is 1,700,000<sup>2 </sup></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17.25pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">C-SR</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">C-ER</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 100.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">C-None</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 33.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 33.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">M-SR</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 33.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="139"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">204000</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 33.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">255000</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 33.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 100.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="133"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">102000</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 32.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 32.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">M-ER</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 32.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="139"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">204000</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 32.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">425000</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 32.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 100.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="133"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">255000</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 37.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 37.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">M-none</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 37.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="139"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">238000</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 37.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">51000</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 37.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 100.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">XX</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Table 4 – estimated
number of PIP claimants by rate, calculated from reference 2 figure of
projected PIP numbers 2015 = 1,700,000.</b><br />
<br />
<br />
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<tbody>
<tr style="height: 17.25pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td nowrap="" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: .5pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="139"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">C-SR</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">C-ER</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 100.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">C-None</span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 33.0pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 33.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">M-SR</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 33.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="139"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">204,000</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">DWP – 250,00</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 33.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">255,000</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">DWP -110,000</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 33.0pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 100.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="133"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">102,000</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">DWP-230,000</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 32.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 32.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">M-ER</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 32.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="139"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">204,000</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">DWP-190,000</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 32.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">425000</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">DWP -340,000</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 32.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 100.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="133"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">255,000</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">DWP -230,00</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 37.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 37.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 96.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">M-none</span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 37.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 104.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="139"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">238,000</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">DWP-250,000</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 37.5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 107.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="143"><div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">51,000</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">DWP- 90,000</span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 37.5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 100.0pt;" valign="bottom" width="133"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">XX</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Table 5 amended–
estimated number of PIP claimants by rate with DWP projected figures added. (With thanks to @Narco_sam for finding the figures in <a href="http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/pip-assessment-thresholds-and-consultation.pdf">http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/pip-assessment-thresholds-and-consultation.pdf</a> )</b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many additional types of support are “passported” from
DLA.<br />
<br />
Not all DLA claimants will be able to access all of these things - they are dependent on DLA rate awarded, economic need, area of the country the claimant lives in, amongst other things. <br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Enhanced Housing Benefit rates to account for need for extra room for carers or equipment</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Someone getting Carer's Allowance for looking after someone on DLA will lose that Carer's Allowance <br />
* Concessionary travel schemes - Freedom Pass,
local bus passes and the National Rail Disabled Person’s Railcard, M6 toll
pass, London Congestion Zone exemption </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Motability funding so disabled people can afford adapted
cars. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Blue Badges for disabled parking</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Access to some local council support </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* Discounted access to gyms and leisure centres</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
* discounted or free tickets at some galleries, museums, cinemas and theatres for
your carer, so you don’t have to pay extra to go out, just because you can’t go
alone.<br />
* Higher rate mobility DLA claimants can learn to drive at 17, and get free car tax.<br />
* Warm Home rebate from some energy suppliers.<br />
* Enhanced Income Support levels to account for increased costs of life with impairment<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fraud figure from <a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmworpen/1493/1493vw43.htm">http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmworpen/1493/1493vw43.htm</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/pip-assessment-thresholds-and-consultation.pdf">http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/pip-assessment-thresholds-and-consultation.pdf</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br />
Edit: Oh, and best estimate of fraudulent claimants is 0.5%, or 1 claimant in 200. </div>
Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-42537111183638974002012-07-20T14:33:00.001-07:002012-07-20T14:33:21.438-07:00FOI requests to DWP about ATOS and other ACRONYMSI've made a set of FOI requests to the DWP about the piss-poor state of recording devices available for benefit claimants' medical assessments.<br />
<br />
Given claimants (I refuse to say "customers") typically have better outcomes if their assessments are recorded, I can see why ATOS may not be wildly interested in providing adequate numbers of recording devices to their assessment centres, but they're a hugely wealthy IT company. If they can't set up a decent dictaphone in at least one room in each centre, they're a poor bloody excuse for an IT company.<br />
<br />
So, my set of FOI requests (split up so the whole lot can't be discarded as "too expensive" to answer) is:<br />
<br />
a)<br />
<br />
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,<br /> <br /> 1) Have you requested that ATOS acquire any recording devices<br /> suitable for the recording of claimants' medical assessments and<br /> interviews?<br /> <br /> 2) If the answer to 1) is yes, how many have the DWP requested be<br /> acquired?<br /> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/number_of_recording_devices_for/">http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/number_of_recording_devices_for/</a><br />
<br />
b)<br />
<br />
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,<br /> <br /> How many of the medical assessment centres used by ATOS will have<br /> access to a minimum of 1 recording device suitable for recording<br /> benefit claimants' interviews?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/atos_assessment_centre_access_to/">http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/atos_assessment_centre_access_to/</a><br />
<br />
c)<br />
<br />
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,<br /> <br /> 1) Are any recording devices to be used by ATOS for the recording<br /> of benefit claimants' medical assessments sMe pace / home office<br /> compliant machines, as used by DWP fraud office?<br /> <br /> 2) If the answer to 1 is NO, what differs between these machines<br /> and those?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/atos_medical_assessment_recordin/">http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/atos_medical_assessment_recordin/</a><br />
<br />
d)<br />
<br />
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,<br /> <br /> 1) Are standard recording devices used by DWP fraud inspectors "off<br /> the shelf", or specially built?<br /> <br /> 2) Are Work Capability Assessment recording devices "off the<br /> shelf", or specially built?<br /> <br /> If the two types of recording device are differently specified,<br /> why? What purpose do the different specifications serve?<br />
<br /> <br />
<a href="http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/acquisition_of_recording_equipme/">http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/acquisition_of_recording_equipme/</a><br />
<br /> <br />
e)<br />
<br /> <br />
Dear Department for Work and Pensions,<br /> <br /> 1) Of the 11 recording devices used for benefit claimants'<br /> interviews by ATOS, how many are currently working?<br /> <br /> 2) How long, on average, does a repair to these recording devices<br /> take?<br /> <br /> 3) What plans are there to ensure the the maximum number possible<br /> are available for use at any given time?<br />
<br /> <br />
<a href="http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/state_of_repair_of_atos_medical">http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/state_of_repair_of_atos_medical</a><br />
<br /> <br />
Let's see what comes back from the DWP, eh?<br />Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-58725310372808297352012-06-25T02:34:00.002-07:002012-06-25T02:34:40.888-07:00Reversing Recovery - my letter to local papersI'm posting my letter here so people can use it for ideas, if they want to.<br />
<br />
Dear Editor, <br />
<br />
This government is changing the way welfare works too quickly, and without carrying out any appropriate impact assessments.<br /><br />Disabled
people who will be affected by cuts to benefits are already losing
money, homes, and support. The Motability Scheme, which allows people to
hire adapted cars using their DLA (a benefit intended to pay for the
additional costs incurred by being disabled) will lose many customers as
a result of the welfare reforms. Motability means people stay
independent, and are able to get out into the community, take part in
society, and work.<br />
<br />Disabled people have produced a report called Reversing Recovery which shows:<br /><br />"<a href="http://wearespartacus.org.uk/reversing-from-recovery-report/" target="_blank" title="Reversing from Recovery">Reversing from Recovery</a>
uses information available in the public domain to show that the
Government’s plans, by reducing access to the Motability scheme, will
create a domino effect, including the loss of:
<br />
<ul>
<li>More than 30,000 new car sales each year</li>
<li>3,583 jobs (from 21,080 jobs to 17,497 jobs)</li>
<li>£342 million contribution to GDP (from around £2 billion to £1.67 billion)</li>
<li>£79 million in tax receipts"</li>
</ul>
The full report is available at <a href="http://wearespartacus.org.uk/reversing-from-recovery-report/" target="_blank">http://wearespartacus.org.uk/<wbr></wbr>reversing-from-recovery-<wbr></wbr>report/</a>
and I would encourage anyone that cares for, lives with, or is a
disabled person to read it, and write to their MP to express their
concerns.<br />
<br />
Yours sincerely<br />
<br />
Me,<br />
My addressRobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-28839017609319212132012-03-23T01:52:00.004-07:002012-03-23T02:01:12.523-07:00GPs start to speak out against "fit for work" tick-box tests<br />
The government plans to give GPs the power & responsibility for commissioning services, but hasn't afforded them the respect of listening to their concerns about the Health & Social Care Bill. Surely if GPs are responsible enough to take control over their own budgets, they're responsible enough to pay heed to when they warn against a piece of legislation?<br />
<br />
The government's Department of Work and Pensions already deems GPs not trustworthy enough to report fairly on the health of their own patients when those patients apply for sickness benefits. Rather than accept reports written by patients' own GPs, people are called in for medicals run by ATOS Origins, medicals that are costly, stressful to the individual, and time and time again, inaccurate!<br />
<br />
When Disability Living Allowance is replaced by Personal Independence Payments over the next couple of years, GPs again won't be trusted to provide accurate information on their patients. All people claiming DLA or PIP will be called in for assessment by an externally contracted company.<br />
<br />
Tell me, why does the government think GPs are absolutely best placed to commission services, but they're not best placed to comment on the health of their own patients? <br />
<br />
Now, Scottish GPs have spoken out on ATOS Origins, saying their medical assessment services should be ended with immediate effect. <br />
<br />
Will the government listen to GPs saying medical tests performed by ATOS origins, the company contracted to provide medical assessment services (and, ironically, sponsors of the Paralympic Games) are not fit for purpose, and are causing harm to their patients?<br />
<br />
Press release: <br />
<br />
Scotland’s GP’s call for an end to controversial ‘fit for work’ tick-box tests carried out by French IT company ‘with immediate effect’
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Scotland’s
GP’s have today called to an end to the Government’s controversial
computer-based ‘Work Capability Assessments’ carried out by French IT
multinational Atos Origin for the DWP with <i>‘'</i>immediate effect’:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.bma.org.uk/images/slmc2011agenda_tcm41-212139.pdf" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.bma.org.uk/images/<wbr></wbr>slmc2011agenda_tcm41-212139.<wbr></wbr>pdf</a></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">"60
Lothian: That this conference, in respect of Work Capability
Assessments (WCA) as performed by ATOS Healthcare, believes that:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">i.
the inadequate computer-based assessments that are used have little
regard to the nature or complexity of the needs of long term sick and
disabled persons</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;">ii.
the WCA should end with immediate effect and be replaced with a
rigorous and safe system that does not cause avoidable harm to some of
the weakest and most vulnerable in society"</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The
Scottish-based disability rights and advocacy group Black Triangle was
instrumental in getting the motion tabled at the Scottish Local Medical
Committee’s (SLMC) conference at Clydebank.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Dr. Stephen Carty who works as a GP in the Leith area of Edinburgh and who is an active member of the campaign said:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“I welcome the support of the Scottish LMC conference on this matter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">This sends a ray of hope to some of the weakest and most vulnerable in society.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">It
also sends a clear message to other representative bodies including the
General Medical Council (GMC) of the significant concerns shared by
many GPs across the country.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">He
said that “In my opinion the current contractual arrangements between
the DWP and General Practice are unsustainable. The WCA as performed by
ATOS is not an effective or safe method of determining "fitness to work"
and this must be addressed.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">He
continued: “All doctors are duty bound by the GMC to report any system
or process that may be harmful to patients. The WCA is a harmful
process. Scottish GPs have spoken: the GMC cannot remain silent on this
matter any longer”</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">John McArdle, a founding member of Black Triangle said:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">“The
scandal of these assessments has gone on far too long. As a grassroots
disabled people’s organisation we are over the moon that Scotland’s
GP’s have spoken out so clearly and unequivocally in their
condemnation. Our GP’s recognise the severe and avoidable damage that is
being done to sick and disabled people through this brutal, draconian
and profoundly unjust testing regime as they see it every single day. It
must be halted now – ‘with immediate effect’.- before any further harm
results and whilst the GMC launches a thorough investigation. They can
no longer remain silent. They must act. ” </span></div>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-703723655296505302012-02-27T13:25:00.001-08:002012-02-27T13:25:39.131-08:00sillinessA survey<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KV3XWGP">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KV3XWGP</a>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-17691206916980458292012-02-16T08:47:00.000-08:002012-02-17T11:33:11.412-08:00Short workfare rant<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text" style="font-size: small;">I am against people working for their dole. <br /> <br />
Whilst you're working for that dole you're not able to do other things
that might improve work prospects - people should be encouraged to
study, do short-hour voluntary work to try different fields, to expand
their horizons.<br /> <br /> Shoving people into short-term contracts with
commercial organisations to answer phones or stack shelves doesn't help
people find work, it just makes people feel like the dole isn't an easy
ride and therefore less resentful of those in receipt of it.<br /> <br />
Can people on Workfare join unions? No, because they're short term
contracts. Who will protect the rights of those on Workfare? The DWP
isn't exactly known for standing up for workers' rights. What if a
Workfare provider just takes people for 8 weeks time and time again,
maybe interviewing people at the end of their time, but never taking
anyone on for paid work?<br /> <br /> How do you think disabled people will
fare on Workfare schemes? There's no Access to Work provision for
voluntary work, and without being on sickness benefits people often
aren't recognised by DWP staff as needing access adjustments.<br /> <br />
What about parents? Or carers? They will also be forced into workfare,
which isn't going to be as flexible as it might need to be.<br /> <br /> The
dole shouldn't be conditional on people working for it - if there's a
job to do, and it's with a commercial organisation, that should be a
paid position. Work for dole becomes akin to work-based punishment -
it's punitive, demeaning, and unhelpful.<br /> <br /> I did the maths - one
person employed for 30 hours a week, for 8 weeks, not being paid £6.50
an hour is donating £1,560's worth of labour. Multiply that out to the
24,010* that have done Workfare so far and that's £37,455,600 of donated
labour.<br /> <br /> Voluntary work needs to be voluntary - given willingly,
not through coercion, or the whole basis of volunteer work is
undermined and demeaned.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Something I hear said is why should "the taxpayer" fund people who "choose not to work?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">If someone has “chosen not to work” they need to be shown what can
be achieved with work – and a short-term job, without the benefit of a
decent wage packet gives an individual neither the social benefits of
working (meeting new people, building self-confidence, developing
skills, for example) nor the extrinsic satisfaction of a healthy pay
packet. That’s why I say it’s simply punitive. If people are employed
for 8 weeks, pay them their 8 weeks’ wages! Then maybe people will start
seeing why it’s worth working.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">If someone “chooses not to work”, why is that? Why is life on £54 a
week + some rent a better choice for someone than work with a proper
income?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I suspect often people will have underlying unaddressed depression
or anxiety disorders – but the DWP will do nothing to help address that.
Or unrecognised learning difficulties – again, being sent on key skills
courses may be useful, but learning to read & write doesn’t help
with the wider cognitive issues linked to Dyslexia, Dyspraxia or ADHD.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">And now, to add to this, people on Employment Support Allowance –
people considered disabled in such a way that they may be capable of some work in the future face fucking indefinite “voluntary” placements or face sanctions!</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">*http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/pwp/mwa_feb12.pdf </span>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-2022015860995846132012-02-15T12:23:00.000-08:002012-02-17T11:06:59.777-08:00Private healthcare - realistically<br />
I decided to get a rough quote for private healthcare, just to see how it would work for someone like me, with a back problem, arthritis, a history of mental health problems, and other ongoing niggling issues.<br />
<br />
In short, it wouldn't.<br />
<br />
There you go, now you know!<br />
<br />
In a little more detail, I spoke to a very polite chap at Usay Compare to get a quote. He explained private health insurance would allow me to see a specialist straight away, rather than after 18 weeks on the NHS, and that if I needed to go to hospital I would get a private room with a TV & en-suite bathroom.<br />
<br />
He asked how old I was (30), where I lived (S.E. London), what my job was (desk job), if I had a partner (yes), if I smoked (no), and if I had had any surgery or medical investigations in the last five years. I have.<br />
<br />
It was explained that any insurance policy I got would have a "moratorium" whereby anything I'd had investigated in the last five years couldn't be covered under the policy, but if I had no symptoms for two years, the policy would cover it after two years. Asthma was considered chronic, and would never be covered.<br />
<br />
Here is where it will get very personal.<br />
<br />
In the last five years I have had:<br />
<br />
- a hysterectomy (as part of gender reassignment)<br />
- blood tests to check for inflammatory markers, anemia, Vitamin D deficiency, diabetes, thyroid dysfunction.<br />
- counselling<br />
- Gender identity clinic appointments<br />
- An MRI of my inner-ears<br />
- An MRI of my lower spine<br />
- X-rays of my hips<br />
- Lung function tests<br />
- Vestibular function tests<br />
- Dyspraxia assessment<br />
- ADHD assessment<br />
- Physiotherapy<br />
- Neurology referral.<br />
<br />
I've been diagnosed with asthma, osteoarthritis, herniated discs, and non-specific inner-ear dysfunction. I'm also dyspraxic. <br />
<br />
What would be covered by a health insurance policy?<br />
<br />
Medications not linked to any of the above, investigations not linked to any of the above, hospital treatment not linked to any of the above, and cancer treatment.<br />
<br />
Isn't that wonderfully generous? It's not realistic that any of those conditions will cause me no
symptoms for two years, so I can reasonably assume a private insurer
wouldn't ever cover those things. Basically, the NHS would still have to cover 90% of my medical treatment, but I know if I fall and break a leg I can go private. Unless the insurer decides that my fall was caused by vertigo or dyspraxia.<br />
<br />
My anti-inflammatories, painkillers, anti-vertigo meds, bronchodilator, steroid inhaler, and hormone replacement would all still have to be provided by the NHS.<br />
<br />
My physio would have to be provided by the NHS.<br />
<br />
I'd still be paying £10.40 a month for my prescription pre-payment certificate.<br />
<br />
I was given an estimated quote of £33.33 from Aviva, or £59 from Bupa to cover, well, not very much at all.<br />
<br />
EDIT TO UPDATE<br />
<br />
I've had the paperwork through that outlines the things this policy wouldn't cover:<br />
<br />
- Pre-existing conditions unless expressly included. <br />
- long term or chronic conditions<br />
- HIV / AIDS and related conditions<br />
- treatment for pregnancy or childbirth<br />
- diagnostic tests and treatment for infertility<br />
- surgical or medical appliances such as neurostimulators (e.g. cochlear implants) and crutches<br />
- charges by a GP, medical practitioner or specialist for completion of a claim form<br />
- alcoholism, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, solvent abuse and other addictive conditions<br />
- treatment undertaken by a specialist without a GP referral<br />
- psycho-geriatric conditions<br />
- kidney dialysis<br />
- cosmetic treatment (except following an accident or surgery for cancer(<br />
- take home-drugs or dressings<br />
- professional sports injuries<br />
- experimental treatment (limited benefit may be available)<br />
- treatment required as a result of war, terrorism or contamination by radioactivity or chemicals<br />
- self-inflicted injury<br />
- sexual dysfunction<br />
- sleep disorders and sleep problems such as snoring or sleep apnoea<br />
- treatment for warts or verrucas<br />
- weight loss surgery.Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1126932999231311573.post-49099338494426983362012-02-09T10:32:00.000-08:002012-02-09T10:32:25.372-08:00Freedom of Information request madeDear Ms Miller,<br /><br />
My name is Robin blah blah blah My address is Somewhere, Somewhere, London. I am not
contacting you as a constituent, but regarding information requested
under the Freedom of Information Act .<br />
<br />Under the Freedom of Information Act I would like to know the following:<br /><br />Of
the charities and organisations met with whilst consulting on the
Welfare Reform Bill & proposed changes to DLA (organisations listed
below) which of them stated support specifically for your proposed
reforms?<br />
<br />Please could you send me the minutes from those meetings by email.<br />Yours sincerely<br /><br />Me.<br />
<br />1. Action for ME;<br />
2. Action for Blind People<br />
3. Action on Hearing Loss;<br />
4. CALL Scotland;<br />
5. Capability Scotland;<br />
6. Citizens Advice<br />
7. Centre for Mental Health;<br />
8. Child Poverty Action Group;<br />
9. Crohn’s and Colitis UK;<br />
10. DIAL Peterborough;<br />
11. Disability Action In Islington;<br />
12. Disability Alliance;<br />
13. Disability Lambeth;<br />
14. Down’s Syndrome Association;<br />
15. Dystonia Society;<br />
16. Ecas;<br />
17. Enfield Disability Association;<br />
18. Essex Coalition of Disabled People;<br />
19. Family Action;<br />
20. Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living;<br />
21. Hackney Carers;<br />
22. Hayfield Support Services with Deaf People;<br />23. Headway Glasgow;<br />
24. Haemaphilia Society;<br />
25. Inclusion Scotland;<br />
26. Independent Living in Scotland Project;<br />
27. Leonard Cheshire Disability;<br />
28. Limbless Association;<br />
29. Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living;<br />
30. Macmillan;<br />
31. Margaret Blackwood Housing Association;<br />
<div id=":10y">
32. Mencap;<br />
33. Middlesborough Welfare Rights Unit;<br />
34. MS Society;<br />
35. Mind;<br />
36. Momentum Scotland;<br />
37. National AIDS Trust;<br />
38. National Autistic Society;<br />
39. National Deaf Children’s Society;<br />
40. National Rheumatoid <wbr></wbr>Arthritis Society;<br />
41. National Federation of the Blind;<br />
42. Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People;<br />
43. Parkinson’s UK;<br />
44. Papworth Trust;<br />
45. People First;<br />
46. Poverty Alliance;<br />
47. Quarriers;<br />
48. Royal National Institute of Blind People;<br />
49. Scottish Association for Mental Health;<br />
50. Scope.</div>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08704508224138628442noreply@blogger.com0