Please see below for your benefits update for August:
- Following the announcement in March, the DWP has confirmed that from 31st May, new PIP claimants whose review would have been scheduled after they had reached State Pension age will instead receive an ongoing award with a light touch review at 10 years. The DWP also announced that the 10 year light touch review will be extended to existing PIP claimants above State Pension age over the next few months. The switch to light touch reviews for claimants of pensionable age was announced back in March of this year but no timetable for its full introduction has been given.
- An SDW raised a concern about the fact that she has been notified that DWP/ Tribunals appear to be dismissing supporting evidence supplied by Shine. We have consulted with colleagues in the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) to see whether there has been a policy change. The consensus is that no such change has occurred and that Tribunals/Case Managers doing this are acting incorrectly. Therefore, any circumstances where Shine’s supporting evidence has been specifically excluded should be challenged. Please let your SDW know if this happens to you.
- Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd recently made a number of announcements this month. Firstly, regulations have been introduced to allow for The Universal Credit “Managed Migration” process to begin in July. The initial process will be limited to around 10,000 claimants living in the Harrogate area. Secondly, people moving, or people who have moved, from ESA to Universal Credit, whose claim includes a Severe Disability Premium (SDP), are starting to receive transitional payments. The amount they receive will vary depending on when they transferred over. Thirdly, a consultation is to be launched into how improvements can be made to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to allow disabled people to return to work. If anyone has any specific examples or issues relating to SSP please you let your SDW know.
- The Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC), which Shine is a member of, recently launched its report, entitled “Has Welfare Become Unfair.” The report found that social security reforms over the last decade had hit disabled adults four times harder than non-disabled adults. It also found that disabled people had lost out by an average of about £1,200 a year, compared to an average of about £300 for non-disabled people.
The report can be read here
- The DWP pilot to introduce video recording at its assessments is struggling to find individuals who are prepared to participate in the pilot. They are looking at why this might be the case.
- The DWP has begun looking at how it might introduce and run “light touch” reviews for existing claimants, generally those previously given 10 year awards which are due to run out in 2021/22. Claims awarded since August 2018 may already be eligible for the light touch review every ten years or so.
- From now on, Universal Credit payments will, in the case of joint claims, be paid to the main carer.
If you have any questions, and/or need support please contact your local Support and Development Worker (SDW) directly or via Shine’s office by email firstcontact@shinecharity.org.uk or phone 01733 555988.
