Home > Opinion > Disability Bitch > Disability Bitch in 'PIP Ahoy!'
Disability Bitch
Ouch's fearsome Bitch eats famous disabled people for breakfast. And then spits them out again. She tackles other controversial disability topics with all the subtlety of a hammer cracking a nut. Don't say we didn't warn you!
Disability Bitch in 'PIP Ahoy!'
10th December 2010
Oh, hello readers, or should I say, Pip Pip! There's a lot to talk about this week so sorry if I seem a little distracted. Sit down and make yourself a nice hot cuppa before you continue reading ... but think positive thoughts because it's now over to you.
You might have to bear with me, I think I'm losing my memory. Just a few short weeks ago, when contemplating forthcoming cuts to welfare benefits commonly paid to disabled people, I comforted myself with the thought that senior ministers had acknowledged Disability Living Allowance was important, and promised they weren't going to cut the rate it's paid at.
It seems my memory may be malfunctional because, this week, Maria Miller, Minister for Disabled People, has announced proposals to radically reform the benefit I hold so dear. So while I took heart from previous positive statements about DLA - and a pre-election manifesto pledge by the Conservatives to protect it - the government now tells us that the current DLA expenditure is 'unsustainable'.
I'd been so hopeful. In the Chancellor's Emergency Budget speech in June this year, he announced he was going to introduce a compulsory medical assessment and change the DLA application process because: "that way we can continue to afford paying this important benefit to those with the greatest needs, while significantly improving incentives to work for others."
It seems my memory may be malfunctional because, this week, Maria Miller, Minister for Disabled People, has announced proposals to radically reform the benefit I hold so dear. So while I took heart from previous positive statements about DLA - and a pre-election manifesto pledge by the Conservatives to protect it - the government now tells us that the current DLA expenditure is 'unsustainable'.
I'd been so hopeful. In the Chancellor's Emergency Budget speech in June this year, he announced he was going to introduce a compulsory medical assessment and change the DLA application process because: "that way we can continue to afford paying this important benefit to those with the greatest needs, while significantly improving incentives to work for others."
Some thoughts ...
- Disability Living Allowance is a benefit that you can claim whether you work or not, so it was a surprise to see insentives to work being factored in.
- Government are putting emphasis on those with 'greatest' need now, meaning that those with moderate need (whatever that is) could be downgraded in some way.
- The spending review in October told us that DLA would no longer be paid to those funded by the state to live in residential care homes. Since then, a bit more detail has been revealed during debates in the House of Commons - here's a link to some of that.
I've been sitting at home twiddling my thumbs and waiting for more detail on reforms ever since.
- Disability Living Allowance is a benefit that you can claim whether you work or not, so it was a surprise to see insentives to work being factored in.
- Government are putting emphasis on those with 'greatest' need now, meaning that those with moderate need (whatever that is) could be downgraded in some way.
- The spending review in October told us that DLA would no longer be paid to those funded by the state to live in residential care homes. Since then, a bit more detail has been revealed during debates in the House of Commons - here's a link to some of that.
I've been sitting at home twiddling my thumbs and waiting for more detail on reforms ever since.
On Monday this week, my prayers were answered - in a manner of speaking - with the publication of a consultation document on the future of Disability Living Allowance. You may have missed the news that these important proposals had been published. It didn't seem to get much coverage in the national media. After all, there were other important events going on on Tuesday, like a couple of presenters accidentally swearing on Radio 4.
Ha! Hold the front page! Everyone did.
I know you're all more eager to read the proposed changes than you were to get your hands on the last Harry Potter novel, so here's a link to it in all its glory.
DLA reform proposals / consultation document
The first thing to say is they're proposing to overhaul the benefit completely and rename it Personal Independence Payment, or PIP. Well, I don't know about you, but I'm relieved they've come up with a name that won't be embarrassing to apply for - "Hello, is that the DWP? I'd like to apply for PIP, please!" - and in no way whatsoever recalls impoverished Dickensian orphans who travel to London to seek their fortunes.
I'm over the name already, you'll be happy to hear.
I'd love to summarise what they're proposing but the consultation document is 45 pages long for good reason. Nevertheless I will give it a go in a few bitesize chunks with my personal spin on it.
Ha! Hold the front page! Everyone did.
I know you're all more eager to read the proposed changes than you were to get your hands on the last Harry Potter novel, so here's a link to it in all its glory.
DLA reform proposals / consultation document
The first thing to say is they're proposing to overhaul the benefit completely and rename it Personal Independence Payment, or PIP. Well, I don't know about you, but I'm relieved they've come up with a name that won't be embarrassing to apply for - "Hello, is that the DWP? I'd like to apply for PIP, please!" - and in no way whatsoever recalls impoverished Dickensian orphans who travel to London to seek their fortunes.
I'm over the name already, you'll be happy to hear.
I'd love to summarise what they're proposing but the consultation document is 45 pages long for good reason. Nevertheless I will give it a go in a few bitesize chunks with my personal spin on it.
People don't understand DLA
The government thinks the current DLA system is too complex and the process of assessing people, deciding which category they fall into, and chucking the same arbitrary amount of money at them every month, is inefficient. That's me paraphrasing.
They think few people understand what DLA is for and many - including claimants - believe it to be a benefit for those who are out of work, which they will lose if they return to work. It's not and they won't.
However, the government believe DLA can in some cases be a barrier to work - i.e. make it harder for people to work - based on a study of claimants they carried out earlier this year.
They think few people understand what DLA is for and many - including claimants - believe it to be a benefit for those who are out of work, which they will lose if they return to work. It's not and they won't.
However, the government believe DLA can in some cases be a barrier to work - i.e. make it harder for people to work - based on a study of claimants they carried out earlier this year.
Basically they think no one understands it and many people claim it for the wrong reasons. Gulp. But if the government is into overhauling disability stuff that people don't quite get the point of, can I suggest an overhaul of The Paralympics, Heather Mills and Occupational Therapists? Thank you.
It's a much more accessible world now
DLA has been around since forever, and the government think the 2010s are a very different world to the 1992 world it was invented in.
We've had various forms of disability legislation since then, they say, all designed to put disabled people on a more equal footing. I will leave it to you to judge whether these laws have done that for you as an individual.
We've had various forms of disability legislation since then, they say, all designed to put disabled people on a more equal footing. I will leave it to you to judge whether these laws have done that for you as an individual.
A bit of detail
The replacement benefit, PIP, will be divided into two components: Mobility, which will reflect your ability to get around, rather than simply your ability to walk and Daily Living, which will judge your ability to 'carry out other key activities necessary to participate in everyday life'. As yet, we don't know what those activities will be and presumably this will become clear after consulting with relevant groups.
There will no longer be any automatic entitlement to the benefit, except for people who are terminally ill.
Everyone else - including existing DLA claimants - will have to reapply for PIP and have an 'objective assessment of individual need' including advice from an 'independent' medical professional. Cynics might suggest that the government don't trust our own doctors to assess us thoroughly but you may be pleased to hear that evidence from your own doctors and professionals who work with you WILL be included in the overall assessment.
It also says you have to have been disabled for six months before applying, which is longer than the current qualifying period.
There will no longer be any automatic entitlement to the benefit, except for people who are terminally ill.
Everyone else - including existing DLA claimants - will have to reapply for PIP and have an 'objective assessment of individual need' including advice from an 'independent' medical professional. Cynics might suggest that the government don't trust our own doctors to assess us thoroughly but you may be pleased to hear that evidence from your own doctors and professionals who work with you WILL be included in the overall assessment.
It also says you have to have been disabled for six months before applying, which is longer than the current qualifying period.
Equipment and technology bring independence
Also taken into account will be your use of aids and adaptations which make your little disabled life a touch easier. I think we can presume from the rhetoric that, if equipment and gizmos can lift your quality of life significantly, your benefit could be reduced to reflect this somehow.
The consultation does acknowledge that many people use their DLA to pay for those very aids and adaptations, plus motability cars, though it doesn't yet offer an alternative idea for funding these things should you be excluded from PIP, or if you end up receiving less money; nor does it say what you are supposed to do if your handy gizmos break or stop working optimally.
It does say that people will be 'signposted' towards services which might help them if the PIP assessment concludes they need it. And it seems to hint that, those who refuse to use these services, might be subject to penalties.
Well, good luck on pinning that complex set of circumstances down.
The consultation does acknowledge that many people use their DLA to pay for those very aids and adaptations, plus motability cars, though it doesn't yet offer an alternative idea for funding these things should you be excluded from PIP, or if you end up receiving less money; nor does it say what you are supposed to do if your handy gizmos break or stop working optimally.
It does say that people will be 'signposted' towards services which might help them if the PIP assessment concludes they need it. And it seems to hint that, those who refuse to use these services, might be subject to penalties.
Well, good luck on pinning that complex set of circumstances down.
So then...
The document rams home this idea that the DLA replacement benefit will be targeted at those with the 'greatest' need ... and those with moderate needs can presumably get the bus home, um, if they can get the bus home, if you know what I mean.
The government's expecting to start implementing these changes in 2013, beginning with DLA claimants of working age.
Meanwhile, I'm still trying to work out what the Labour party think of these proposals. I've been googling all evening and if they do have an opinion, they're certainly not shouting it from the rooftops.
It's true that in the past, Ed Miliband has said he supported the government on DLA reform but that was before any actual reform was announced.
Ed? Are you there? Do you have an opinion? Please make it known. Will you be ideologically opposed to it as with the tuition fees Thursday?
Blimey, readers, is this the longest column I've ever written? And the one with the fewest jokes? Sorry. Since few people have reported these proposals, I thought you might like to know what they say. And I'd stress, readers, these are currently JUST proposals, at consultation stage, and the government is actively seeking responses from interested parties, especially disabled people.
If you have thoughts about them, you should also tell your local MP, because they can then raise questions in parliament.
The only reason I'm stressing that part, readers, is because every time something like this happens, loads of people get hot and bothered and email me to complain. I'm sorry to disappoint, but I can't do nuffink about it. Don't tell me what you think. Tell those who can do something.
Thanks. Goodbye. Toodle Pip.
The government's expecting to start implementing these changes in 2013, beginning with DLA claimants of working age.
Meanwhile, I'm still trying to work out what the Labour party think of these proposals. I've been googling all evening and if they do have an opinion, they're certainly not shouting it from the rooftops.
It's true that in the past, Ed Miliband has said he supported the government on DLA reform but that was before any actual reform was announced.
Ed? Are you there? Do you have an opinion? Please make it known. Will you be ideologically opposed to it as with the tuition fees Thursday?
Blimey, readers, is this the longest column I've ever written? And the one with the fewest jokes? Sorry. Since few people have reported these proposals, I thought you might like to know what they say. And I'd stress, readers, these are currently JUST proposals, at consultation stage, and the government is actively seeking responses from interested parties, especially disabled people.
If you have thoughts about them, you should also tell your local MP, because they can then raise questions in parliament.
The only reason I'm stressing that part, readers, is because every time something like this happens, loads of people get hot and bothered and email me to complain. I'm sorry to disappoint, but I can't do nuffink about it. Don't tell me what you think. Tell those who can do something.
Thanks. Goodbye. Toodle Pip.
Yes, readers, you read that right, I'm on Twitter. Follow me, I'm @DisabilityBitch. And you know I'm cool because I've already had a Twitter conversation with my second-favourite crippled Baroness, Tanni Grey Thompson, who I actually hate.
My favourite baroness is Jane Campbell, but I don't think she's on Twitter.
Next week, I might try and get mental health champion Stephen Fry to follow me. I hear he's King of Twitter.
Oh, and I'm still talking to Facebook who might, eventually, give me my page back. And then I'll have Facebook AND Twitter and I can spend all day messing around on social networking sites and living up to everyone's worst fears about disability benefit claimants.
My favourite baroness is Jane Campbell, but I don't think she's on Twitter.
Next week, I might try and get mental health champion Stephen Fry to follow me. I hear he's King of Twitter.
Oh, and I'm still talking to Facebook who might, eventually, give me my page back. And then I'll have Facebook AND Twitter and I can spend all day messing around on social networking sites and living up to everyone's worst fears about disability benefit claimants.
More articles about
Bookmark with...
Live community panel
Our blog is the main place to go for all things Ouch! Find info, comment, articles and great disability content on the web via us.
Listen to our regular razor sharp talk show online, or subscribe to it as a podcast. Spread the word: it's where disability and reality almost collide.
More from the BBC
All the latest news from the paralympics.
News and views for people who are blind or partially sighted.
Weekdays 12.40pm. Radio 4's consumer affairs programme.
© 2012~RS~q~RS~_bbc_=0&__ip__=38.107.179.216&dnainitialtitle=Disability%20Bitch%20in%20%27PIP%20Ahoy%21%27&dnahostpageurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/opinion/b1tch/db_pip_ahoy.shtml&dnauid=ouch:article:2359&s_baseHeadingLevel=1&dnashow=10&dnafrom=0&dnato=9&dna_encoding=utf-8&s_sssicomponent=1&s_sssiCommentCount=&dnacommentforumlistprefix=[_]&dnarecentcommentsprefix=[_]&s_commentprofileurl=/dna/mbouch/CommentProfile?&s_contact=0~RS~z~RS~36~RS~){kind=small}
Comments
Economic downturns are good excuses to revise benefits all over the world. Although in OZ they don't usually include current benefit holders in reforms.
Complain about this comment
Here's something which you might be able to do DB. Get hold of your friends at the Beeb and ask them why this wasn't featured - prominently - on the BBC news website. When I first heard this I thought "Ah, straight to the BBC," because that's what I do whenever news breaks. Nothing.
Eventually I found some mention on the "Wales" site, some of the "Northern Ireland" site and, of course, here. But if you weren't actually looking for it, this news would have completely passed you by.
Complain about this comment
There are other important points here.
The DWP (and, significantly, it makes little difference between this lot and the last lot), are doing something quite interesting here.
They could have chosen to announce an across-the-board cut in benefits (as I think the Irish have done), or they could have targeted particular benefits, or they could have chosen to tax or means test benefits which are currently subject to neither of these measures.
Instead they have chosen to change the way in which government defines disability.
The IB to ESA move, and the deadly WCA, are now to be decided largely without significant medical input. Someone applying for ESA is just another worker, but one who might have rather fewer tools in his/her toolkit than others. If the box is actually empty, then s/he will be declared, temporarily, unfit for work. But the assessment is just a check on your toolkit - can you move/reach/talk? Yup? - into the workforce with you.
Now DLA to PIP is going to go the same way. No need to consult doctors about your disability - all that matters is whether you can handle a cup on your own, speak semi-coherently and wipe your own bum. If they judge that you can, then you don't need PIP.
Since DLA is a "gateway" benefit, excluding you can cut you off from much extra help - you will cease to be someone the government recognises as disabled. In effect you will cease to be disabled, as far as "society" is concerned.
They are busy writing people with certain forms of disability out of the narrative. Those of us who fail to match the new criteria will no longer be disabled just, "the people who think they are disabled, but could actually function just like the rest of us if only they tried."
It is ironic that the most frequently used symbol for "disability" is the wheelchair, and now the state is saying that if you can use a wheelchair you no longer need to be considered truly disabled - you can "mobilise" with the rest. "On your wheelchair, mate!"
The easiest way of cutting the bill for support for the disabled is to re-able 20% of those who were disabled 3 months ago.
I think there are further issues here, but I have severe ME and my eyes are already filming over - only fury is keeping me going.
Complain about this comment
Aside from my concern over the fate of those unfortunate enough to have a disability that is not as easy to 'prove' as my own, what worries me personally, as a wheelchair user, is the suggestion that account will be taken of one's ability to 'mobalise' rather than just walk. I am unable to self propel 20 yards, but i do use a powered chair. Will this exclude me form the higher mobility rate of PIP? If so, i'll lose my motability vehicle, without which I will become housebound.
Even though I live in an area well served by busses, public transport remains inaccesible to wheelchair users whilst they are not given priority over pushchairs. I have on several occasions been unable to enter buses due to the wheelchair space being taken by a pushchair. Although there are signs on the buses stating that 'buggies must be folded if the space is required for a wheelchair', drivers have only to request that this is done, and cannot insist on this.
I am unable to access even the reception area of my son's school. A school judged by Ofsed to be 'outstanding'.
If the Govenmnet, Parliament and the population believe access to have improved to the extent that wheelchair users are on an equal footing with the rest of society, the are all sadly mistaken.
Complain about this comment
I'm the disability officer for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath Constituency Labour Party and i'm trying to find out Labour stance on this, unfortunately they seem to be ignoring us all. So come on Douglas Alexander, time you spoke out.
Complain about this comment
If they try and take my Motability car away from me, I'll drive it through the main entrance of the DWP in London. These fascists must not be allowed to devastate our community. RESIST, NOW!
Complain about this comment
Start by asking the BBC why they are now covering this on the main news site. At the moment only the disabled know (and most of them will be in the dark) and certainly no one else cares.
Complain about this comment
A warning to anyone wanting to get this point over. Be VERY careful how you handle the Motability issue.
There are a lot of people out there who think that Motability means that "anyone who says they are disabled gets given a free car." This causes enormous resentment. WE know it isn't like that, but that issue is more misunderstood and more hated that most of the rest of the disability issues put together.
In a recent (I think) Panorama program about disability hate crimes, one pair found that their car was frequently vandalised. No one commented that the vandals probably had families who didn't see "why people should be given a free car just because they're [pick your own expletive]."
Go to a recent article in the Guardian about this, where someone in the comments afterwards talked of removing benefits, said, "The alternative is what ... people trapped at home unable to get out?"
To which someone else replied
"Why not? They have food and shelter, they are looked after.
Basically want less, expect less. "
Let people who use the car to get to work, like onegirl above or those who need it to get a disabled child to school do the talking here. There are enough of them.
For all out sakes - tread carefully on this issue. We need to win over hearts and minds, not just vent our fury at what is being done and the way in which it is being done.
Complain about this comment
Sorry, but it's No More Mr Nice Guy time...we've TRIED the softly-softly approach, and they didn't listen then.
Complain about this comment
Throwing bricks through the windows didn't do the students any good.
Just shouting won't help either.
The students had past and future students and their parents on their side. Thanks to the press - "respectable" and red top - there are lots of people out there who think somewhere between "lots" and "most" disabled people are on the fiddle.
They LIKE hating us. So don't concentrate on the area where hate is easiest and most plentiful - which is Motability. I still think that abolishing the Motability scheme must be on the DWP's list of options - not because it would save money, but because it would be very popular with a lot of people.
If you're going to fight (and will we will have to) pick the fights you can win. In this instance, try stressing
- the uselessness of re-assessing someone with a chronic progressive disease (eg MS) every couple of years
- the stupidity of using people who don't understand English trying to assess someone's own account of their lives ("I used to run a restaurant" = "Participates in sports")
- the gross inefficiency of a system which gets half its decisions wrong, only to have them corrected by an expensive appeal
- the folly of trying to fit hundreds of complex conditions into one set of "tick the box" answers on a computer
- the unfairness of putting another major change to the benefit system out for "consultation" over the Christmas period
- the arrogance of settling all the decisions about how these decisions are taking behind closed doors, using mainly the advice of a French firm in hock to the US Insurance lobby ("the Canadians kicked these villains out").
- the secrecy of the way in which the ATOS systems operate - "commercial confidentiality" trumping democratic scrutiny. We are allowing a foreign company to decide who is disabled.
There's enough there to be going on with - and it panders to xenophobia, technophobia and the perceived waste of taxpayers' money in complex government systems.
Not pretty, but it might help - which saying "without my car, I shall be stuck indoors, isolated and unable to contribute," which, however true, usually comes up against the "that's your problem, mate - you're not solving it with my money." Anti-government waste campaigns, however, get support.
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS