Incapacity benefit claimants reassessed

[johnfm]

Surely the PH Benefits Assessment Panel should be adopted by the government in times like this.

There are 2.3 million or so on incapacity benefits, costing £12 billion. I expect the clearly 'legitimate' ones can be assessed in minutes.

Lets say that leaves 1.5 million.

1,500 assessors could do 10 a day.

That's 125 days - 25 working weeks.

Pay assessors £300 a day.

Cost of scheme - £58 million.

Savings - even if 10% are found to be taking the piss that could be roughly £1,200 million saved.

[Sticks.]

Jasandjules said:

The thing that really f**ks me off is that those who are genuinely ill will struggle to get their money whilst the cheating, lying, scheming scum will no doubt know all the tricks and scams and get their money right away....

Absolutely, but usually all lumped in as one on PH. I don't see the problem with Incapacity Benefit; you've got to have paid a fair bit of National Insurance to get it. Insurance on which you claim through no fault of your own, like any other imho.

[aka_kerrly]

Sticks. said:

Jasandjules said:

The thing that really f**ks me off is that those who are genuinely ill will struggle to get their money whilst the cheating, lying, scheming scum will no doubt know all the tricks and scams and get their money right away....

Absolutely, but usually all lumped in as one on PH. I don't see the problem with Incapacity Benefit; you've got to have paid a fair bit of National Insurance to get it. Insurance on which you claim through no fault of your own, like any other imho.

It shouldnt be based on if you have NI contributions as there are people who have never been able to work so would never have paid NI but would be fully intitled to receive the support benefit.

As for those who say that ICB should be the same amount as JSA you have failed to realise that the cost of care for a lot of people on ICB is far far higher than that of a unemployed person who choses to sit about doing fk all.

[HD Adam]

aka_kerrly said:

As for those who say that ICB should be the same amount as JSA you have failed to realise that the cost of care for a lot of people on ICB is far far higher than that of a unemployed person who choses to sit about doing fk all.

As previously mentioned, if a disabled person needs a certain piece of equipment, it should be provided.

Here's my question though.
People who are on ICB for a bad back, depression, alcoholism or too fat to work. Why do they need more money than somebody on JSA?

[aka_kerrly]

HD Adam said:

aka_kerrly said:

As for those who say that ICB should be the same amount as JSA you have failed to realise that the cost of care for a lot of people on ICB is far far higher than that of a unemployed person who choses to sit about doing fk all.

As previously mentioned, if a disabled person needs a certain piece of equipment, it should be provided.

Here's my question though.
People who are on ICB for a bad back, depression, alcoholism or too fat to work. Why do they need more money than somebody on JSA?

You realise that there is more to being disabled than having items provided and not all disabilities are fixed by having a nice new walking stick, a fancy wheelchair etc...

I honestly do not believe that (in my situation) my mum and family could possibly have survived if my brother was only entitled to £50pw in line with JSA and not the ICB + care allowance component which is also available(which hasnt had much mention in this thread) I can assure you it is very difficult to pay to raise a disabled child, to pay for a carer, for that carer to have an allowance so that 1) the client can be taken out to do activites and 2) the parent has financial means so that they can live a life.

The issue is that the current points system is a joke, the methods of assessment try and put all disabilities under one umbrella and the system in general whilst incredibly beneficial is easier to abuse by those unworthy than it is for those who deserve assistance to get a good deal.

This cannot be fixed by simply tweeking parts of the assessment, the entire system needs to be overhauled, we need to be less PC and assess disabilities in a way that appreciates that some people had no control over their disability whilst others through their own fault eg obesity have MADE themselves disabled for the purposes of getting benefits.

Dave

[Sticks.]

HD Adam said:

Here's my question though.
People who are on ICB for a bad back, depression, alcoholism or too fat to work. Why do they need more money than somebody on JSA?

Prescriptions? How much are they, £7 an item? Might need to pay for help too, even if they're not classed as ill enough to qualify for care-based benefits.

[ChairsWithHairs]

In light of the news that "Three quarters of people who applied to claim sickness benefits for the first time turned out to be fully capable of work" (
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8478259/Three-out-... I thought I'd add a discussion I had tonight in the local.

There is an individual I occasionally talk to who drinks 8-10 pints a night. They were drowning their sorrows tonight as "the consultant" just certified that there is no medical reason they should continue to receive full incapacity benefit. Apparantly this means that they will be less able to attend the pub so liberally in future...

ETA added to newer thread

Edited by ChairsWithHairs on Sunday 1st May 00:12

[pugwash4x4]

guys- please dont confuse genuine people who need ICB and those who are blagging it. My niece has something called Angelmans syndrome- much like Downs but far far worse- she will never walk, talk or live by herself (although she is lovely and happy most of the time).

She only has 2 options- be put into a state sponsored car home, or be looked after 24hrs/day by my sister. my sister can't work (although she would love to), but is saving society a huge amount of money by not allowing her daughter to go into care.there are some really genuine people who need looking after. i have nothing but disdain for those that "choose" not to work- they make it so much harder for my sister!

[Jasandjules]

I'm sorry but if the DSS Doctors say someone is fit to work that to my mind means it is as likely as not that they have a target to get X Amount of people to be classed as fit to work, rather than that they necessarily are able to.

That said, I have no doubt that there are many who "have" certain conditions which may or may not be genuine.

It's just tragic that, as I have said before, many who genuinely are ill are less likely to get this approved than those who are both willing and "able" to fake it. I know those who are so ill they won't be able to work, but they are desperate to do so. A job is not just money, but pride.

Those who feel that a disability is simply a sore leg so a walking stick or wheelchair is needed - well, perhaps you need to gain a little bit more knowledge in the subject area before commenting.