Welfare reform
What we believe
We believe that people with Parkinson's should receive financial help with the costs of their condition, including mobility costs, through the benefits system.
Benefits are an essential source of income for many people with
Parkinson's.
Our members'
survey showed that:
We believe that people with Parkinson's should receive financial
help with the costs of their condition, including mobility costs,
through the benefits system.
If people with Parkinson's are unable to work because of their
condition, they should receive an income replacement benefit paid
at a level that enables independence and social participation.
We are working to influence the benefits system to ensure that
it takes into account the needs of people with a long term,
fluctuating condition such as Parkinson's.
Read our policy statement on working age
income replacement benefits such as Employment and Support
Allowance (ESA).
We're currently developing a further policy statement on
benefits such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Current consultations, submissions and reports
We respond to government and other consultations likely to
affect people with Parkinson's.
Read some of our responses below. These include the important
proposals for Disability Living Allowance, and reviews of the
appropriateness of the new 'fitness to work' tests for Employment
and Support Allowance.
We are a member of the Disability Benefits
Consortium, a coalition bringing together interested
organisations which campaigns on welfare benefits as they relate to
people with disabilities. We actively contribute to the joint
lobbying and briefings undertaken by the consortium.
Welfare reform general
The welfare system is subject to constant reform. The Welfare
Reform Bill proposes to simplify the benefits system, particularly
for people of working age, through the introduction of universal
credit, as well as changes to Disability Living Allowance and
Employment and Support Allowance.
Disability Living Allowance
Reform to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is included in the
Welfare Reform Bill. DLA will be replaced by a new benefit called
Personal Independence Payment or PIP. We have many concerns about
the proposals to reassess people with Parkinson's of working
age for PIP.
Please note: following a major campaign, the Government
announced in December 2011 that it would take out the proposal
to remove the mobility element of DLA from people in care homes
from the Welfare Reform Bill. This is good news for people with
Parkinson's.
Have your say on the thresholds for eligibility for PIP
The Government has now published the assessment
thresholds for PIP for consultation. This shows the 'scores'
that people need to be eligible for PIP. The consultation is open
until 30 April
2012.
We will also be responding. If you would
like to share your views for our Parkinson's UK response, please
contact us on campaigns@parkinsons.org.uk
or phone 020 7963 9307
Other responses
Employment and Support Allowance
Many people, including those with Parkinson's, say the Work Capability Assessment doesn't fully recognise the impact of their condition or disability.
Applications for Employment and Support Allowance
(ESA) involve the person being assessed for eligibility.
Many people, including those with Parkinson's, say the
assessment - called the Work Capability Assessment - doesn't fully
recognise the impact of their condition or disability and they are
wrongly told they are ineligible and 'fit to work'.
Their views were fully supported by an independent
review by Professor Malcolm Harrington of the Work Capability
Assessment (PDF file) that was published in November 2010.
In the Government's
response to the Work Capability Assessment review (PDF file)
the Government accepted all Professor Harrington's recommendations
for improvements. At the same time, though, the
Government made some earlier 'internal review' changes that
will make it more difficult to become eligible for ESA.
There was a further review to see whether the first year of
Harrington changes has improved the process. An independent
review of the Work Capability Assessment - year two (PDF
file) has now been published.
As part of the ongoing review of the Work Capability Assessment,
Professor Harrington asked us and 5 other charities to provide
advice on how fluctuating conditions could be better reflected in
the assessment. And we were also asked to provide recommendations
on how the system could change. This report is now with the
Government for consideration.
Advice, information and support
For information about benefits and other support available, we
have a range of free publications about
rights and benefits.
Our online discussion forum includes a
forum on employment and benefits. You can share your views and
experiences about employment benefits issues with other people with
Parkinson's.
Find out more
- Read more about how you can get involved with our Disability benefits campaign.
- Contact our Policy and Campaigns team on campaigns@parkinsons.org.uk
or phone 020 7963 9307 with your comments and views on welfare
reform to help us with our policy work, with government and in
parliament.
- email
-
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