Budget 2015

[tobyjugg2]

I think that further steps toward completely killing off the accessibility of higher education for poorer people is a disgrace to the entire country.

(except Scotland of course)

[sadone]

was expecting them to remove WRAG altogether and time limit CB on ESA SG. This budget surprised me.

 

Oh give the buggers time...

 

I think that further steps toward completely killing off the accessibility of higher education for poorer people is a disgrace to the entire country.

 

So do I.

[marcus6]

given the rumours that budget was nowhere near as bad as feared. Probably rumours leaked so people grateful for what happened. Although I will feel sorry for new WRAG claimants.

 

Marcus6 WRAG isn't dropped but the premium is removed for new claimants.

 

 

my bad, sorry for that, so new claims will not get the premium that makes up the WRAG??

[sadone]

No. They will get the same amount as job seekers. Not even the flaming fifty pence extra that we'd seen reported the last time they'd talked about this idea a year or so ago.

[marcus6]

Tell that to the new claimants of ESA though who will be loosing £30 a week.

 

 

New claims can not lose what they never had? can they

[sadone]

*sigh*....

[marcus6]

There never was disability premium for WRAG.

 

I was expecting them to remove WRAG altogether and time limit CB on ESA SG. This budget surprised me.

 

 

 

Like you worried, i don't think it was as bad, as could of been a lot wose......

[Belfaster]

Oh well, no point in applying for ESA from now on, as most successful claimants end up in the WRAG group anyway. *sigh*...

[estellyn]

It's still pretty bad. Here is a blog from a couple of years ago with some tables that show the impact of the £20,000 cap on families:

 

http://blog.cix.co.uk/gmorgan/2013/09/15/the-impact-of-a-20000-benefit-cap/

 

How the hell are some of these families expected to live at all?

[estellyn]

Oh well, no point in applying for ESA from now on, as most successful claimants end up in the WRAG group anyway. *sigh*...

 

If on dla or pip, better off being on jsa than esa wrag as you'd still get the disability premiums. Of course that option is soon to end with UC....

[SabreSheep]

Quite a few bits I agree with. Never thought Id say that about a conservative budget.

 

HOWEVER

 

A few notes of concern also.

 

18-21s and Housing benefit. I echo Shelters report on this option. Those that are estranged form the family home are going to end up on the streets l like they did in the 1980s

[Fisco2k]

I'm curious how they can remove the £30 a week 'top-up' from WRAG?

 

I'm on WRAG now and get the full £102.15 per week. Surely there's an argument to be had that why should 2 people, who are on the same benefit, have a £30 a week difference? This really doesn't seem fair to new claimants.

 

Although i imagine my question will be irrelevant once the inevitable happens and it's removed from existing WRAG claimants aswell.

 

I can see them asking existing WRAG claimants to have another medical, failing them (obviously) and telling them they need to make a new claim.

[sadone]

Yep, I'm sure they'll try that trick too.

 

And as for those who are now breathing a collective sigh of relief and thinking, "Oh that wasn't so bad after all as it doesn't effect me", well remember what kind of government we're dealing with here and then remember the old poem...

 

"First they came for the Communists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews

And I did not speak out

Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me

And there was no one left

To speak out for me "

[WelshStu]

I have just been placed on the wrag group as of the 29th june 2015. Had the letter to confirm as well. Will I be effected by the changes made today or not?

[sadone]

I wouldn't have thought so. The changes are for new claims only.

[marcus6]

I have just been placed on the wrag group as of the 29th june 2015. Had the letter to confirm as well. Will I be effected by the changes made today or not?

 

 

no you will not be effected by the changes made today, its only for new claims, IE any one that phones up to make a new claim thats who it will effected

 

 

But then saying that, take a look at the BBC news pages it says >>

 

Those claiming the working element of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will see payments reduced, to match Job Seekers Allowance (JSA).

 

 

so i'm not sure what they will do now??

[marcus6]

Tax Credits

Any family which has a third or subsequent child born after April 2017 will not qualify for Child Tax Credit, which amounts to up to £2,780 a year per child. This will also apply to families claiming Universal Credit for the first time after April 2017.

However those who have been in receipt of tax credits or Universal Credit with an interruption of less than six months, will be protected.

[marcus6]

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Currently those who claim the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) element of ESA get £30 more than JSA. But from April 2017, those who are able to work will get an equivalent rate. That is currently £73.10 for someone over the age of 25, or £57.90 for 18-24 year-olds. The WRAG element of ESA currently pays £103 a week.

[estellyn]

The whole point is that people in wrag are NOT able to work, otherwise they would have failed their assessments.

[tobyjugg2]

The office for budget responsibility summary :

The new Government has used its first Budget to loosen significantly the impending squeeze on public services, financed by :

 

welfare cuts,

net tax increases

and three years of higher borrowing.

 

http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/

[Fisco2k]

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Currently those who claim the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) element of ESA get £30 more than JSA. But from April 2017, those who are able to work will get an equivalent rate. .

 

ESA WRAG starts at 48:00

 

 

"For future claimants only we will align the ESA Work related activity group rate with the rate of jobseekers allowance"

 

"No current claimants will be affected by this change"

 

Though the News and Newspaper websites don't mention it's for new claimants only. Scaremongering?

[worried33]

I'm curious how they can remove the £30 a week 'top-up' from WRAG?

 

I'm on WRAG now and get the full £102.15 per week. Surely there's an argument to be had that why should 2 people, who are on the same benefit, have a £30 a week difference? This really doesn't seem fair to new claimants.

 

Although i imagine my question will be irrelevant once the inevitable happens and it's removed from existing WRAG claimants aswell.

 

I can see them asking existing WRAG claimants to have another medical, failing them (obviously) and telling them they need to make a new claim.

 

you right but they playing clever.

 

remember when pip was initially in limited areas, this was to stop widespread backlash. They hope the existing wrag claimants will stay quiet.

 

Whilst I said I am surprised at the budget that it isn't as bad as expected, I do of course still worry for those affected especially the young who will get no housing support.

[id6052]

even if they do not remove wrag component from existing claimants, they will either engineer breaks forcing new claims, i.e. fail an assessment - forced to claim JSA - re-apply for ESA on new condition - pass assessment but no wrag component

 

for those fortunate enough not to have a break - they may just freeze ESA so the component is eroded each year

[id6052]

not getting much attention is

 

1) freeze on applicable amounts in HB which will see low pay workers HB being cut

 

2) removal of family element in CTC & UC and removal of family premium in HB

 

3) increase in tax credit taper from 41% to 48%

 

4) work allowance in UC totally abolished for single people and couples (unless disabled or have children)

 

5) HB backdating period to be reduced from 26 weeks to 4 week

[sadone]

4) work allowance in UC totally abolished for single people and couples (unless disabled or have children)

 

So much for encouraging people into seeking work, eh?