Disabled Slough mum 'already struggling' ahead of benefit cuts
A disabled woman says she is "barely making ends meet", ahead of changes to benefits and tax allowances.Mother-of-two Loreta Khamess, who is out of work because of her disability, says the plans have left her feeling "worried, stressed and anxious".From 1 April, non-working households in Slough will have to pay council tax for the first time – having previously been exempt.Ms Khames also fears government plans to change who qualifies for for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and to reduce Disability Living Allowance for children could affect her.
Slough Borough Council leaders voted earlier this year to cut council tax discounts for families on low incomes.The discounts are awarded on a sliding scale based on household income, and until this week families where no one is in work were exempt from paying.Council leaders have approved a hardship fund of £350,000 to help people facing "exceptional hardship" and said it will work with the voluntary sector to ensure support reaches people with disabilities.
Ms Khamess used to work as a carer but had to stop due to a worsening epilepsy condition.She said she woud "love to go back to work" but frequent seizures leave her exhausted and mean employers are reluctant to take her on.She explained that she has just over £1,100 a month to try and support her family.She said: "I'm behind with gas and electric, I'm behind with the water, I can't afford to pay that much."If my kids want me to buy something even an ice lolly from Poundland, I have to say 'I can't, I don't have money' and the kids don't understand."She said: "I'm on PIP and I could lose everything, I won't be able to pay the bills because the gas and electric is expensive."I've heard they might cut the Disability Living Allowance for children, which I receive for my daughter who has autism and is being assessed for ADHD."She ruins and cuts her clothes when she gets agitated so I'm going to struggle a lot."
Under the new plans, the government will make it harder to qualify for PIP but people currently on it said the assessments are "already stressful".Steve Harris from Datchet receives PIP because he has multiple sclerosis and trigeminal neuralgia, a condition that can cause sharp, chronic pain in the face.He described the assessment process as "degrading"and said he'd been marked down in his most recent one for being able to maintain eye contact with the assessor and for being able to name all his medication.Mr Harris said: "With MS you can have really good days and really bad days and the assessment doesn't take that into consideration."He said he uses his PIP to pay for a walking aid and for travel to MS therapy which is an extra costs that non-disabled people don't have to pay for.Working as a graphic designer, he said he and his wife may still manage to get by but he knows others won't."If I wasn't working and just relying on PIP that would become an issue," he said."It's one of those things where you're one pay cheque away from becoming homeless."If the government changes are approved, they will take effect in November next year.
You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC News
11 hours ago
- NBC News
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, will face federal charges
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man whose erroneous deportation to El Salvador became a protracted battle over due process and a test of wills, will face human smuggling charges in Tennessee, NBC News has learned. Abrego Garcia has been named in an indictment charging him with transporting within the U.S. people not legally in the country. The two-count indictment, sealed by a Tennessee court last month, alleges Abrego Garcia participated in a conspiracy over several years to move people from Texas, deeper into the country. The two-count indictment alleges that those transported included members of the MS-13 gang. A federal judge and the U.S. Supreme Court had long ago ordered the federal government to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return to the U.S., but the administration dragged its feet and resisted. At times the administration insisted that Abrego Garcia's return was up to El Salvador's President Nayiob Bukele, who refused to return him. The administration had accused Abrego Garcia of being a member of the MS-13 Salvadoran gang and gave that as reason to deport him, despite a judge's order from 2019 barring him from being sent to his home country. Garcia was deported March 15 amid a flurry of arrests and deportations after Trunp invoked the Alien Enemies Act, a law only used before in wartime, to target Venezuelan immigrants and other immigrants he alleged to be gang members and "invaders" of the U.S. He was taken to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador, known for its harsh and brutal conditions. Government attorneys had said he was taken there as a result of "administrative error". The Supreme Court ruled in April that Abrego Garcia's removal was "illegal" and determined that a judge's order for the administration to facilitate his return was proper. Initially the administration said it had deported Abrego Garcia in error, but as calls for his return intensified, the administration doubled down on keeping him incarcerated in El Salvador. Despite orders to bring him back, the administration stood its ground over and over, raising concerns about its defiance of the judicial branch and setting off threats of contempt from the bench. Abrego Garcia's wife has insisted that he was not involved in criminal activity. 'Kilmar worked in construction and sometimes transported groups of workers between job sites, so it's entirely plausible he would have been pulled over while driving with others in the vehicle,' his wife previously said in a statement. 'He was not charged with any crime or cited for any wrongdoing." A federal judge ordered the Trump administration just last week to give hundreds of migrants in El Salvador's CECOT prison the chance to challenge their detentions and removals.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
People making a new claim for Adult Disability Payment most-likely to get ‘indefinite' award
Most Adult Disability Payment awards are issued by Social Security Scotland for between two and 10 years. The latest statistics from Social Security Scotland show that at the end of January, some 433,055 people were receiving Adult Disability Payments (ADP), the devolved benefit that has now replaced all new claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) north of the border. Of that overall figure, 145,090 (34%) were new applicants and 287,960 (66%) had their award transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The data also shows that the average time to process a new claim for ADP is now 42 working days, just over eight weeks. This means people making a new claim in May could have an award decision before the end of July, although it's important to be aware that some applications can take shorter or longer to process. The Scottish Government estimates that ADP will support 612,000 people by 2028/29, providing financial support of almost £4.5 billion. When a person is awarded ADP, Social Security Scotland will set a review date, this is to ensure the financial support meets the needs of the claimant. Awards can be issued for anywhere between 24 months and 10 years, however, some people may be given an 'indefinite award' with no review date. Social Security Scotland reviews take place at a time when a person's needs are likely to have changed, to ensure that their payment continues to be at the right level. It's important to be aware that payments will continue while a review is taking place and they do not need to re-apply during the process. Adult Disability Payment Indefinite Awards You may be given an indefinite award with no review date for ADP if: Your needs are highly unlikely to change You are awarded the enhanced rate of both the daily living and mobility components of ADP Guidance on states: 'This means your award will not be reviewed in the future unless you tell us that something has changed.' The Scottish Government says that this meets the principles of 'dignity, fairness and respect'. PIP award review periods PIP awards can vary in length. The shortest award is nine months while the longest is an ongoing award with a 'light touch' review at 10 years. Most people will have their award regularly reviewed by the DWP, regardless of the length of the award, to ensure the level of financial support reflects their needs. This also usually means completing another health questionnaire and taking part in another assessment, or the person's entitlement will end. Some people will have a limited-term award for a fixed period of up to two years. The person must re-apply before the end of the two-year period, or their entitlement will end. Limited awards for a fixed period like this will be used if a DWP case manager thinks the person's health condition is expected to improve. Who might be eligible for ADP or PIP? To be eligible for ADP or PIP, you must have a health condition or disability where you: have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply. In addition to what we have outlined above, if you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP or ADP. preparing, cooking or eating food managing your medication washing, bathing or using the toilet dressing and undressing engaging and communicating with other people reading and understanding written information making decisions about money planning a journey or following a route moving around There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the website here for PIP and here for ADP. DWP or Social Security Scotland will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they will look at: whether you can do it safely how long it takes you how often your condition affects this activity whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment How are ADP and PIP paid? ADP and PIP are usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. It will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account. ADP is paid at the same rates as PIP. ADP and PIP payment rates You will need an assessment to work out the level of financial help you will receive for PIP and your rate will be regularly reviewed by the DWP to make sure you are getting the right support. ADP and PIP are made up of two components: Daily living Mobility Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you. You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances: Daily living Standard rate: £73.90 Enhanced rate: £110.40 Mobility Standard rate: £29.20 Enhanced rate: £77.05 How you are assessed You will be assessed for PIP by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need, for PIP. Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments - it's important to be aware the health professional and DWP determine which type of assessment is best suited for each claimant. You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here. Adult Disability Payment consultations will not involve face-to-face assessments, unless this is preferred by the claimant and will be conducted by in-house Social Security Scotland staff - find out more about the changes here. How to apply for PIP You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the website here. Before you call, you will need: your contact details your date of birth your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits your bank or building society account number and sort code your doctor or health worker's name, address and telephone number dates and addresses for any time you've spent abroad, in a care home or hospital How to apply for ADP People can apply ADP, over the phone, by post or in-person. To find out more or apply, visit the dedicated pages on here or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
PIP warning as people with mental health problems ‘could lose up to £5,750 a year' under government plans
HUNDREDS of thousands of Brits could lose up to £5,750 in PIP due to a major overhaul, a new report warns. The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute (MMHPI), founded by money guru Martin Lewis, says the proposed changes to PIP are a "catastrophic" mistake. 2 The government needs to reduce the welfare bill and encourage more Brits back to work, to balance the nation's finances so it announced major cuts to PIP in March, aiming to save £5billion a year by 2030. Currently, you qualify for PIP by earning enough points across different tasks, like cooking, cleaning, or managing money. Under the new rules, you'll need to score at least four points on one specific daily task to qualify. This change could mean around 800,000 people losing their PIP payments, according to estimates from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). Research by MMHPI shows that a quarter of people likely to be affected by the changes have mental health problems. At the same time, a third of people surveyed by the charity currently receive the higher 'enhanced' rate of PIP because they need a lot of support. If they lose this, they could see their income drop by over £5,750 a year. Others, who get the lower 'standard' rate, could still lose more than £3,850 a year. Helen Undy, chief executive of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, said: "The message to the government from this research is clear - its proposed changes to PIP will have a catastrophic impact on people with mental health problems' wellbeing, finances, and working lives." Rachel Reeves delivers the Spring Budget in full "Balancing the books should not come at the price of causing misery and hardship for some of the most vulnerable people in society." The government says it wants to help more people get into work, but the charity argues that taking away this vital support will have the opposite effect. In response, a spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said that most people currently claiming PIP will continue to get it. They added: "Our reforms will help sick or disabled people move out of poverty and into good, secure jobs, while ensuring the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work. "We are consulting on how best to support those impacted by the new eligibility changes, and have also announced a review of the PIP assessment, working with disabled people and key organisations representing them to consider how best to do this." WELFARE SHAKE-UP IN March, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced major welfare cuts to balance the nation's finances and boost employment. Key welfare changes include: Raising the eligibility threshold for PIP, achieving £3.4billion in annual savings. Temporarily introducing an above-inflation rise to Universal Credit's standard allowance (until 2029), while reducing the highest incapacity payment. Banning under-22s from claiming incapacity benefits under Universal Credit entirely. Slashing Universal Credit incapacity benefits for new claimants Abolishing the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) by 2028, with all health-related payments to be transitioned to PIP in the future. Launching a "Right to Work Guarantee", allowing unemployed individuals to attempt returning to work without losing benefits if they find it unsustainable. Merging jobseeker's allowance and employment support allowance, with a system that awards higher payments to those who have a work history compared to those who have not. More benefit cuts on the way It's not just PIP facing cuts. The government is also consulting on making major changes to Universal Credit, including reducing incapacity benefits and replacing work capability assessments. People already receiving incapacity payments will continue to get £416.19 per month, but this amount will stay the same until 2030. For new claims from April 2026, the payment will be reduced to £208.10 per month (£50 per week) and will also stay at this lower rate until 2030. The DWP has stated that a new premium will be introduced for those with the most severe, lifelong conditions who are unable to work, though the specifics of this proposal have yet to be disclosed. The Work Capability Assessment, which determines whether someone is deemed fit for work or has limited capability for work (LCW) or limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA), will be scrapped by 2028. Instead the DWP will use the PIP assessment to assess entitlement for any Universal Credit health supplements. Claimants under the age of 22 will no longer be eligible for the health element of Universal Credit. The government is also introducing legislation to remove barriers to employment for benefit claimants by ensuring that attempting work will no longer automatically trigger a reassessment or review of their award. The intention is to give people the confidence to try work without fear of immediately losing their benefits if it doesn't work out. The government has promised to increase the Universal Credit standard allowance from April 2026, despite these changes. What are Work Capability Assessments? The DWP uses the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) to evaluate a claimant's ability to work when applying for Universal Credit due to a health condition or disability. The WCA focuses on assessing functional limitations rather than specific medical diagnoses. It considers both physical and mental health, awarding points based on how an individual's condition impacts their ability to carry out daily activities. After the assessment, claimants may be placed into one of two groups - Limited Capability for Work (LCW) or Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA). Claimants assigned to the LCW group are recognised as currently unfit for work but may be capable of returning to employment in the future with the right support and assistance. Those in this group are required to engage in work-related activities, such as attending Jobcentre appointments or training courses. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in sanctions, including a reduction or suspension of benefits. Claimants are placed in the LCWRA group if their health condition or disability is considered so severe that they are not expected to be able to work or participate in any work-related activities in the foreseeable future. Those in the LCWRA group receive an additional amount on top of their standard Universal Credit allowance currently worth £423.27 a month. What's happening to the Universal Credit standard allowance? As part of the changes announced in March, the government will increase the standard allowance for Universal Credit. This basic payment will temporarily rise at a rate higher than inflation, with an increase based on the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) plus an additional 5%. For a single individual aged 25 or over, this means their weekly payment will rise by £7 from April 2026, increasing from the current £92 per week to £106 per week by 2029. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) previously estimated that these above-inflation increases will provide the average claimant with an additional £775 in cash terms by 2029, compared to inflation-only adjustments.
