I can't answer the question above. But it is evident that the current system is open to huge abuse. Hence the fact it is being reformed.

Is it? You'll have no problem supplying this evidence then - will you?




I really can't believe you are that naive.

He was told by a newspaper who were fed a line by a government minister, so it must be true.

Yet they won 13 seats in 2009.
They have since taken a huge slice of the right-wing Tory vote.
So with that being said if they get anywhere near the Tories in 2014 watch out for the fallout over it.

If you think think the reason it is being reformed is due to abuse you are being very naive. It is purely and simply a money saving exercise justified by so-called abuse that doesn't seem to be panning out in practice given the cases of some people who have been found fit for work. The appeals process is also very busy and that shows its a farce.

It's not as if it is going to save that much in the long run with private companies charging the govt a fortune to test people's fitness for work. One of the things that goes under PIP is the DLA lifetime award meaning you used to be able to be assessed as being entitled to DLA for life. This means regular re-testing of people with conditions like Autism that will never improve. A total waste of tax payers money.

Anakin Skywalker wrote:Yet they won 13 seats in 2009. They have since taken a huge slice of the right-wing Tory vote. So with that being said if they get anywhere near the Tories in 2014 watch out for the fallout over it. Here's a well thought-through and presented analysis of Eastleigh Especially so as it appears to rubbish Lord Ashcroft's doom-mongering poll and analysis

Anakin Skywalker wrote:Yet they won 13 seats in 2009. They have since taken a huge slice of the right-wing Tory vote. So with that being said if they get anywhere near the Tories in 2014 watch out for the fallout over it. Here's a well thought-through and presented analysis of Eastleigh Especially so as it appears to rubbish Lord Ashcroft's doom-mongering poll and analysis

cod'ead wrote:Here's a well thought-through and presented analysis of Eastleigh Especially so as it appears to rubbish Lord Ashcroft's doom-mongering poll and analysis Quite interesting and I like the line 'Lib Dems empty the bins'. My point still stands that if UKIP win more seats and get near the Tories (Let us not forget that we are talking about MEP's not a general so the protest vote is still a high posibility) then all the nice figures in the world may not stop the Tories coming to a couple of difficult decisions (The TORY Lord Ashcroft has made that look rather clear). May I take this opportunity to state that I am neither a xenophobe or a UKIP voter. Basically UKIP win enough MEP votes=Cameron out and a possible referendum in an not needed decision to head UKIP off.

cod'ead wrote:Here's a well thought-through and presented analysis of Eastleigh Especially so as it appears to rubbish Lord Ashcroft's doom-mongering poll and analysis Quite interesting and I like the line 'Lib Dems empty the bins'. My point still stands that if UKIP win more seats and get near the Tories (Let us not forget that we are talking about MEP's not a general so the protest vote is still a high posibility) then all the nice figures in the world may not stop the Tories coming to a couple of difficult decisions (The TORY Lord Ashcroft has made that look rather clear). May I take this opportunity to state that I am neither a xenophobe or a UKIP voter. Basically UKIP win enough MEP votes=Cameron out and a possible referendum in an not needed decision to head UKIP off.

There was a study last year. Detailed assessments were carried out of disability claimants in a number of areas. I seem to recall Bolton being one of them.

The results generated significant coverage and debate in the national press. Amongst other things, it was reported that 70% of disability benefit claimants are assessed once and 'signed off' for life. It does seem bizarre that, based on a sole assessment, you are eligible to claim disability benefits for life.

If I recall correctly, the bottom line was that 1/3 of those assessed in the total study did not meet the criteria to claim the benefit they were receiving. Or, to put it less politely, they were malingering.

Disability benefits, as with any benefits, should be there as a safety net to help the genuinely needy. They should not be a lifestyle choice.

So, pensions too, then?

Although I find it fascinating that you claim that disability is a "lifestyle choice". And your post, with its vague references to something that you cannot even provide a link for, does not remotely illustrate "widespread abuse".

I don't see your point. The theory behind pensions is that you pay in for the duration of your working life. The state, or your pension provider, then pays out for the duration of your retirement.



Please do me the courtesy of reading what I post, and not trying to manipulate it or selectively quote me to suit your own ends.

I never said disability was a lifestyle choice. I said disability benefits should be there as a safety net to help the genuinely needy. As should be the case with all benefits.

Or, to put it another way, I don't have a problem with people claiming disability benefits. I do however have a problem with people kicking the booty out of the system because they have some mild form of ilness that they want to make the most out of.