From: Elcena Jeffers [ejf1@hotmail.co.uk] Sent: 14 February 2011 22:01 To: DWP Consultation DLAReform Subject: Elcena Jeffers Foundation ELCENA JEFFERS FOUNDATION (EJF) PO Box 63057, London NW9 1LQ. Telephone/Mobile: 07963 117730 E-mail: ejf1@hotmail.co.uk 14th February 2011 DLA Reform Team Department for Work and Pensions 1st Floor Caxton House Tothill Street London SW1H 9NA consultation.dlareform@dwp.gsi.gov.uk To DLA Reform Team, Elcena Jeffers Foundation (EJF) Please find enclosed Response from Elcena Jeffers Foundation (EJF) to the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Personal Independence Payment of Welfare Reform Programme. Disability Living Allowance reform – consultation questions EJF are responding to the consultation questions on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance that is to be used and will also be a more dynamic benefit if it is made easier to access for disabled person, if it will take account of changes in individual circumstances and the impact of disabilities, as well as wider changes in society, such as social attitudes and equality legislation. And giving disabled person more choices in the activities that they may wish to undertake. We hope you find this useful. Yours sincerely Elcena Jeffers On behalf of Elcena Jeffers Foundation ELCENA JEFFERS FOUNDATION (EJF) PO Box 63057, London NW9 1LQ. Telephone/Mobile: 07963 117730 E-mail: ejf1@hotmail.co.uk 14th February 2011 DLA Reform Team Department for Work and Pensions 1st Floor Caxton House Tothill Street London SW1H 9NA 1. What are the problems or barriers that prevent disabled people participating in society and leading independent, full and active lives? Your response: a) Inequalities, and the need for a Full Comprehensive Needs Assessment and using the Buy-The-Money Project (welfare reform appendix 1 below) will break through the the biggest barriers to enable disabled person getting and keeping an Independent life, and participating fully in society, this can be from being too sick and disabled doing nothing but mind their pains to working full time. Buy-The-Money Project is a National Welfare Reform Project that will be vital for Disabled Person Independent Living. To the Disabled Person with a Full Comprehensive Needs Assessment? Will allow real choice whether in work or out of work because it will be tailored to their Full Comprehensive Needs Assessment Plan. and allow preparation for people to get their benefits counted towards Income Tax (Simple Form) where all needs can be declared to 1 or 3 departments; DWP, HM Treasury and HMRC that the money will go-around in government pots to meet and supported needs. b) 2. Is there anything else about Disability Living Allowance (DLA) that should stay the same? Your response: EJF, has already responded to the Welfare Reform and put forward a full report on Buy-The-Money Project that has taken into account the DLA and all other benefits that a person are or is entitled to in order that they can seek-out activities that suit themselves best. With a view that each individual would be using as a means to earn their living (if it is at all possible). 3. What are the main extra costs that disabled people face? Your response: Each disabled personal needs are different. Therefore a National Needs Assessment should be developed by the type of on-records that the whole of the welfare state uses for benefits. Perhaps based upon the Inland Revenue Form (TAX FORM) as a Major Player in people’s lives. 4. The new benefit will have two rates for each component: · Will having two rates per component make the benefit easier to understand and administer, while ensuring appropriate levels of support? · What, if any, disadvantages or problems could have two rates per component cause? Your response: c) If you are going to change the rates to two? Then perhaps it might be better to have only one higher rate and allow preparation for people to get their benefits counted towards Income Tax (Simple Form) where all needs can be declared to 1 or 3 departments; DWP, HM Treasury and HMRC that the money will go-around in government pots to meet and supported needs. d) To the Disabled Person with a Full Comprehensive Needs Assessment? Will allow real choice whether in work or out of work because it will be tailored to their Full Comprehensive Needs Assessment Plan. 5. Should some health conditions or impairments mean an automatic entitlement to the benefit, or should all claims be based on the needs and circumstances of the individual applying? Your response: Yes. 6. How do we prioritise support to those people least able to live full and active lives? Which activities are most essential for everyday life? Your response: Full Comprehensive Needs Assessment should cover this. 7. How can we best ensure that the new assessment appropriately takes account of variable and fluctuating conditions? Your response: Full Comprehensive Needs Assessment will cater for this also because it will be based upon the individual. 8. Should the assessment of a disabled person’s ability take into account any aids and adaptations they use? · What aids and adaptations should be included · Should the assessment only take into account aids and adaptations where the person already has them or should we consider those that the person might be eligible for and can easily obtain? Your response: Full Comprehensive Needs Assessment, the assessment of a disabled person’s ability take into account any aids and adaptations they use, this will be also included in the Full Comprehensive Needs Assessment, that caters for working and non-working disabled person, to lead an independent Life. 9. How could we improve the process of applying for the benefit for individuals and make it a more positive experience? For example: · How could we make the claim form easier to fill in? · How can we improve information about the new benefit so that people are clear about what it is for and who is likely to qualify? Your response: a) A self-Assessment Form as the Inland Revenue Form model is good to copy or make simplier. b) A simple letter to nation should be sufficient. 10. What supporting evidence will help provide a clear assessment of ability and who is best placed to provide this? Your response: Sick and Disabled Individuals. 11. An important part of the new process is likely to be a face-to-face discussion with a healthcare professional. · What benefits or difficulties might this bring? · Are there any circumstances in which it may be inappropriate to require a face-to-face meeting with a healthcare professional – either in an individual’s own home or another location? Your response: a) A clear understanding of what the nature of the disability is and each would develop a plan that suit themselves. b) No. 12. How should the reviews be carried out? For example: · What evidence and/or criteria should be used to set the frequency of reviews? · Should there be different types of review depending on the needs of the individual and their impairment/condition? Your response: a) Why a review for a person who is sick and disabled? The choice of being sick and disabled should be good enough for living independently as best as one could. Buy-The-Money will create its own pathways for monitoring purposes. b) Full Comprehensive Needs Assessment is an annual monitoring tool e.g. Tax and Benefits entitlements. 13. The system for Personal Independence Payment will be easier for individuals to understand, so we expect people to be able to identify and report changes in their needs. However, we know that some people do not currently keep the Department informed. How can we encourage people to report changes in circumstances? Your response: Full Comprehensive assessment will keep all parties informed. This real partnership of disabled people and Independent Living. 14. What types of advice and information are people applying for Personal Independence Payment likely to need and would it be helpful to provide this as part of the benefit claiming process? Your response: All forms of information will be coming through with the Full Comprehensive Needs Assessment. 15. Could some form of requirement to access advice and support, where appropriate, help encourage the minority of claimants who might otherwise not take action? If so, what would be the key features of such a system, and what would need to be avoided? Your response: A Simple Form that people cannot fall through the net. 16. How do disabled people currently fund their aids and adaptations? Should there be an option to use Personal Independence Payment to meet a one-off cost? Your response: a) With Great Difficulties. b) Extra cost of a disability is an ongoing never stopping cost; therefore Buy-The-Money project is needed for disabled people to work to support their disabilities. 17. What are the key differences that we should take into account when assessing children? Your response: Buy-The-Money Project is a National Welfare Reform Project that will be vital for Disabled Person Independent Living. 18. How important or useful has DLA been at getting disabled people access to other services or entitlements? Are there things we can do to improve these passporting arrangements? Your response: a) Vital. b) DWP must create a simple policy that every one-else should follow, or adopt the Buy-The-Money and Income Tax Form for National Programme. 19. What would be the implications for disabled people and service providers if it was not possible for Personal Independence Payment to be used as a passport to other benefits and services? Your response: What is the government of the day saying? Big Society, and Independence, for everyone. 20. What different assessments for disability benefits or services could be combined and what information about the disabled person could be shared to minimise bureaucracy and duplication? Your response: Inequalities and the need for a Full Comprehensive Needs Assessment and using the Buy-The-Money Project (welfare reform appendix 1 below) will break through the biggest barriers to enable disabled person getting and keeping an Independent life, and participating fully in society, this can be from being too sick and disabled doing nothing but mind their pains to working full time. Buy-The-Money Project is a National Welfare Reform Project that will be vital for Disabled Person Independent Living. 21. What impact could our proposals have on the different equality groups (our initial assessment of which is on page 28) and what else should be considered in developing the policy? Your response: Inequalities and the need for a Full Comprehensive Needs Assessment and using the Buy-The-Money Project (welfare reform appendix 1 below) will break through the biggest barriers to enable disabled person getting and keeping an Independent life, and participating fully in society, this can be from being too sick and disabled doing nothing but mind their pains to working full time. Buy-The-Money Project is a National Welfare Reform Project that will be vital for Disabled Person Independent Living. 22. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about the proposals in this public consultation? Your response: Yes, listen to disabled people. End. 2005 Consultation on Welfare Reform Select Committee on Work and Pensions Written Evidence -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Memorandum submitted by Elcena Jeffers Foundation REFORMS TO INCAPACITY BENEFITS 1. One of the biggest problems with disabled people getting work and keeping work is the amount of unwanted control that comes with every single scheme. All people who want work should get work. 2. Far too many managers are in charge of every aspects of each new work scheme. And therefore there is not enough money leftover in the "pot" to do the job that was to be achieved in the first place, and to meet the needs of that group of people or population, buying the money would be every one's business in their working and thinking and planning. 3. What ever tools that a disabled person may need to work with and to do a worthwhile job. Should be in a way as not to cause the taxpayers any extra money buy the money is to add to the Government system. 4. Resources, is usually the excuses that comes after the scheme has started any new money scheme example (Challenge, Urban, Regeneration funding) has settled-down in a very short space of time, that is people (managers) start to look ahead of how to maintain their own employment prospects, there is nothing wrong with this of course, only the same opportunities for the disabled person (who may not be as sharp on the take up as everyone else) to start mapping out a future for themselves in good enough time for change of employment, buy the money scheme will give each individual that insight into their own circumstances. REFORMS TO THE INCAPACITY BENEFITS: POINTS UNDER THIS HEADING Buying or Borrowing the Money To ensure that the £50.06 million South Kilburn New Deal for Communities work with local people to meet the needs of the community by themselves and or with help. People will buy/borrow this money as a tool for creating work, and repayment will be by using the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP/DSS) Crisis Loan Repayment System. What EJF are asking us and the DWP Select Committee to do is no small faith! Or could be as simple as a, b, or c. Repaying the Money We will be exchanging One Government money (all benefits open to all who want to take part) for the other, using the Crisis Loan Repayment System. The crisis loan system is where a person borrow money from the government and have an arrangement to have a percentage of their benefits taken out at source as a method of repayment (Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Officers will know how this scheme works) only, this would be on a bigger scale. Because the DWP is responsible for the Government's welfare reform agenda. Its aim is to promote opportunity and independence for all. It delivers support and advice through a modern network of services that can be self-manage to people of working age, employers, pensioners, families and children and disabled people. Buy The Money could make this happen with no extra cost by using existing systems. The Job/Work Description The job or work is solely to be within the catchments area of the old (Carlton Ward), and know the 7,000+ people and about New Deal for Communities. For all form and types of people who gets state benefits, willing people, lazy people, people who do not want to work, people who want to work, people who cannot work, sick and disabled people and working people all has opportunities to get and keep employment. This is the place where people have a chance and choice to create their own job agenda and work to that timetable because it will be theirs. The Future Rollout of Pathways to Work There are schemes out there where disabled people are working, EJF are not aware of any scheme where they has the whole programme just right, with enough people copying what is on offer or being made open for rolling out. THE EXPERIENCE OF SICK AND DISABLED PEOPLE: POINTS UNDER THIS HEADING (a) If we are using the buy-the-money scheme, Officers: Government Office for London, London Borough of Brent Council, Residents of Carlton Ward, New Deal for Communities (NDC) staff, NDC Board, and Projects. Will need to be aware that a percentage of the people using their services are for their salary, therefore it would be in their interest to be observant. (b) This is a self-help type of engagement not forced. (c) A Full Comprehensive Assessment Form need to be tailored in a sample format that disabled people and able-bodied people can use example; the Inland Revenue Form is adopted to meet all needs. Full Comprehensive Assessment Form can be adopted to do the same job to meet all needs. Support for Sick and Disabled People to Move Back Into Work A real unbiased comprehensive assessment of needs, to include, time, money and a want to work attitude without "if and buts" or maybe. INVOLVEMENT OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS: POINTS UNDER THIS HEADING The rehabilitation initiatives such as, GPs and "Condition Management Programme" this should be included in the comprehensive assessment and form the backbone of the type of work that a person can do, link to Expert Patient programme. JOBCENTRE PLUS RESOURCES: POINTS UNDER THIS HEADING Jobcentre Plus and DWP is the joint to the right organisations to carry out this task, by using the Buy-The-Money Scheme. Not all this work will be done be any one agency it will be based upon the work itself. The variety of skills and trades will fall into place as people take what work suits them best. EXISTING EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVES: POINTS UNDER THIS HEADING This has worked well to a point the problem is that there is not enough money in the system to allow latitude to meet the needs of all the people, and especially the special needs of disabled people. Buy The Money can give the latitude for this to happen, it would not meet all the needs, but could give greater choices. THE ROLE OF THE PRIVATE AND VOLUNTARY SECTORS: POINTS UNDER THIS HEADING The specialist and variety of jobs that will be needed will be enough to create more employment in a larger market. LOCAL LABOUR MARKETS Regeneration monies has made it possible to make a difference locally and we should be able to distribute good ideas nation wide, here in Brent we have the: Sure Start Projects, New Deal Projects, Neighbourhood Renewal, Health Action Zone and European monies. We must use these monies wisely for maximising good quality of life. EJF is asking the Works and Pensions Select Committee to open up the Pathways into Work for all and anyone who wants to work. Getting ready for work 3 October 2005 PART 2 "Getting Ready for Work and Using My Health as a Tool For Work" Because I Am Too Sick To Work! "As a Means of Earning a Living" This action we need to include in a Full Comprehensive Assessment Plan. Employment would be a part of an Independent Living Plan. Buying or Borrowing the Money To ensure that the £50.06 million South Kilburn New Deal for Communities work with local people to meet the needs of the community by themselves and or with help. People will buy/borrow this money as a tool for creating work, and repayment will be by using the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Crisis Loan System. What we are asking to do is no small faith! Repaying the Money Residents will be exchanging one government money for the other, using the Crisis Loan System. The crisis loan system is where a person borrow money from the government and have an arrangement to have a percentage of their benefits taken out at source as a method of repayment (Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Officers will know how this scheme works) only, this would be on a bigger scale. The DWP is responsible for the Government's welfare reform agenda. Its aim is to promote opportunity and independence for all. It delivers support and advice through a modern network of services to people of working age, employers, pensioners, families and children and disabled people. The Job/Work Description The job or work is just to be within the catchments area (Carlton Ward), and know about New Deal for Communities. For people who gets state benefits, lazy people, people who do not want to work, people who want to work, people who cannot work, sick and disabled people and working people. This is the place where people have a chance and choice to create their own job agenda and work to that timetable because it will be theirs. Background To buy the money is a funny way of asking that a partnership be just that "A PARTNERSHIP" with South Kilburn New Deal for Communities (SKNDC). We have been talking and working on this idea for a few years now. We took the bull by the horn and submitted an Application Form for £50.06 million (the full lot) in November 2004. We now need to pursue that application. AWKWARD QUESTIONS ON WHAT DO I DO? 1. What have I been doing with my time during the past 25 years? Learn to live as a disabled person, courses, personal development, and consulting on strategic work on Government documents central and local, community engagement and involvement in setting-up Brent Legal Services Commission, Disability Employment Advisory Committee and Voluntary Work. 2. How healthy am I? I am too sick to do what other people want me to do, but not too sick to do what I want to do! By myself, or and with help of other people? I am learning to live and work with my very ill body. 3. What experience and skills do I have? 40 years of running my own organisation. Counsel and care for myself and family for over 50 years. 4. What are my qualifications and achievements? Life Skills; participate in the setting-up of Healthy Harlesden Project, participate in winning £50.06 million New Deal for Communities, NOF Government Monies, reading and understanding government documents. 5. What services could I offer? Lifetime partnership and independent living plans. 6. What is my approach to financial planning? Research and make my own. See (Draft Personal Survival Budget Schedule). 7. Who will I be working with? Governments, organisations and individuals. 8. How will I pay for services? Future Builders Fund Loans and New Deals for Communities, exchange one benefit for work. 9. How much would my education cost? To £30-50,000. 10. Could other people benefit from my recommendations? Yes, by partnership working, lobbying Houses of Parliament, and local lobbying. 11. What profession am I going into as a professional career? Health, legal, research and consultation. 12. What is the cost of registering with a professional body for education and employment? Money, time and energy. 13. What policy can I adopt to meet my educational and employment needs? Human Rights Act, Charity Act, Planning Regulations, follow British legal system and Disability Legislations and Employment Laws. 14. Depriving people of their life? Barriers that can stop these tasks from happening. Who has such power? Do they have a written Payment Policy? WHAT DO I DO NOW? 1. What have I been doing with my time for the past 25 years? And what am I planning to do now? Work in whatever way that I can, by training and personal development. 2. Who do I work with? Government Agencies. See A-Z of where will I be looking for work and education. 3. Why do I work with them? Researching justice and educational goals. 4. Do/or would they consider me as a partner in their work? Area Consultative Forums, Local Strategic Partnership, Focus Group Working and others. 5. What do I want from the groups that I work with? Elcena Jeffers Foundation 3 October 2005