AS benefit claimants cycle endlessly in the "hamster wheel" of the assessment system, the Government's Welfare Reform Bill has been spinning its way through the House of Lords.
Over the last month it has been dogged by outright defeats and near-misses. Measures to limit to a year the time for which anyone other than those with the most severe conditions can claim Employment Support Allowance were thrown out. The same happened for plans to means-test ESA, and time-limits for those having cancer treatment. One close shave came in the form of reform to Disability Living Allowance (DLA), which is to be replaced by PIP, personal independence payment, and was squeezed through by 16 votes in spite of paralympian Tanni Grey Thompson's bid for an amendment requiring a trial of the planned replacement due to fears it will make life tougher for the disabled. DLA is a benefit awarded to people in work and out of work, to help with the costs of care or mobility. Welfare Minister Lord Freud did, however, agree to reviews of PIP two and four years after implementation.
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