Here is an appalling example of what is happening to people who rely on benefits and have compensation money saved for future needs.
http://www.sundaypost.com/nw/uk-news/wo ... -benefits/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
There is a particular evil in this young lady's case, considering how she became so ill and disabled in the first place; but the facts are that many other people are gong through similar scenarios if they have savings, including compensation payments, which used not to be included in means-testing.
This is something that I've been on about for a few years now. When ESA WRAG based on NI Conts was time-limited to 52 weeks (applied retrospectively) people in that group were being means-tested for the first time, and compensation was being taken into the means test - and as ESA WRAG component disappears, people assessed as WRAG will be under the umbrella of Universal Credit, so the same thing will happen.
Compensation for military, medical, or criminal injury is paid in recompense with a view to ensuring that the injured person has a fund for any care needs, aids/adaptations to homes/vehicles, and long-term future planning - it is not designed for, or intended for, day-to-day living expenses.
ESA is a benefit, as with JSA and IS, which is specifically for the daily living costs of those who qualify. This young lady qualifies.
Having parents who used their own resources to care for this young lady to adulthood, at no small expense to themselves, her fund (which is actually very small) has grown a little due to interest; DWP apparently intend to take that away.
I have written to Owen Smith about this case, and the rules that allow this to happen to others.
