Speaker bios

Gary Vaux has been a welfare benefits adviser for over 40 years, working in a wide variety of frontline and management roles, with an in-depth understanding of the social security system in the UK. Although retired from his day job, he is an active author, broadcaster, trainer, and consultant for a number of national charities, local authorities, radio and TV stations, law firms, housing associations and others. He has a long-standing relationship with the DWP at a national level, where he is asked to review and comment on forthcoming changes or the impact of previous ones.

Gary has supported Crohn’s & Colitis UK for a number of years. He helps us to make sure our information on money and benefits is accurate, up to date and trustworthy. He has three family members affected by Crohn’s or Colitis, and understands through them just a little of what people have to go through to get the financial support they sometimes need. Away from work, he's a Spurs season ticket holder, with six fabulous grandkids.

Jordon Cox is known as TV's ‘Coupon King’ - finding you deals, discounts and tricks to save money. He was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease at 18 years old, and has battled with Crohn's his whole adult life. During his worst, he dropped down to 6 stone 10 in weight, and was fed intravenously before undergoing two surgeries to remove diseased bowel. He's now currently in remission. During his time in hospital, Jordon honed his craft at saving money and finding deals, and even made several £1,000s while stuck in a hospital bed. Both illness and money are very important topics for him, and he can't wait to share what he's learned about his journey.

Catherine Winsor is Director of Services, Research & Evidence at Crohn's & Colitis UK. She has worked in the healthcare charity sector for over 20 years, including senior roles at Prostate Cancer UK and Bowel Cancer UK, leading teams focused on improving healthcare pathways and the provision of patient support services. Catherine is passionate about health inequality and improving access to support for everyone.

Q&A

We had many more questions than we had time to answer in the Q&A session.

Gary Vaux has shared his view on some of the questions we didn't get to, below.

Turned down for Attendance Allowance

Question: "I've just been turned down for Attendance Allowance because I don’t need constant night or day assistance. If I had claimed PIP when I was first diagnosed, I would have got it! What do I do now?"

Gary's answer: "Sorry to hear that your claim was unsuccessful. The decision often hinges on how DWP interpret the phrases and words used in the legislation, and that's not always done correctly.

The legislation (Regulation 64 of the 1992 Social Security and Benefits Act) refers to a person qualifying if they need either "frequent attention throughout the day in connection with his bodily functions" or "continual supervision throughout the day in order to avoid substantial danger to himself or others”. 

In addition, they also qualify if they need, during the night, “from another person prolonged or repeated attention in connection with his bodily functions”, or “in order to avoid substantial danger to himself or others he requires another person to be awake for a prolonged period or at frequent intervals for the purpose of watching over him”.

If you meet the day or night conditions, you get the lower rate of Attendance Allowance (or Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland). If you meet both conditions, you get the higher rate. 

As you can see, I have highlighted in bold some of the more contentious words. For example, ‘continual’ isn’t the same as ‘continuous’. My neighbour may continually play loud music, but it’s not continuous, i.e. it’s pretty regular but it’s not non-stop without a break.  

I’ve summarised the key words and their meaning as established by case law:

Frequent (day). Meaning in Attendance Allowance regulations: repeated attention throughout the day. Typical threshold: several times across the day.

Continual (day). Meaning in Attendance Allowance regulations: ongoing supervision with short breaks allowed. Typical threshold: breaks up to an hour okay. 

Prolonged (night). Meaning in Attendance Allowance regulations: one long spell of attention or supervision. Typical threshold: at least 20 minutes.

Repeated (night). Meaning in Attendance Allowance regulations: two or more separate spells. Typical threshold: 2+ episodes.

Frequent intervals (night). Meaning in Attendance Allowance regulations: regular checks to prevent danger. Typical threshold: usually 3+ intervals. 

Armed with this insight into the official reasoning, you can decide whether to ask for a mandatory reconsideration of the refusal or make a fresh application, using the above summary to describe the frequency of the help you need with bodily functions or staying safe. Being precise over timings, frequency etc is therefore crucial. 

These are the regulations that apply to Attendance Allowance and to Disability Living Allowance (PADP and CDP in Scotland) but not to PIP (ADP in Scotland) which has its own assessment criteria. But because PIP/ADP includes help with mobility, which AA/PADP doesn’t, I always advise people to get a thorough benefit check from an established advice service if in their mid-60s to avoid the scenario you faced."

Job security

Question: "If you have a well-paying job at the moment which you might not be able to do anymore, is there any security if you have to quit your job?"

Gary's answer: "The first thing to check is whether you have ‘critical injury’ insurance (paid as a lump sum) or ‘income protection’ insurance (paid as a monthly sum, usually around 50-70% of normal earnings). As both of these are insurance products the costs, terms and conditions vary hugely between insurers, and most won't cover pre-existing conditions. 

The next step is to see what your employer's policy is on ill-health retirement, if it has one. Again, policies vary. If you are part of a Defined Benefit Scheme, your eventual pensions may be reduced. If you are part of a Defined Contribution Scheme, and you draw your pension early, your personal pension pot will last fewer years. This is an area where you need advice from an FCA-registered financial adviser. 

Other than the above, you would fall back on the DWP’s Employment and Support Allowance, which is only £95.55 per week at present, though that can be supplemented by a Support Group element of £50.35 a week if the DWP accept that you have limited capacity for work-related activity. It is also paid at a reduced rate if you have an occupational pension of over £85 a week (you lose 50p of the ESA for every £1 the pension exceeds £85). Even if you don’t qualify as a result, you should maintain your claim by sending in medical certificates because that protects your National Insurance record. 

ESA can also be topped-up by Universal Credit, but that is means-tested, so they look at your savings (anything over £16,000 bars you) as well as any income or savings your partner has."

Timms Review

Question: "I have been on DLA/PIP since 1993 and it is up for review in 2028. With the current Timms Review working to reduce claimants, should I be concerned that I may lose it?"

Gary's answer: "I’m answering this query in early September 2026, and my crystal ball is still a bit murky!

The Timms Review is due out in November 2026. We know that PIP has been described as ‘not fit for purpose’, but we don’t know as yet what the outcome of that analysis will be. We don’t know whether, and for how long, existing claimants will retain their right to PIP or whatever replaces it (in name or substance).

The reason we have the Timms Review is that the original PIP reform proposals met Labour back-bench opposition. The Review was to give more time and reflection on what was needed. The House of Commons breaks for Christmas on December 17 until January 4. There may be minimal time for debate at that stage, but a Green Paper (discussion paper) would probably have to be sent around, and then a White Paper setting out detailed proposals before a Bill is put forward. That then needs enough approval from both Houses of Parliament to become an Act. All this to say that this is not a quick process, even if the change affects existing claimants."

Higher education

Question: "How will doing a Master's degree affect my Universal Credit and Employment & Support Allowance (support group)? I also get full PIP but I don’t believe this is affected, as it’s not means tested."

Gary's answer: "As you rightly say, PIP is unaffected. If you are getting new-style ESA - which I assume you are, as income-related ESA has effectively ended - that too is unaffected. To put it bluntly, if you have been accepted as only having a limited capacity for work-related activity, the DWP don’t care what you do with your time! Just keep submitting your medical certificates as you do now.

Any maintenance loan, however, will affect your Universal Credit, even if you opt not to take it – the DWP will assume you have. 70% of the loan will be assumed to cover course fees, irrespective of whether the fees are 5% or 100% of the value of the loan. The “remaining” 30% counts as income, split over 12 months, with £110 a month disregarded by DWP.  

For example, if the loan was £15,000, and the fees were £13,000, DWP would still assume you have £4,500 (30% of the £15,000) to live on. Spread over 12 months, that would be £375 a month, but they ignore £110 of that, reducing the Universal Credit you get to top up your ESA by £265 a month. Good luck with advancing your career!"