UN experts have expressed serious concerns about the impact of government austerity on the rights of disabled people and other disadvantaged groups. In a scathing report, the UN committee on economic, social and cultural rights said it was “seriously concerned” … Continue reading →
Disabled activists have welcomed the decision of doctors to vote strongly against relaxing their union’s position on physician-assisted suicide. The British Medical Association (BMA) voted by 63 per cent to 37 per cent this week at its annual representative meeting … Continue reading →
Only about seven in 10 disabled people who were previously claiming disability living allowance (DLA) are being found eligible for the government’s new disability benefit, official figures have revealed. The Department for Work and Pensions … Continue reading →
A minister has been urged to resign, after he threatened a traumatised child abuse survivor – who is waiting to give evidence about the abuse in court – that his benefits would be stopped if he failed to co-operate … Continue reading →
Official figures suggest that a new appeal stage introduced for unsuccessful claimants has been little more than a delaying tactic aimed at reducing the number of disabled people claiming benefits, say campaigners. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has … Continue reading →
Ministers are delaying the release of nine secret reviews into the deaths of benefit claimants, even though civil servants apparently prepared them for release three weeks ago under freedom of information laws. A response to a request to release redacted … Continue reading →
Most mental health service-users are still deeply divided about identifying with the social model of disability, but still favour moving away from the medicalised attitude of professionals and towards a more “social” approach, according to a new report. The user-led … Continue reading →
Union delegates say the government’s decision to reverse planned cuts to its new disability benefit could be a turning-point in the fightback against its repeated attacks on disabled people. The TUC Disabled Workers Conference in London voted in favour of … Continue reading →
While the appropriate offence would be Misconduct in Public Office we would like share with you the following complaint to Northumbria Police by Mr. Oliver Swingler of Newcastle. Deaths of Benefit Claimants Posted Sunday 22nd May 2016 12.48pm For the Attention … Continue reading →
The computer system used for new personal independence payment (PIP) claims has crashed twice in a week, just days after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) insisted it was “working as it should”. On both occasions, last Wednesday (11 … Continue reading →
Ministers have refused to say if they implemented 10 measures – recommended by their own civil servants – that would have made it less likely that “vulnerable” benefit claimants would lose their lives. The 10 recommendations were taken from some … Continue reading →
By Patrick Butler and John Pring ‘Peer reviews’ challenge claims by ministers that there is no connection between welfare reform policies and deaths of vulnerable claimants A series of secret internal inquiries into the deaths of people claiming social security … Continue reading →
The new chair of the equality watchdog has taken up his new post, despite question-marks over potential conflicts of interest arising from his legal firm’s work for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and other government departments. David Isaac … Continue reading →
Disabled campaigners are hoping a new government taskforce will lead to apprenticeships becoming more accessible to disabled people, despite concerns over who ministers will invite to take part. Three government departments announced this week that they have set up the … Continue reading →
By John Pring Disability News Service Thursday 22nd October 2015 The government has rejected three key recommendations by a cross-party committee of MPs that were aimed at improving the safety and transparency of its benefits sanctions regime. In its response … Continue reading →
By John Pring Disability News Service Thursday 22 October 2015 The prime minister has had to defend his record on disability rights twice in a minute, after being questioned about both a UN inquiry and the death of a north … Continue reading →
The shocking failings of the work capability assessment system – and the healthcare assessors who are paid to police it – have been exposed by the family of one of its victims.
Continue reading →Friday 25th September 2015 By John Pring Disability News Service Government contractor Atos Healthcare claims it has no idea if a former surgeon whose flawed assessment of a disabled man helped trigger his suicide is still testing people with mental … Continue reading →
Jamie Szymkowiak writes on austerity, welfare and disability
Continue reading →Updated tragic list of welfare-related deaths of UK’s sick and/or disabled people. This is the tip on the iceberg: They shall be remembered forevermore. Avenge the dead. Resuscitate the living. We must fight on for freedom from Westminster’s murderous … Continue reading →
