Disabled activists say they are “deeply concerned” by the “troubling” decision to appoint an outspoken supporter of legalising assisted suicide as the new minister for disabled people. Penny Mordaunt was appointed minister for disabled people, health and work, in the … Continue reading →
The minister for disabled people has admitted to complete ignorance about the model that lies at the heart of his government’s programme of disability benefit reforms. Justin Tomlinson was asked what his thoughts were about the biopsychosocial (BPS) model of … Continue reading →
The new work and pensions secretary scrapped the disability and employment white paper prepared by his predecessor Iain Duncan Smith because he “didn’t like the look” of it, a Tory MP has told a parliamentary meeting. The new work … Continue reading →
A government contractor has told a traumatised abuse survivor he must be reassessed for employment and support allowance (ESA), just a week after a minister faced a call to resign for threatening to stop another of his disability benefits. Justin … 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 →
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 →
Providing support from their peers is an effective way of boosting disabled people’s job prospects, and should be used far more in government work programmes, according to two new studies. The research from Disability Rights UK (DR UK) and … Continue reading →
A traumatised child abuse victim has branded the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) “shameful” for trying to force him to attend a benefits reassessment, when he is waiting to give evidence at an institutional abuse trial. David* has severe … Continue reading →
The government may have abandoned its target to halve the disability employment gap, according to a leading disabled people’s organisation. Disability Rights UK (DR UK) said it feared comments made last week by the new work and pensions secretary, Stephen … 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 →
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has finally admitted that it could be partly responsible for the deaths of some benefit claimants. The admission came – quietly – after its release of heavily-redacted versions of 49 secret “peer reviews” … Continue reading →
Updated from: http://loopys-rollingwiththepunches.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/iain-duncan-smith-legacy.html The following is a list of policies and damning court decisions and findings undertaken under the watch of Iain Duncan Smith (emphasis on those affecting disabled people): April 2011: LHA (Local Housing Allowance) is reduced to … Continue reading →
‘I, Daniel Blake’ moved Cannes audiences to tears and is greeted with shouts of ‘BRAVO!’ Black Triangle Campaign is in the film’s credits for our work in advising Scottish scriptwriter Paul Laverty on the WCA and sanctions system which is … Continue reading →
By John Pring Disability News Service Saturday 14th May 2016 After 21 months of smokescreens, excuses, obstruction and secrecy, work and pensions ministers have finally been forced to publish some of the conclusions reached by their own civil servants about … 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 increasing death toll due to the loss of benefits Thank to Maggie Zolobajluk @22magoo for her support in this extremely sad task. 14 Sep 2015 — The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) published guidance to Jobcentre officials who decide whether … 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 →