Bedroom tax: DWP can’t appeal vs DV mum at European Court

The government cruelly appeals against every court win which upholds our benefit rights and protects vulnerable claimants.  But the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has refused the DWP permission to appeal against the mum fleeing domestic violence and her son, who finally won against the bedroom tax at the ECHR … Read more

Open Day Sun 8 March — International Women’s Day

Sunday 8 March — International Women’s Day Open Day with the Global Women’s Strike and other organisations at the Crossroads Women’s Centre Workshops, films, exhibition, music, refreshments… See programme below. Find out about campaigns and volunteering for survival and caring, against poverty, rape, racism and every violence and discrimination, detention & deportation, wars and climate … Read more

Tribunal victory gives hope to ‘failure to attend’ benefit victims

Shared from Disability News Service: By John Pring on 27th February 2020 A disabled woman’s tribunal victory has given hope to claimants who cannot take part in face-to-face benefit assessments for impairment, health, or trauma-related reasons, but then have their claims ended by the government for “failure to attend” their appointments. Jane* spent two years fighting for her … Read more

I won 10 years’ PIP with M.E.

Pamela* in Yorkshire writes: I’d really like my PIP story to be included on your website. Things are just so dire with benefits and I want to share my experience to try and help others as much as possible and publicize the ME Association meeting with the government minister.  I read the PIP stories on your website … Read more

Greenwich hid £8m cuts from disabled people

We’ve been protesting against Greenwich Council’s plan to increase care charges and squeeze another £1.6 million from disabled people’s benefits, since July 2019 when we sent an Open Letter to councillors and for the consultation. But that consultation about charges never mentioned also cutting £8 million from adult health and social care.  This includes “reablement”, … Read more

Liverpool Mayor against the cuts

Sue Ferguson* in Liverpool writes: Liverpool’s Mayor, Joe Anderson, has stated that he will refuse to implement any future cuts after it was revealed that a fresh round of pain is planned for the City of Liverpool.  The Echo reported: “With services stretched to the maximum in the city, Mayor Anderson has now said enough … Read more

Universal Credit: the struggle continues

Tonight on BBC2 at 9pm: Episode 3 of Universal Credit — Inside the Welfare State. This week’s episode from Bolton, shows the struggles of mum Paula, and Jenny, a waitress on a zero-hour contract.  We haven’t seen the full programme, only the clip from the BBC.  But the clip makes out that the problem is giving … Read more

Vigil held for Errol Graham in Nottingham

Errol Graham, from Nottingham, slowly starved to death after being cut off ESA for “failure to attend” a face-to-face assessment on 31 August 2017.  (The assessor company Maximus – CHDA would have reported his “failure to attend” to the DWP.)  His bereaved daughter-in-law, Alison Turner, went to  Disability News Service and has been campaigning for … Read more

Councillors labelled ‘murderers’ as Greenwich votes to increase adult social care charges

On 29 January, Greenwich Council cabinet decided to charge people £1.6 million more for social care, and make £8m cuts to the free rehabilitation which people coming out of hospital are entitled to get, and other support. Here is the South London Press report by James Twomey.  Plus below, our Kate Brown‘s speech to the Scrutiny Committee … Read more

Social care reform — alarm at Tory proposals

At Prime Minister’s Questions on 15 January, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn asked Boris Johnson why the delay on reform of social care addressing the crisis.  Watch video here. What some Conservatives have suggested so far, is even worse than now: A class-biased two-tier system, whereby low-income people continue to get poor-quality care, while those who … Read more