Thanks to Disability News Service for this update. See also our joint letter and earlier action raising the alarm about people being cut off in the Move to Universal Credit. Fears of another safeguarding catastrophe after DWP stops benefits of nearly 23,000 ESA claimants By John Pring on 14th May 2026 Benefits and Poverty New government figures show nearly 23,000 disabled people have failed to “migrate” from employment and support allowance to universal credit and have had their benefit claims closed, raising concerns over whether many of them have been left destitute. Disabled campaigners warned this week that … Read more
Disability News Service reported: ‘Disabled people’s organisations have branded Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s latest proposals to slash spending on disabled people’s support as “nonsense”, “harmful”, and a recipe for hardship and poverty. In their latest assault on social security spending, the Conservatives misleadingly claimed the benefit cap allows some households to claim “unlimited benefits” if they include someone who receives certain disability benefits.’ Our group comment: ‘Claire Glasman, from the disabled women’s organisation WinVisible, said the benefit cap already hits women who are unable to escape it through part-time waged work, those fleeing domestic violence, as … Read more
Last year we were part of a big campaign against cuts to disability benefits. The government had to drop cuts to PIP and set up the PIP review instead. But their plan to cut the Universal Credit disability payment/”health element” for new claimants, was passed in the Universal Credit Act 2025 and came into force on 6 April 2026. Here is some info, while we hope that this unjust two-tier system for sick and disabled claimants on UC will be challenged. These rules are new, so please do send us your experiences and tips. For … Read more
Shared from the Camden New Journal with thanks by Tom Foot, 9 April 2026 Disabled people are being robbed of benefits due to overhaul of the system designed to “scrape” some of the most vulnerable people off the welfare budget, campaigners warned this week. WinVisible has written to Sir Stephen Timms, the minister for social security and disability, warning promised safeguards have failed to protect thousands of vulnerable people who have been forced to negotiate a complicated switch over to Universal Credit. The government started the process in 2022 but it has stretched on for … Read more
Last year, we campaigned against cuts to disability benefits across PIP and Universal Credit. The government had to drop the PIP cuts (for now), and set up the Timms PIP review instead. But the Universal Credit Act went through, which cuts disability element of UC by 50% for new claimants from 6 April. There are exceptions for some new claimants, who won’t be cut, and we’ll share info on that very soon. But Sunday 5 April is the deadline to lodge a claim under the old rules, to be in the LCWRA group (formerly Support … Read more
WV worked with Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People and Fightback 4 Justice putting together an open letter raising the alarm that thousands of sick, disabled and terminally ill claimants are being cut off benefits if we aren’t able to cope with the forced move to Universal Credit (UC). It was sent to disability benefits Minister Stephen Timms and to Debbie Abrahams MP, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee which scrutinises the DWP. Thanks to everyone who signed — more than 30 disability, claimants’, anti-poverty and community groups around England, Scotland and Wales and … Read more
In this cold weather, you may be having extra problems paying energy bills. (Also see this page about hardship grants from energy companies, and our Benefits info page). It’s important to know your rights if you are behind with bills and the energy company is threatening to install a prepayment meter by force in your home. Around three years ago, there was a big scandal about British Gas employing a company to break into people’s homes to force-fit prepayment meters (with a court warrant). The people they violently targetted included mums and families with young … Read more
We’re sharing a Camden New Journal report quoting WinVisible, which follows on from a report about the tragic preventable death of Paul Kilminster. Camden New Journal 18 December 2025, News p6 — by Caitlin Maskell ‘Brutal’ system pushing disabled people into crisis “Disability campaigners say the benefits system is still pushing vulnerable people into crisis, as further concerns emerge following the death of a disabled man who had been left fearing eviction after financial support was withdrawn. Paul Kilminster, 66, was found dead at Windsor House on the Regents Park estate in June. A coroner’s … Read more
In July, cuts to the disability payment (“health element”) of Universal Credit (UC) for future claimants were voted through by MPs, despite the massive campaign which got the government to drop the PIP cuts from the same Bill in Parliament. The UC cuts and new rules start from 6 April 2026. We opposed any cuts and are supporting calls to postpone this. People did win another change, that this cut will not affect people already getting UC disability payment (called LCWRA — limited capability for work-related activity). Claimants in this category are called “pre-2026 claimants”. … Read more
We’re taking part in the Unite Community Day of Action against Benefit Cuts and Sanctions with other claimant groups (more details here) Today: Wednesday 26 November TIME: 12 noon onwards WHERE: outside Houses of Parliament. Meet College Green, SW1P 3JX Nearest step-free tube – Westminster * * * Actions in other cities and places include: ** Manchester Wed 26 Nov https://www.instagram.com/p/DQuOP-OjAr4/ · ** Swansea Saturday 29 Nov https://dpac.uk.net/2025/11/protest-the-budget-in-swansea/ We say: · We all have the Right to Live! – disabled & older, immigrants, asylum seekers, people of colour, Palestinians, the natural world… Welfare Not Warfare! NO … Read more