Benefit rights / guaranteed care income

Loss of severe disability premiums — update

By winvisibleblog | 22/10/2018 | 1 Comment

Some women who lost severe disability premiums (SDPs) have been in touch with us since the judge ruled in favour of the two disabled men who lost severe disability premiums after they moved area and were made to change from ESA to Universal Credit (UC). It’s so frustrating that despite winning in court, other disabled people affected by the same cut have not been reimbursed.  There is no DWP process at the moment to apply for the money up until compensation comes in — only bringing a legal case individually.  Those who have already lost … Read more

Woman helps win £1.67 billion ESA for 180,000 people!

By winvisibleblog | 21/10/2018 | 2 Comments

Several legal challenges at tribunal and then High Court have forced the government to repay around £1.67bn in benefits  to an estimated 180,000 low-income sick and disabled people, which they were wrongly denied since 2011. Well done to Ms H, a woman who was wrongly found fit for work, one of those who went to tribunal.  She challenged being cut off, and later won enhanced disability premium as well as her contributions-based ESA back.  Apparently, by their wrongful work capability assessment of Ms H, Atos (who had the ESA contract in 2011), played a part in getting the underpayment … Read more

UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights

By winvisibleblog | 08/10/2018 | 2 Comments

We submitted evidence to the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, ahead of his visit to the UK in November.  This has now been published by the UN alongside other submissions. According to the Guardian newspaper, Philip Alston who is an ’eminent international human rights lawyer called for submissions from anyone in the UK to establish “the most significant human rights violations experienced by people living in poverty and extreme poverty in the UK”. He is interested in the impact of austerity, universal credit, the advent of computer algorithms making decisions on welfare matters, and … Read more

Benefit sanctions: submission to Social Market Foundation

By winvisibleblog | 17/09/2018 | 1 Comment

We found out that the Social Market Foundation (SMF) is carrying out a review called ‘Making Sense of Sanctions‘.  SMF describes itself as an independent think-tank.  Matthew Oakley of the SMF was appointed by the Conservative government to carry out a previous review of Jobseekers Allowance sanctions in 2014 and Ken Loach (director of ‘I, Daniel Blake’) debated against him on BBC Newsnight last year. We have updated our previous benefit sanctions submission, which focuses on the impact of sanctions on women and children.  Read it here. We look forward to finding out who else sent … Read more

Universal Credit self-help info

By winvisibleblog | 31/08/2018 | 2 Comments

This page covers: Response to Universal Credit (UC) What is UC? When will I be affected? ESA claimants ‘Transitional Protection’ Before starting your UC claim Ways to start your UC claim Getting paid immediately Vulnerable claimants and first interview (claimant commitment) Other reasons why you should be exempted from work conditions Work Capability Assessment interview RESPonse to Universal Credit (UC) Compared to previous benefits and rules,  most people are worse off with Universal Credit.  For example, because of the waiting time, claimants are having to “borrow” an advance, and the DWP makes benefit deductions to … Read more

UC challenges by mum of disabled daughter and ESA man found “fit for work”

By winvisibleblog | 25/08/2018 | 0 Comments

More legal challenges to Universal Credit are on the way: by a man whose ESA was stopped when he was unfairly found “fit for work”; and by a single mother who lost her carer benefits as her daughter’s DLA did not continue smoothly. More information from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) representing the claimants, is below. Thanks to John Pring, Disability News Service, for this report, which quotes DPAC and WinVisible.  DWP facing court over claimant’s universal credit ‘fit for work injustice’  BY JOHN PRING ON AUGUST 23, 2018   BENEFITS AND POVERTY A disabled man who was unfairly … Read more

Bolivia — the struggle for living benefits

By winvisibleblog | 11/08/2018 | 0 Comments

In July we were delighted to meet Feliza Ali Ramos and Marcelo Vásquez, disability campaigners from the organisation New Hope in Bolivia, at the alternative international solidarity summit, and later the festival of resistance against the hypocrisy of the UK government’s Global Disability Summit. The courageous and imaginative Bolivian disability movement fighting for a living benefit gives a lead to everyone.  Watch the gripping film of their 2016 struggle here. After dramatic actions in the city of Cochabamba were ignored, disabled people and their supporters embarked on a gruelling 300-mile march through the Andes mountains to the capital … Read more

Entitled to free support services under aftercare?

By winvisibleblog | 10/08/2018 | 0 Comments

  A volunteer writes: “If you have ever been sectioned on a section 3 of the Mental Health Act (and other sections below) once you are discharged back to the community and have needs relating to healthcare, social care or supported accommodation, then these should be provided by what is called Section 117 aftercare. A requirement by law. “This means that you are exempt from being financially assessed and also exempt from paying towards costs of treatment and care relating to your mental health.  Aftercare can include music, art therapy or meeting other people at a centre, if … Read more

Universal Credit — WV evidence to Social Security Advisory Committee

By winvisibleblog | 07/08/2018 | 2 Comments

The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) is a Committee of up to 15 people, some with a disability background.  It was set up by the government to advise on social security issues and to scrutinise benefit regulations.  They send a report to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.  Their report must be presented to Parliament along with the regulations, showing what has been done about the SSAC recommendations. The SSAC is looking at the “transitional protection” rules for existing claimants to be moved over to Universal Credit, and asking people to comment.  Read … Read more

More on Universal Credit win — DNS quotes WV

By winvisibleblog | 02/08/2018 | 0 Comments

From Disability News Service https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dwp-agrees-to-pay-thousands-to-disabled-duo-in-universal-credit-court-case/ BY JOHN PRING ON AUGUST 2, 2018 DWP agrees to pay thousands to disabled duo in universal credit court case The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has finally agreed to pay compensation to two disabled men who saw their benefits drastically reduced when they were forced onto the new universal credit. The high court had ruled in June that DWP unlawfully discriminated against the two men, known as TP and AR for legal reasons, under the European Convention on Human Rights. But DWP forced their lawyers to another court hearing to prove … Read more


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