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
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
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
Here is the press release from the legal team at Leigh Day: https://www.leighday.co.uk/News/News-2018/July-2018/Men-with-severe-disabilities-win-compensation-foll Men with severe disabilities win compensation following Universal Credit discrimination The Government has settled a case of unlawful discrimination against two men with severe disabilities who both saw their benefits dramatically reduced when they moved Local Authority and were required to claim Universal Credit. 30 July 2018 In June this year the High Court ruled that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (SSWP) unlawfully discriminated against the men who will now receive thousands of pounds in compensation after a settlement … Read more
VIGIL CANCELLED Our vigil is cancelled as we are told by the solicitor in the case that the hearing is likely not to go ahead due to developments. More news to follow as we get it. Monday 30 July 2018 High Court, Strand, London WC2A 2LL 10.30am: Court case was listed in COURT 2, case of TP v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/court-lists/list-rcj 1-2 pm: Vigil outside court. Jointly with Disabled People Against Cuts, Mental Health Resistance Network, Single Mothers’ Self-Defence, Taxpayers Against Poverty, WinVisible, campaigner Maggie Zolobajluk, and others. In June, … Read more
WE WON! Today at the High Court, the judge ruled that claimants who lost severe disability premium when they moved to a Universal Credit (UC) area, were unlawfully discriminated against. He further commented that the government recognised the need of this group (the DWP barrister had suggested the disabled men could get social care from the Council, instead of the benefit*!) but failed to deal with it. Read the Leigh Day legal team press release here: https://www.leighday.co.uk/…/First-legal-challenge-against-… The DWP tried to spin the story to make out the men didn’t win, but in court the … Read more
This Thursday 14 June, at the High Court, Strand, London WC2A 2LL 9.30am: Support disabled claimants at the Joint vigil: Disabled People Against Cuts, Single Mothers’ Self-Defence, WinVisible, Rev Paul Nicolson (Taxpayers Against Poverty), Maggie Zolobajluk, and others. 10am: In court – the judge will announce his ruling. Check court number here. On Thursday 14 June, the judge will announce his ruling in the case brought by Mr P, a terminally-ill man who lives alone, and other disabled claimants previously on ESA who lost around £180 a month. They were brutally denied severe disability … Read more