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
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