Shared from the Guardian Benefits assessment suspension does not go far enough, says charity Efforts to fight coronavirus not sufficient to protect vulnerable, according to Mind Patrick Butler Social policy editor Mon 16 Mar 2020 ‘The mental health charity Mind has said the government’s suspension of face-to-face benefit assessments as part of efforts to fight coronavirus does not go far enough in protecting vulnerable people. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on Monday put on hold in-person assessments for disability benefit claimants as a precautionary measure against unnecessary exposure to infection. Normally, new claimants, along … Read more
STOP PRESS The DWP has just announced that they are suspending face-to-face interviews for ESA, PIP and Universal Credit. See here Info for new claimants and people affected by the Coronavirus see here Previous info: From the i newspaper, the temporary benefit changes announced in the Budget 2020 by the Chancellor about sick pay, hardship funds from your local Council, Universal Credit and face-to-face benefit interviews in general. See also info from Charlotte Hughes (The Poor Side of Life). If you have queries about booking or attending a face-to-face benefit interview, get advice from the … Read more
WinVisible is delighted that disabled young people in Scotland will be able to stay on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) up to the age of 18, and not be forced to make a new Personal Independence Payment claim at 16. The Scottish Government is using its devolved powers to bring in this change from 1 April 2020. At the moment, teenagers on DLA are having their DLA stopped and are going through the stressful application process, outsourced to Atos and Capita. There is no guarantee of a PIP award or at the same level as before. … Read more
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 in October 2019 — after a battle lasting six years. In 2016, we criticised the majority UK Supreme Court judges, who among other cases, ruled that the mum and her son living in fear of violence from her ex-partner at … Read more
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 benefits to be reinstated, with support from the grassroots group WinVisible** and the charity Child Poverty Action Group, before the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) conceded defeat at the upper tribunal. WinVisible said disabled people who cannot attend face-to-face assessments for … Read more
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 claimants too much money — not the 5-week waiting time and having to repay the advance. Last week’s episode in Liverpool was about Susan, Zach and Laryssa. Susan aged 61 was terrified of being sanctioned, and looked exhausted as she … Read more
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 two years. On Friday 7 February, a vigil was held in Nottingham by the community. Photos and report shared from BBC East Midlands: “Relatives of a man who starved to death after his benefits were stopped are demanding action to … Read more
Reposted from Disability News Service: Call for second Jodey Whiting inquest increases pressure for DWP deaths inquiry By John Pring on 9th January 2020 A mother who has asked the attorney general for permission to seek a second inquest into her disabled daughter’s suicide says it would boost growing calls for an inquiry into all deaths linked to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Jodey Whiting (pictured) took her own life in February 2017, 15 days after she had her out-of-work disability benefits mistakenly stopped for missing a work capability assessment (WCA). The Independent Case Examiner (ICE) … Read more
On Tuesday 3 December 2019 – International Day of Disabled People at Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL Court case starts 10.30am. Go into court room 73 to support the claimants, TP and AR. Court times to be listed here. Continues Wednesday 4 December (afternoon only), Thursday 5 December, support in court needed. 1.30pm Tuesday 3 Dec: photocall & vigil outside court — Facebook event Please come along, or support in other ways: #ScrapUC #UniversalCredit Called by Inclusion London, WinVisible (women with visible & invisible disabilities), with other disability, women’s and anti-poverty supporters. Info: … Read more