women with visible and invisible disabilities
On Wednesday 12 February, DWP manager* Neil Couling was questioned by MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee, about payments to sick and disabled former ESA claimants who had to claim Universal Credit early because of moving borough, and so lost their severe disability premiums. Watch the session here, this comes up at around 10am. … Read more
Together with Big Brother Watch and a coalition of concerned organisations and human rights groups, we oppose the powers in Labour’s Fraud Bill for computers to monitor the bank accounts of all claimants getting certain benefits, to stop people’s benefits and recover money. Being poor is not a crime! On Monday 3 February, some of … Read more
An open letter from WinVisible, highlighting problems with the forced move to Universal Credit, including risk of destitution for some claimants, was sent in to the Work and Pensions Committee. They are MPs from different parties whose task is to scrutinise the DWP. The Chair of the Committee is Debbie Abrahams MP. Our letter features … Read more
On 16 January, the High Court ruled in favour of Ellen Clifford, that the DWP had acted unlawfully in their 2023 consultation on tightening the Work Capability Assessment, by saying the intention was helping people into waged work, and hiding sweeping benefit cuts. Read the whole judgement here. We supported Ellen’s court case which was … Read more
On Tuesday 10 December, we joined many organisations at the Royal Courts of Justice. Disabled People Against Cuts held a vigil in support of Ellen Clifford’s court case — challenging the DWP and its consultation in 2023 on tightening the Work Capability Assessment and the “Substantial risk to health” regulation. The government put it forward … Read more
Doctors in Unite is the UK’s oldest medical trade union representing junior doctors, general practitioners and hospital consultants. Founded in 1914, formerly called the Medical Practitioners’ Union, they campaigned for the formation of the NHS. Read their statement in response to Sunak’s speech attacking sickness benefits: “Doctors in Unite condemns the latest attempt by the … Read more
In Parliament, the Lords are discussing and opposing the Data Bill clause which would give the DWP powers to scan the bank accounts of more than 22 million claimants, including pensioners, using artificial intelligence. Sign the Big Brother Watch (BBW) petition here Share BBW updates on Twitter. “DWP are the real criminals“. We know how … Read more
WinVisible group member Ms X says: “I’m a mum of three (my children, too, have health conditions), looking after them with support from family. I’m a single mum, survivor of domestic violence and sexual abuse. I have PTSD and physical debilitating chronic health conditions. Many of my symptoms are invisible and fluctuating. I’m battling daily … Read more
Ahead of the general election, we’re sick and tired of government and Labour politicians hyping up attacks on our disability benefit rights — and PM Rishi Sunak’s plans to squeeze welfare to pay for tax cuts. In any case, the reduction in National Insurance Contributions announced in the Spring Budget, enriches high earners the most. … Read more
Joining with Big Brother Watch, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People and others, we’re campaigning against a Bill in Parliament — it gives the DWP powers to snoop on the bank accounts of over 22 million claimants, monitoring every payment by robot algorithm. Thanks to Big Brother Watch for coming to the #NoMoreBenefitDeaths protest outside … Read more