Tribunal victory gives hope to ‘failure to attend’ benefit victims

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 … Read more

Vigil held for Errol Graham in Nottingham

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 … Read more

Justice for Jodey — legal case launched

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 … Read more

Universal Credit – 3rd court battle for severe disability premiums

 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. … Read more

Stay on ESA!

We want to share this news from the Benefits Training Company about someone who was told to claim Universal Credit (UC) but should have stayed on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). As far as we understand it, the Benefits Training Company is saying that although Mr B split up from his partner, his ill-health remained … Read more

Winning “thanks to WinVisible lifeline”

For two years, WinVisible has peer-supported disabled single mum Maria (not her real name) in South London, and provided her with information to secure benefits which the family needs: • She used our blog about the Personal Independence Payments (PIP) legal challenge on mobility needs and mental distress, to brief Merton Centre for Independent Living … Read more

PIP reviews — press your case!

Reviews are happening now of people’s PIP claims.  This follows several legal wins challenging benefits discrimination, including Ms R F, whom we supported at court in 2017 (see the report by Public Law Project).  Because of these successes, the government had to agree to check 1.6m PIP claims on whether we are getting our full entitlements. But … Read more

Bedroom tax win for mum threatened with domestic violence

A mum and her son who was aged 11 have finally won their legal challenge against the bedroom tax, after taking their case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).  Nearly three years after she lost at the Supreme Court, on 24 October 2019 (Thursday), the European Court ruled that the UK government is discriminating against … Read more

Universal Credit battle for severe disability premiums

The two severely disabled men, known as TP and AR, who were on ESA and claimed Universal Credit (UC) when they moved to a different area, are still battling for their severe disability premium (SDP) rights.  Other single severely disabled people previously on ESA will get these — if they have no “change of circumstances” … Read more

Justice for Jodey – grim reality vs promises

WinVisible is among those supporting Joy Dove, mother of Jodey Whiting.  On 10 June, DWP officials travelled to meet Jodey’s bereaved parents at the office of her MP, where they told her they have made many changes.  They told her that Mind is providing training to staff.  Read the Disability News Service report of the meeting … Read more