women with visible and invisible disabilities
The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) is a Committee of up to 15 people, some with a disability background. It was set up by the government to advise on social security issues and to scrutinise benefit regulations. They send a report to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Their report must be presented … 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 … Read more
There is wide concern from the public, MPs and others about how claimants with mental distress are treated in the benefit system. But not everyone is aware that as PIP is tied to working age (16-64), teenagers aged 16 are put under the stress of possible loss of benefit when their DLA is ended in … 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 … 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 … Read more
Claimants in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, including one with epilepsy, have won a PIP tribunal legal case against being scored too few points for “managing therapy or monitoring a health condition”. Benefits minister Esther McVey had to concede the DWP is in the wrong and will again have to review PIP claims where people have been … Read more
Five-year research by universities condemns sanctions. Report on disabled people here Research covers Jobseekers, Universal Credit (UC) recipients, disabled people, migrants, lone parents, ‘offenders’, social tenants, homeless people, and those subject to anti-social behaviour (ASB) interventions and Family Intervention Projects (FIP). More Guardian article below: “Benefit sanctions are ineffective at getting jobless people into work … Read more
Tues 1 May — legal challenge vs Universal Credit at the High Court about loss of severe disability premiums Joint vigil at 9.30am outside the High Court, Strand, London WC2A 2LL — please come and support if you can. Some people are then going in to attend the court case. The case is set to … Read more
In February, the all-party Work and Pensions Committee of MPs issued two scathing reports on the PIP and ESA assessments done by Atos, Capita and Maximus — on claimant experiences, and recommendations on the system. The MPs are awaiting the government’s response. They got nearly 4,000 submissions, mainly from claimants, who continue to have a … Read more
UPDATE and legal info: In a great start (for us) to Esther McVey’s appointment as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, she has had to concede the PIP legal challenge. As of 20 Jan 2018, the government dropped the discriminatory rules which stop claimants with mental distress from scoring full points for mobility needs, … Read more