Claimants win legal challenge vs loss of disability premiums

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

Legal challenge vs Universal Credit — judgement Thur 14 June

  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

PIP win — on need for supervision

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

Benefit sanctions condemned in 5-year research

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

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

Benefit testimony to MPs changes lives…

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

Govt admits defeat on PIP discrimination

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

Victory — govt drops 80% target rubber-stamping benefit refusals

The Work and Pensions Committee of MPs has secured a commitment from the government to stop rubber-stamping benefit refusals at the first stage (mandatory reconsideration). This is a result of the 4,000+ testimonies to the inquiry into the ESA and PIP tests, mainly from disabled claimants, about this injustice, and evidence from the DWP union PCS … Read more

PIP mental distress legal case won!

RF commented: ‘This judgment is important for a community of people with mental health problems fighting for their lives against discrimination.’  Public Law Project press release: High Court finds 2017 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Regulations unlawful The High Court has found that part of the rules governing Personal Independence Payments are unlawfully discriminatory against people with … Read more

Legal challenge vs PIP rules on people with mental distress

Tues 12 December 2017 1pm – 2pm Vigil outside the High Court Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL Facebook event Jointly called by: Disabled People Against Cuts, Mental Health Resistance Network, WinVisible (women with visible & invisible disabilities)  We are supporting a legal challenge by a woman with mental distress against the Personal Independence Payment … Read more