women with visible and invisible disabilities
“I wouldn’t change a thing about giving birth to my daughter and how she came into the world but I would change the system, how people, how professionals and in particular our government has treated me as a human being. I was treated as an anomaly, a problem, I would say that we need to … Read more
Here is our group statement to the MPs who scrutinise the DWP, for their inquiry into the assessment of disability benefits. The last time they did this was in 2017-2018. We want to share it now as we have been supporting bereaved relatives interviewed in last night’s Channel 4 Dispatches: Truth about disability benefits. The … Read more
Under COVID, sick and disabled claimants are losing vital benefits due to delays with assessments and decisions. But with WinVisible’s support, Ms S finally won over £4,000 disability payments in May 2021 plus ongoing payments, after being left in limbo for 16 months stuck on Universal Credit (UC) basic rate. Ms S has a severe … Read more
Ebere is a disabled woman from Nigeria, who came to the UK to seek asylum and safety from horrendous disability persecution, including rape and other violence. WinVisible supported Ebere when she was fighting her asylum case. She was referred to us by Women Against Rape, who are refugee and UK-born women, colleagues at the Crossroads Women’s … Read more
Many thanks to Disability News Service for your coverage of Rita’s benefit win with WinVisible’s help — shared below. A great response on Twitter. By John Pring on 6th August 2020 A disabled woman of colour had her disability benefits removed for failing to attend a face-to-face assessment, even though she had repeatedly explained that she was not … Read more
Here is the Disability News Service report on evidence from disability organisations to the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee inquiry on the impact of COVID-19 measures. There are a lot of shared concerns. Coronavirus: MPs hear of disabled people’s struggle to survive pandemic By John Pring on 7th May 2020 Disabled people have described how they … Read more
Pamela* in Yorkshire writes: I’d really like my PIP story to be included on your website. Things are just so dire with benefits and I want to share my experience to try and help others as much as possible and publicize the ME Association meeting with the government minister. I read the PIP stories on your website … Read more
On 29 January, Greenwich Council cabinet decided to charge people £1.6 million more for social care, and make £8m cuts to the free rehabilitation which people coming out of hospital are entitled to get, and other support. Here is the South London Press report by James Twomey. Plus below, our Kate Brown‘s speech to the Scrutiny Committee … Read more
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
We got this message about our self-help information on exemption from face-to-face benefit interviews: “Hi, I’m emailing about the story you have online from June 2017 about the guidelines protecting people with severe mental illness getting a face to face assessment when applying for PIP. I’m from Northern Ireland and have a 20-year severe mental … Read more