Covid 19

Breaches of rights under COVID — list by Disability News Service

By winvisibleblog | 05 April 2021 | 1 Comment

Disability groups including WinVisible have condemned the government’s breaches of rights under COVID. Reactions here. Here is the full list compiled by DNS: 1 Ministers failed to offer recipients of so-called legacy benefits such as ESA the same £20-a-week benefit increase given to those on universal credit. 2 The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) took five months to produce guidance that aims to protect disabled people in supported living services during the pandemic. 3 Justin Tomlinson, the minister for disabled people, failed to carry out meaningful engagement with disabled people’s organisations during the early months of the pandemic. … Read more

Campaigners challenge blanket ban on care homes residents’ visits out

By winvisibleblog | 02 April 2021 | 0 Comments

Press release shared from Leigh Day: John’s Campaign, which has campaigned for the rights of families and care homes residents throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, has launched a legal challenge to a blanket ban on visits out of care homes by residents aged over 65 and the requirement for those who are permitted to leave the care home to self-isolate for 14 days on their return.  The ban and 14 day self-isolation requirement are part of the latest guidance issued to care homes by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) during the pandemic. “Visits out … Read more

Care Act rights to be restored

By winvisibleblog | 31 March 2021 | 1 Comment

We are sharing the statement from Inclusion London: “On the 25th of March 2021, the House of Commons debated the one year review of the Coronavirus Act. This was an opportunity for the Government to restore Disabled people’s rights taken away by the Coronavirus Act. On 19 March, along with other leading Disabled People’s organisations, we formally asked that the UK Government  suspend the easement powers for local authorities contained within the Coronavirus Act 2020. You can read about our concerns here and you can read our letter to Matt Hancock here. The Government has announced a total … Read more

Restore Care Act rights — #Scrap the easements!

By winvisibleblog | 22 March 2021 | 0 Comments

On Thursday 25 March, the Coronavirus Act comes up for review by Parliament after one year in force, with a vote by MPs on whether temporary provisions should be renewed. Watch the debate in Parliament online here. We are sharing the open letter co-ordinated by Inclusion London. 27 disability organisations, WinVisible among them, are calling on Matt Hancock and the government to end the powers given to Councils by the Coronavirus Act, and restore our Care Act rights which are suspended under this emergency law. The Rt Hon Matt Hancock MPMinisterial Correspondence and Public Enquiries … Read more

Hospital visits — your right to have someone with you

By winvisibleblog | 21 March 2021 | 3 Comments

When you are a patient in hospital, have an appointment there, or are taken to Accident & Emergency, it can be even more scary alone.  Having a close family member, close friend, carer or personal assistant with you is possible under COVID. There is official NHS guidance on this, document reference C1112. Who you can bring or have visit you, is defined as “somebody important to the patient”.  This is at the discretion of the hospital, the hospital can say yes or no.  But they should take account of the needs of the patient. They … Read more

Disability benefits: STOP the reviews

By winvisibleblog | 13 March 2021 | 1 Comment

Arianna from Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty is speaking at our Zoom workshop on Wednesday 17 March 1.30pm-3pm, about this campaign. Register on Eventbrite here. Shared from ECAP: Disability Benefits Must be Extended Indefinitely – STOP the Reviews! Several claimants being supported by ECAP recently received letters informing them that either their Personal Independence Payment or their Employment and Support Allowance award was to be reviewed. This news is bad enough at any time, as the review could result in your benefits being reduced or cut completely – but it’s even worse during a pandemic when … Read more

Welcome to WinVisible’s workshops on Zoom

By winvisibleblog | 07 March 2021 | 1 Comment

Welcome to WinVisible’s workshops on Zoom — three dates and topics coming up: Starting on Wednesday 17 March 1.30pm-3pm Women fighting for disability benefit rights under COVID How we win exemption from the hated interviews – AndieLeft in limbo on basic Universal Credit: fighting Maximus and DWP “inconclusive” work capability telephone interview – SWinning £11,000 backdated PIP after being cut off for “failure to attend” the interview, due to cancer – ‘Rita’Claimants with mental distress and the death of single mum Philippa Day – ArianeJustice for Errol Graham who starved to death after being cut … Read more

Sat 6 Feb: Universal Credit — join online day of action against £20 cut

By winvisibleblog | 05 February 2021 | 0 Comments

Say NO to the proposed £20 per week cut to Universal Credit Fight for £20 increase for claimants on other benefits We invite everyone to join the National Day of Action to fight plans to scrap the £20 uplift to Universal Credit.  Called by Disabled People Against Cuts, Homes For All campaign and People Before Profit. Follow us on Twitter tomorrow @WinVisibleWomen #20More4All because ESA, JSA, Carers Allowance have not been increased. They are asking people to: “Take and share selfies on the day using the hashtags #20More4All and #NoCutsToBenefits. – Put a poster in … Read more

Food access under COVID — update to MPs

By winvisibleblog | 26 January 2021 | 3 Comments

To the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee (MPs) Inquiry into COVID-19 and food supply efracom@parliament.uk Update from WinVisible of our evidence to Committee last year on food supply and food access (your ref: COV0106) Disabled women are still struggling with food supply, lack support to cook and eat food (social care services not provided, stopped or disrupted) and have nil, low or reduced income so we can’t afford healthy food and special diet.  Benefits and wages are low, compounded by discrimination in the benefits system and the exclusion of some women in need based … Read more

Our statement to Labour for national disability strategy

By winvisibleblog | 11 December 2020 | 0 Comments

On 8 December, WinVisible was among disability organisations, union and other representatives invited to a Roundtable discussion with Labour leader Keir Starmer MP, Marsha de Cordova (Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities) and Vicky Foxcroft MP (Shadow Minister for Disabled People) on Zoom to put forward recommendations towards Labour’s national disability strategy. Topics included how disabled people’s organisations should be consulted, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities as a legal framework to uphold our rights, the pay gap and lack of accessibility for disabled employees, the importance of social … Read more

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