Latest news & events

Woman helps win £1.67 billion ESA for 180,000 people!

By winvisibleblog | 21 October 2018 | 2 Comments

Several legal challenges at tribunal and then High Court have forced the government to repay around £1.67bn in benefits  to an estimated 180,000 low-income sick and disabled people, which they were wrongly denied since 2011. Well done to Ms H, a woman who was wrongly found fit for work, one of those who went to tribunal.  She challenged being … Read more

UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights

By winvisibleblog | 08 October 2018 | 2 Comments

We submitted evidence to the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, ahead of his visit to the UK in November.  This has now been published by the UN alongside other submissions. According to the Guardian newspaper, Philip Alston who is an ’eminent international human rights lawyer called for submissions from anyone in the UK to … Read more

Response to Local Government Association social care consultation

By winvisibleblog | 27 September 2018 | 2 Comments

We have just sent in a response to the Local Government Association (LGA) Green Paper on Adult Social Care. The LGA says ‘We are the national voice of local government, working with councils to support, promote and improve local government’. They represent 415 local authorities across England and Wales. They issued their Green Paper to influence the … Read more

Benefit sanctions: submission to Social Market Foundation

By winvisibleblog | 17 September 2018 | 1 Comment

We found out that the Social Market Foundation (SMF) is carrying out a review called ‘Making Sense of Sanctions‘.  SMF describes itself as an independent think-tank.  Matthew Oakley of the SMF was appointed by the Conservative government to carry out a previous review of Jobseekers Allowance sanctions in 2014 and Ken Loach (director of ‘I, … Read more

Universal Credit self-help info

By winvisibleblog | 31 August 2018 | 2 Comments

This page covers: Response to Universal Credit (UC) What is UC? When will I be affected? ESA claimants ‘Transitional Protection’ Before starting your UC claim Ways to start your UC claim Getting paid immediately Vulnerable claimants and first interview (claimant commitment) Other reasons why you should be exempted from work conditions Work Capability Assessment interview … Read more

UC challenges by mum of disabled daughter and ESA man found “fit for work”

By winvisibleblog | 25 August 2018 | 0 Comments

More legal challenges to Universal Credit are on the way: by a man whose ESA was stopped when he was unfairly found “fit for work”; and by a single mother who lost her carer benefits as her daughter’s DLA did not continue smoothly. More information from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) representing the claimants, is below. … Read more

Bolivia — the struggle for living benefits

By winvisibleblog | 11 August 2018 | 0 Comments

In July we were delighted to meet Feliza Ali Ramos and Marcelo Vásquez, disability campaigners from the organisation New Hope in Bolivia, at the alternative international solidarity summit, and later the festival of resistance against the hypocrisy of the UK government’s Global Disability Summit. The courageous and imaginative Bolivian disability movement fighting for a living benefit … Read more

Entitled to free support services under aftercare?

By winvisibleblog | 10 August 2018 | 0 Comments

  A volunteer writes: “If you have ever been sectioned on a section 3 of the Mental Health Act (and other sections below) once you are discharged back to the community and have needs relating to healthcare, social care or supported accommodation, then these should be provided by what is called Section 117 aftercare. A … Read more

Universal Credit — WV evidence to Social Security Advisory Committee

By winvisibleblog | 07 August 2018 | 2 Comments

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

More on Universal Credit win — DNS quotes WV

By winvisibleblog | 02 August 2018 | 0 Comments

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