Atos, Capita, Maximus to be questioned by MPs

On Wednesday 25 May, the disability benefit assessment companies – Atos (Independent Assessment Services), Capita and Maximus (Health Assessment Advisory Service) – are called to answer questions from MPs on the all-party Work and Pensions Committee inquiry into disability benefit assessments. Disabled women and men will be watching closely.  ** Watch online Wednesday at 9.15am … Read more

My memories of Seàn McGovern and the Remploy struggle

Seàn McGovern 27 January 1957 – 6 May 2020 My memories of Seàn and the Remploy struggle by Claire Glasman, WinVisible expanded from the Morning Star Seàn and Claire outside Parliament circa 1999, with Kate Adams from Incapacity Action.  The placard says “Money for life not bombs”.  We were protesting about Blair’s government investing in … Read more

Tribunal victory gives hope to ‘failure to attend’ benefit victims

Shared from Disability News Service: By John Pring on 27th February 2020 A disabled woman’s tribunal victory has given hope to claimants who cannot take part in face-to-face benefit assessments for impairment, health, or trauma-related reasons, but then have their claims ended by the government for “failure to attend” their appointments. Jane* spent two years fighting for her … Read more

Vigil held for Errol Graham in Nottingham

Errol Graham, from Nottingham, slowly starved to death after being cut off ESA for “failure to attend” a face-to-face assessment on 31 August 2017.  (The assessor company Maximus – CHDA would have reported his “failure to attend” to the DWP.)  His bereaved daughter-in-law, Alison Turner, went to  Disability News Service and has been campaigning for … Read more

Justice for Jodey — legal case launched

Reposted from Disability News Service: Call for second Jodey Whiting inquest increases pressure for DWP deaths inquiry By John Pring on 9th January 2020 A mother who has asked the attorney general for permission to seek a second inquest into her disabled daughter’s suicide says it would boost growing calls for an inquiry into all deaths linked to … Read more

Justice for Jodey – grim reality vs promises

WinVisible is among those supporting Joy Dove, mother of Jodey Whiting.  On 10 June, DWP officials travelled to meet Jodey’s bereaved parents at the office of her MP, where they told her they have made many changes.  They told her that Mind is providing training to staff.  Read the Disability News Service report of the meeting … Read more

New legal challenge vs Universal Credit — loss of disability amounts

Single mum carer and disabled daughter, ESA woman, lost added disability amounts Please come along, or support in other ways:  #StopandScrap Universal Credit Wed 23 January 2019 at High Court, Strand, London WC2A 2LL Court case 10.30am. Go into court 18 to support the claimants, TD, AD and Ms Reynolds. Cases listed here.  Continues Thursday 24 January, support … 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

Benefit exam exemptions — guidance for GPs & others

Read our leaflets with guidance for professionals on the rules you can quote in letters and reports, for your patient or client to be exempted from the face-to-face exams: ESA or Universal Credit — read or download and print here Based on the regulations built into ESA/Universal Credit on “substantial risk to health” — mental … Read more

Benefit tests — evidence to MPs

We gathered our experiences of the benefit assessments, to send to the all-party Work and Pensions Select Committee of MPs.  They are looking into assessments because so many people who are refused are winning their case at appeal. We say:  Assessments for ESA and PIP are set up to deny claimants the disability benefits they need … Read more