DWP Work Capability Assessment consultation — our response

Protesters outside a large building. Women hold the WinVisible banner, next to people holding a red Unite Community Haringey & Barnet branch banner. Our placards say: "Hands off substantial risk to health, protection for claimants. Benefit cuts are killing us! DWP Deliberate Destitution of Kids and Mums is State cruelty. Remembered -- Elaine Morrall, single mum of 4, killed by UC sanction Nov 2017. " A policeman leans against the wall.

On Monday 30 October, we took part in the protest outside the DWP building, and then in the road, against tightening the Work Capability Assessment and say: “No More Deaths from Benefit Cuts”. It was called by Disabled People Against Cuts, joined by John from Black Triangle (Scotland), Unite Community claimant groups across London, and … Read more

Court of Appeal hearing in mother’s fight for second inquest

PRESS RELEASE shared from Leigh Day solicitors: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMonday 23 January 2023Court of Appeal hearing in mother’s fight for second inquest into death of Jodey Whiting The mother of Jodey Whiting will have a Court of Appeal hearing on Tuesday 31 January and Wednesday 1 February 2023 in her fight for a second inquest … Read more

Benefit assessments: our group statement to MPs

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

Moving home: ESA to Universal Credit

Your benefit rights — if you have to move local authority area. If you are in the Support Group of ESA and have to move out of your local authority area, your ESA is not protected anymore, you have to claim Universal Credit (UC). We wanted to share some info you may not know — … Read more

Have your say to recognise caring work & everyone’s right to benefits!

Dear friends, Your views and support are needed on new proposals for the benefits system from the Commission on Social Security, a claimants’ panel.  Please share this with your friends and networks. Responses to the questionnaire needed by 31 October Disabled mothers and family carers on the Commission, including us, pressed for proposals to include … 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

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

Work Capability Assessments — winning against reassessments…

The government has announced that Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants in the Support Group, and Universal Credit claimants with limited capability for work and work-related activity (equivalent of ESA) attending a Work Capability Assessment from 29 September 2017, will no longer need to be reassessed if it finds that they: have a severe, lifelong disability, … Read more