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You are here: Home / Archives for Benefits and Work

Benefits and Work

Late-night release of draft PIP recommendations raises fresh fears of future cuts

By John Pring on 10th September 2026 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Late-night release of draft PIP recommendations raises fresh fears of future cuts
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Some of disabled people’s fears appear to have been confirmed late last night as the government released draft recommendations from its review of personal independence payment (PIP) which suggest ministers are planning cuts to some cash payments. The document provides no […]

Government’s advisers fail to act over guidance that proves ‘right to try’ work reforms are ‘worthless’

By John Pring on 14th May 2026 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Government’s advisers fail to act over guidance that proves ‘right to try’ work reforms are ‘worthless’
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The government’s social security advisers have refused to criticise ministers or take any action after official documents proved that “right to try” reforms at the heart of Labour’s “landmark” plans to push more disabled people into employment were “worthless”. Disability News […]

Labour’s ‘landmark’ rules on ‘right to try’ are ‘worthless’ and ‘empty’, DWP’s own guidance shows

By John Pring on 30th April 2026 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Labour’s ‘landmark’ rules on ‘right to try’ are ‘worthless’ and ‘empty’, DWP’s own guidance shows
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Government documents prove that the “right to try” reforms at the centre of Labour’s “landmark” plans to push more sick and disabled people into employment are “worthless” and “a disgrace”, disabled critics have concluded. Labour pledged in its 2024 manifesto that it would […]

DWP refuses to rule out cuts to PIP next year

By John Pring on 6th November 2025 Category: Benefits and Poverty

DWP refuses to rule out cuts to PIP next year
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has refused to rule out spending cuts to personal independence payment (PIP) when it completes a year-long review that is being headed by the disability minister. Misleading reports in right-wing media last week suggested […]

Ministerial reshuffle raises fear of hardline DWP approach, and education and transport policy delays

By John Pring on 11th September 2025 Category: Politics

Ministerial reshuffle raises fear of hardline DWP approach, and education and transport policy delays
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A government reshuffle has raised concerns over a possible new hardline approach from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ministers, and further delays to Labour action on accessible housing and education. The major reshuffle saw Liz Kendall sacked and replaced by […]

Not one of 115 organisations supported Tory proposal to replace PIP cash with vouchers, DWP reports show

By John Pring on 6th February 2025 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Not one of 115 organisations supported Tory proposal to replace PIP cash with vouchers, DWP reports show
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Not a single organisation that responded to a consultation by the last government was in favour of replacing a monthly cash payment for disability benefits with vouchers or one-off grants, civil servants have finally admitted. Documents obtained through a freedom of […]

PIP phone waiting-times even higher than previously thought, DWP admits

By John Pring on 22nd June 2023 Category: Benefits and Poverty

PIP phone waiting-times even higher than previously thought, DWP admits
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Waiting-times faced by disabled people trying to use a benefit enquiry line are even higher than previously thought, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has admitted. Disability News Service (DNS) revealed last week that the “average speed of answer” for […]

PIP telephone waiting-times continue to rise, DWP figures show

By John Pring on 15th June 2023 Category: Benefits and Poverty

PIP telephone waiting-times continue to rise, DWP figures show
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Waiting-times on a benefit enquiry line have continued to rise, despite the minister for disabled people promising that his department was recruiting extra staff to bring them down. In April, Tom Pursglove (pictured) admitted that the average waiting time in March […]

PIP telephone line ‘disaster’, with claimants left waiting more than an hour

By John Pring on 4th May 2023 Category: Benefits and Poverty

PIP telephone line ‘disaster’, with claimants left waiting more than an hour
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Disabled people trying to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to pass on urgent information about their disability benefit claims are facing delays of more than an hour before their calls are answered. Even when the calls are answered, […]

Universal credit: ‘Chaos, fear and preventable deaths’

By John Pring on 17th November 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Universal credit: ‘Chaos, fear and preventable deaths’
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Disabled activists who have spent years raising concerns about universal credit have warned of its cruelty and how the system “hounds” claimants into complying with strict rules. They spoke out this week as Disability News Service (DNS) reveals how a disabled […]

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Image of front cover of The Department, showing a crinkled memo with the words 'Restricted - Policy. The Department. How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence. John Pring.' Next to the image is a red box with the following words in white: 'A very interesting book... a very important contribution to this whole debate' - Sir Stephen Timms, minister for social security and disability. plutobooks.com and the Pluto Press logo.

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Image of front cover of The Department, showing a crinkled memo with the words 'Restricted - Policy. The Department. How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence. John Pring.' Next to the image is a red box with the following words in white: 'A very interesting book... a very important contribution to this whole debate' - Sir Stephen Timms, minister for social security and disability. plutobooks.com and the Pluto Press logo.

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