An annual report by the care regulator has highlighted how the continuing social care crisis is impacting disabled and older people who need support in their own homes. The Care Quality Commission said in its annual State of Care report that the […]
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DWP’s plans ‘in tatters’ as McFadden scraps white paper on further disability cuts
Ministers have dumped plans for a major white paper containing a swathe of further cuts and reforms to disability benefits, following months of activism by disabled people and allies that forced the government into a major U-turn this summer. Work and pensions […]
‘Shocking’ figures show parents linked to DWP service face death rates up to three times higher
Parents who pay to support a child through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and its Child Maintenance Service (CMS) face death rates up to three times higher than others the same age, according to “shocking” and “deeply troubling” new figures. Analysis […]
Former detective exposes culture of disability discrimination within ‘institutionally disablist’ Met
A culture of institutional disability discrimination within the Metropolitan police is exposed today by the former head of its disabled staff association. Dave Campbell, who retired this year after serving 32 years as a police officer, has told Disability News Service (DNS) […]
Committee calls cuts bill ‘discriminatory’, even though all its Labour MPs voted for it
A Labour-led committee of MPs has called the government’s universal credit cuts act “discriminatory” and warned that it will push disabled people into poverty, despite every one of its Labour members voting for the legislation in July. The Universal Credit Act will […]
Disabled people warn of ‘severe’ consequences if chancellor removes Motability VAT exemption
Disabled people have warned of “severe” consequences if the chancellor goes ahead with reported plans to remove the Motability car scheme’s VAT exemption in next month’s budget. Disability News Service (DNS) reported last week how the company that runs the scheme, Motability […]
Disabled people face ‘systemic’ barriers in accessing community equipment, parliamentary inquiry finds
A cross-party group of MPs and peers has called on the government to draw up a national strategy to address the “deeply troubling” and “systemic” barriers that prevent disabled people accessing the equipment they need to live independently. Hundreds of disabled people […]
Chancellor’s reported plans to impose VAT on Motability could add £3,000 to even the cheapest cars
The chancellor’s reported plans to target the Motability car scheme for new taxes in next month’s budget by removing its VAT exemption could impose an upfront cost of at least £3,000 on even the cheapest cars it offers, the company has calculated. […]
Psychologists’ charity fails to raise concerns over job coaches in surgeries, weeks after £640K DWP contract
The national charity representing psychologists failed to speak out about the serious risks caused by placing work coaches in GP surgeries, just weeks after it was awarded a £640,000 contract by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). There was alarm among […]
Peers derail government plans to hand some DWP staff powers to use force against benefit claimants
Government plans under controversial new legislation to give some Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) staff “morally dubious” powers to use force against benefit claimants have been derailed by peers. The public authorities (fraud, error and recovery) bill was set to give […]
Reeves refuses to apologise for repeating false claim that social security spending is spiralling
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has refused to withdraw a misleading and inaccurate statement that scapegoated disabled people and other benefit claimants for the country’s economic problems. In an interview with Channel 4 News, Reeves (pictured) repeated the false claim that welfare spending was […]
Timms goes back on his word by refusing to provide crucial evidence of Access to Work cuts
The disability minister has gone back on his word by refusing to provide crucial information that would help expose a “perverse”, secret programme to restrict grants made by the Access to Work disability employment scheme. Sir Stephen Timms told Disability News Service […]
Disabled people describe impact of ‘very unfair’ extra costs caused by DWP’s universal credit migration
Disabled people have described their anger with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for failing to warn them of the significant hidden costs – which can be more than £2,400 a year – of transferring onto universal credit from their old […]
Ministers’ refusal to raise limit on accessible housing grants is discriminatory, secret report admits
The continuing refusal of ministers to raise the upper limit on a scheme that helps disabled people make access improvements to their homes is discriminating against some of those with higher support needs, a secret government report has admitted. The internal review […]
Ministers finally announce progress on ‘liberty safeguards’, but also challenge vital definition
The government is set to push ahead with a long-delayed new system of safeguards that could have a significant impact on service-users who are unable to consent to restrictions placed on their liberty in health or social care settings. There have been […]
Disability hate crime prosecutions tumble again, three years after CPS admitted figures were ‘woeful’
Prosecutions of disability hate crime plummeted again last year, with less than 300 cases taken forward by prosecutors, despite police forces in England and Wales recording more than 10,000 offences. It is now the seventh year in succession that Disability News Service […]
Government figures show first signs of ‘perverse’ cuts to Access to Work
Official government figures have shown the first signs that ministers have been engaged in a “perverse” programme to secretly restrict grants made by the Access to Work disability employment scheme. The new Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures show that the […]
Disabled claimants losing out by hundreds of pounds a month through hidden impact of universal credit
Disabled people have suddenly become up to £200 pounds a month worse off because of unexpected impacts of being moved from their old “legacy” benefits onto universal credit. Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) has been hearing from disabled people who have been […]
Ministers leave door open to continuing ‘absolute scandal’ of inappropriate Mental Health Act detention
A disabled MP has failed to persuade ministers to show exactly what progress they are making towards ensuring there are enough community services to halt the “scandal” of disabled people being inappropriately detained under the Mental Health Act. Current mental health laws […]
Concern over ‘deeply worrying’ omission of disabled people from Lords assisted dying committee
Campaigners say it is “deeply worrying” that there does not appear to have been a single disabled peer appointed to a new House of Lords committee set up to consider proposed new laws that will legalise assisted dying. Peers this week agreed […]
Scotland’s next government must act on disability rights, says new disabled people’s manifesto
The next Scottish government needs to listen to disabled people and take action to ensure the systemic change needed to realise their rights, according to a new manifesto drawn up by a national disabled people’s organisation (DPO). Inclusion Scotland says in its […]