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New official figures – hidden by government and opposition parties – have exposed months of lies by politicians and the media about “spiralling” spending on social security and the need to cut benefits. The updated statistics from the Office for Budget Responsibility […]
The government has restored accessibility to the heart of its planned rail reforms, in a victory for disabled campaigners and allies who fought plans to remove a key measure from new legislation. Labour had previously dropped plans to ensure there was a […]
A government review has called for action by employers and ministers to ensure “safer, more supportive, inclusive workplaces” and to address the barriers faced by sick and disabled people in and out of work. The final report of the Keep Britain Working […]
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 that […]
A veteran activist, who has spent her life campaigning for disability rights, has called on the government to fix the “rotten to the core” social care system, after experiencing “terrifying” treatment during a short stay in a care home. Rachel Hurst, now […]
Tens of thousands of disabled people and allies have made clear to the government that they reject any plans to cut spending on personal independence payment (PIP) and other disability-related support. The views came in response to a public consultation on March’s […]
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 […]
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 […]
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) […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]