the country's only news agency specialising in disability issues
Many terminally-ill people would feel “duress” and “pressure” to choose an assisted suicide if it is legalised, because of the lack of funding for the NHS, palliative care and social care services, a disabled activist has told MPs and peers. Liz Carr […]
Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) have united in opposition to attempts to legalise assisted suicide, after months of being excluded from parliamentary discussions. In an open letter, DPOs from across England and Wales have declared opposition to the bill and are protesting at […]
Cross-party MPs have warned that ministers’ refusal to introduce a key protection into their new fraud and error bill could see a repeat of the countless deaths caused by the austerity measures of past governments. The concern was raised by MPs debating […]
A new “independent” investigation into the rising number of young people who are not in jobs, training or education will exclusively target sick and disabled claimants, a government document has revealed. A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) press release had said […]
A new project to research and reveal 50 years of stories behind the rise of the disability arts movement has been awarded nearly £250,000 of National Lottery funding. Disability Arts Online (DAO) is hoping its project will collect previously untold stories and […]
The government needs to change its “extremely damaging” narrative that suggests disabled people are an “economic burden”, and move away from threats and sanctions, if it wants to increase disability employment, MPs have been told. Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) told members of […]
The disability minister has refused once again to explain what role he played in his department’s secret programme to cut Access to Work (AtW) grants. It is the latest failure by Sir Stephen Timms to clarify when and how the Department for Work […]
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. […]