The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is again facing cover-up allegations after suggesting that it has destroyed reports showing why it weakened guidance on when to investigate suicides of benefit claimants. Disability News Service revealed last month that DWP had weakened […]
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Cabinet Office finally finds missing report showing difficulties facing ‘vulnerable’ universal credit claimants
The Cabinet Office has finally found a missing report that showed the “additional difficulties” faced by “vulnerable” universal credit claimants, despite originally claiming it could not locate the document. The existence of the 2019 report was not known about outside government circles […]
Government’s response to UN committee ‘was insult to disabled people’
Disabled people’s organisations from across the UK have described the government’s evidence to a UN disability rights committee this week as “an insult to disabled people” and full of “half-truths, untruths” and “empty assertions”. Representatives from more than 10 disabled people’s organisations […]
UN committee asks government: ‘Why are you demonising disabled people?’
A United Nations committee has accused the UK government of demonising disabled people and treating them as “undeserving citizens” by preparing to fund tax cuts through slashing disability benefits. Members of the UN’s committee on the rights of disabled people provided a […]
MPs undermine key government claim, days after it defended its record at the UN
The government tried this week to persuade the UN that it has made “progress” since being found guilty of “grave and systematic violations” of the disability rights convention, just as MPs prepared to undermine one of its key claims. A delegation of […]
It was emergency planning that was vulnerable during Covid, not disabled people, inquiry is told
It was the emergency planning systems that proved to be “vulnerable” during the Covid pandemic, and not disabled people, the UK Covid inquiry has been told by two national disabled people’s organisations (DPOs). Disability Wales and Disability Rights UK (DR UK) told the inquiry, sitting […]
Government finally set to act on housing accessibility standards
The government is finally taking further steps towards introducing laws that would set a higher standard of accessibility for nearly all new homes in England. The government promised in July 2022 that it would consult on new rules that would force all new homes […]
Maggie Davis: Tributes to pioneer, rebel and advocate
Some of the country’s leading disabled activists have paid tribute to the “immense” contribution of Maggie Davis, an outspoken “rebel”, a powerful advocate and a pioneer of the independent living movement, who died last week at the age of 81. She was […]
‘Underhand tactics’ could still see disabled people forced into care homes, say campaigners
A council has been accused of using underhand tactics to cut millions of pounds from support packages and push disabled people into residential care, despite being forced to withdraw a controversial policy that could have had the same impact. The grassroots group […]
Disabled-led business seeks new clients after being hit by rise of AI
By Josephine Fay A disabled-led business that provides work for more than 20 disabled freelancers at a time is urgently seeking new clients, and financial support, after its profits were severely hit by the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Academic Audio Transcription […]
Sunak suggests he wants to lead fresh assault on disability benefits spending
Disabled people are facing an “existential threat” after the government suggested it was planning a further assault on disability benefits spending, while stirring up hostility towards disabled claimants. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Rishi Sunak said he planned to pay […]
Starmer’s ‘very alarming’ call to legalise assisted suicide
The decision of Labour leader Keir Starmer to publicly back assisted suicide is “very alarming” and will make it “very, very difficult” for disabled campaigners to prevent its legalisation, according to those opposing a change in the law. Starmer told ITV News […]
Government launched ‘pitiful’ Disability Action Plan without knowing how much it would cost
The government has admitted launching its much-criticised Disability Action Plan without a clear idea of how much – or how little – it would cost. Disabled people’s organisations have already dismissed the short-term plan as a series of “empty promises” that fail […]
Labour’s DWP team ‘split’ over universal credit safety
Labour’s work and pensions team appears to be split over whether the party should pledge to act on serious concerns about the safety of the universal credit working-age benefits system. The party’s shadow minister for disabled people, Vicky Foxcroft, told Disability News […]
DWP figures ‘show how rise in staff workload led to mental health crisis’
A huge increase in the workload faced by civil servants managing universal credit cases led to significant increases in how many of them took time off after experiencing mental distress and other ill-health, new government figures suggest. The figures, secured through a […]
UN committee set to examine UK government’s ‘absolutely shocking’ behaviour
A delegation of disabled activists will travel to Geneva this week to help the United Nations hold the UK government to account for its continuing breaches of the UN disability convention. Members of the delegation, representing leading disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) and […]
Stammering charity calls on parliament to act on ‘febrile atmosphere’ in debates
Disabled campaigners are calling on the House of Commons to address its “febrile atmosphere” and ensure that those with communication differences who take part in parliamentary debates no longer have to fear being “ripped to shreds”. They have drawn up a petition* […]
Cost-of-living payments scrapped as spring budget ‘completely ignores disabled people’
The government has been accused of “another missed opportunity” to support disabled people, after ending all cost-of-living payments, including the annual payment to those on disability benefits. Disabled campaigners warned that Jeremy Hunt’s budget could lead to further cuts to disabled people’s […]
Decade-long quest for justice ‘proves DWP was responsible for our father’s death’
Two children of a disabled man whose suicide was triggered by being wrongly found “fit for work” have told MPs how their decade-long search for justice has proved the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was responsible for their father’s death. Anne-Marie […]
Council’s plans to increase care charges ‘could have devastating consequences’
A disabled people’s organisation has warned its local council that plans to increase care charges for many residents by nearly £34 a week could have “devastating consequences” and “wreak havoc” on the lives of thousands of service-users. The proposal, which will only […]
DPAC demands ‘no more deaths from benefit cuts’ outside DWP headquarters
Disabled activists have explained why they travelled from across England to protest outside the headquarters of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) at social security reforms they say will put the lives of even more claimants at risk. Monday’s protest was […]