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You are here: Home / Archives for benefit assessments

benefit assessments

MPs call on DWP to report on deaths linked to benefit assessments

By John Pring on 20th April 2023 Category: Benefits and Poverty

MPs call on DWP to report on deaths linked to benefit assessments
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) must publish regular reports to show how many deaths of disabled people are linked to the disability benefits assessment system, a committee of MPs has concluded. The call comes in a report by the […]

Call for urgent inquiry into ‘covert surveillance’ in benefit assessments

By John Pring on 20th April 2023 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Call for urgent inquiry into ‘covert surveillance’ in benefit assessments
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MPs are calling for an urgent government investigation into the use of “covert surveillance” of disabled people by the private sector companies paid to assess eligibility for disability benefits. It comes in a report by the Commons work and pensions committee, […]

DWP assessment firms ‘still producing shocking levels of sub-standard reports’

By John Pring on 19th January 2023 Category: Benefits and Poverty

DWP assessment firms ‘still producing shocking levels of sub-standard reports’
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Contractors likely to be bidding for new five-year contracts to test eligibility for disability benefits are still producing a “shockingly high” number of sub-standard assessment reports, nine years after they first won contracts to carry them out. An audit of assessment […]

Benefit claimants back up MP’s claims of assessment secret tricks

By John Pring on 28th July 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Benefit claimants back up MP’s claims of assessment secret tricks
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Disabled people have backed up an MP’s claims that government contractors are deliberately putting lifts out of order and attempting other “covert” attempts to trick claimants waiting to be assessed for their disability benefits. Last week, Conservative MP Dr Ben Spencer […]

DWP contractors carry out secret tricks on disabled claimants, Tory MP has been told

By John Pring on 21st July 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

DWP contractors carry out secret tricks on disabled claimants, Tory MP has been told
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Private sector contractors are deliberately putting lifts out of order and removing cups from beside water coolers as part of “covert” attempts to trick disabled people waiting to be assessed for their benefits, MPs have been told. Conservative MP Dr Ben […]

DWP ignored ‘hugely alarming’ research that linked WCA with 600 suicides, MPs are told

By John Pring on 23rd June 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

DWP ignored ‘hugely alarming’ research that linked WCA with 600 suicides, MPs are told
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ignored leading academics after they published “hugely alarming” research that linked the work capability assessment with 600 suicides in just three years, MPs have been told. The failure is just the latest evidence to […]

Knock-on effects of PIP assessment backlog ‘show ministers must get a grip’

By John Pring on 2nd June 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Knock-on effects of PIP assessment backlog ‘show ministers must get a grip’
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Backlogs in the disability benefit assessment system are having significant knock-on effects on disabled people’s ability to live independently, new evidence has shown. It is showing how lengthy delays in reviewing people’s personal independence payment (PIP) claims are having a substantial […]

PIP backlog has more than trebled in five years

By John Pring on 10th March 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

PIP backlog has more than trebled in five years
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New figures have shown how the backlog of disabled people waiting for a personal independence payment (PIP) assessment has more than trebled in the last five years. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures, secured by Disability News Service (DNS) […]

Minister for disabled people ignores calls for inquiry into DWP deaths

By John Pring on 3rd February 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Minister for disabled people ignores calls for inquiry into DWP deaths
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The minister for disabled people has ignored calls for an inquiry into deaths linked to the failings of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The disabled Labour MP Marsha de Cordova had called for an inquiry this week after telling […]

New figures show few WCAs being carried out face-to-face

By John Pring on 13th January 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

New figures show few WCAs being carried out face-to-face
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New figures released by the government show how nearly all “fitness for work” assessments are now being carried out on the telephone, or simply by examining paperwork. The figures show that three-quarters (73 per cent) of completed work capability assessments (WCAs) […]

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Latest Stories

‘Disastrous’ cuts bill that leaves legacy of distrust and distress ‘must be dropped’

Four disabled Labour MPs stand up to government over cuts to disability benefits

Silence from MP sister of Rachel Reeves over suicide linked to PIP flaws, just as government was seeking cuts

Disabled people receiving care were ‘ignored by design’ during the pandemic, Covid inquiry hears

Disabled activists warn Labour MPs who vote for cuts: ‘The gloves will be off’

GB News says it has nothing to apologise for, after guest suggests starving disabled benefit claimants

SEND inspections find services in just one in four areas usually lead to ‘positive’ outcomes for disabled children

Disabled MP who quit government over benefit cuts tells DNS: ‘The consequences will be devastating’

Disabled peers plan to ‘amend, amend, amend, amend, amend’ after assisted dying bill reaches Lords

Minister finally admits that working-age benefits spending is stable, despite months of ‘spiralling’ claims

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