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Proposals by a user-led commission for sweeping reform of the social security system – including a new “extra costs” benefit for disabled people – have secured overwhelming support in a consultation exercise. More than 1,100 people responded to a draft plan […]
The UK government has made no progress in improving the way its social security system protects the rights of disabled people and other groups, according to a new assessment by the equality and human rights watchdog. In its assessment of progress […]
The minister for disabled people has ignored calls to give disabled people more time to respond to controversial proposals in his disability benefits green paper. Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) and allies have written an open letter to Justin Tomlinson, to warn […]
Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) and others have raised serious concerns about suggestions that ministers want to cut future spending on disability benefits and merge personal independence payment with universal credit. The big disability charities have so far remained silent about the […]
Ministers are considering measures to cut rising spending on disability benefits, and the possibility of merging personal independence payment with universal credit, a new government green paper has revealed. The health and disability green paper, Shaping Future Support, focuses on reforming […]
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has agreed to stop intimidating disabled claimants into accepting lower benefit payments than they are entitled to, hours before it was due to face a high court hearing over its tactics. Work and pensions […]
A trio of outsourcing companies that have faced repeated criticism over their links to deaths and serious harm caused to disabled benefit claimants have made almost no attempts in the last year to alert local authorities to serious safeguarding concerns. Responses […]
Disabled people have told MPs how they have been hit particularly hard by the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the benefits system. The Commons work and pensions committee carried out a survey of benefit claimants as part of an inquiry […]
The European Disability Forum (EDF) has raised concerns that segregated residential institutions for disabled people across Europe are becoming “hotbeds of infection and abuse” during the coronavirus pandemic. EDF said the institutions face a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) for […]
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has refused to say whether it could strip out-of-work benefits from disabled people who are fighting coronavirus while trying to meet strict deadlines for assessment of their eligibility. DWP’s refusal to clarify the situation […]