DPAC

Benefits and Poverty

February 8, 2018 0

The PIP Files: Nearly one in three Capita assessments were flawed, reports reveal

Nearly one in three of the disability benefit assessment reports completed by a private sector contractor were significantly flawed, confidential Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) documents suggest. The figures were revealed through a government audit of personal independence payment (PIP) assessment reports that had been written by staff working for under-fire outsourcing giant

Activism and Campaigning

Sarah Newton speaking in Westminster Hall

February 1, 2018 0

Activists explain why they ‘clashed’ with minister after PIP debate

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Two disabled activists have explained why they “clashed” with the minister for disabled people at the end of a parliamentary debate on personal independence payment (PIP). Paula Peters and Keith Walker, from Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), decided to confront Sarah Newton over the government’s record because of the “dismissive” way she had responded

Employment

January 25, 2018 0

DWP refuses to name charities set to earn millions from new disability jobs scheme

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The Department for Work and Pensions has refused to name the charities and other organisations being paid millions of pounds to help deliver its new disability employment programme across England and Wales. All six of the new Work and Health Programme contracts went “live” last week, and DWP announced the main contractors in October.

Benefits and Poverty

January 18, 2018 0

Watchdog orders DWP to publish secret reports on Atos and Capita PIP failings

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The information commissioner has ordered the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to release documents that are likely to expose the widespread failings of two of its disability benefit assessment contractors. DWP has been attempting to prevent the documents being released since receiving a Freedom of Information Act request from campaigner John Slater in

Activism and Campaigning

A protester holds up a banner saying Disabled People Against Cuts, Rights Not Charity

January 18, 2018 0

DPAC calls national day of action to demand universal credit is scrapped

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Disabled activists are organising a national day of action to push for the government’s new universal credit benefit system to be scrapped. Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) believes that the “punishing” universal credit (UC) regime, which is slowly replacing six working-age benefits, is “rotten to the core”. DPAC says UC is too flawed to

Independent Living

Jeremy Hunt speaking in the House of Commons

January 11, 2018 0

Ministerial reshuffle: Concern over further social care role for Hunt

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The government’s decision to rebrand the Department of Health as the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has raised concerns about its plans for addressing the social care funding crisis. This week’s ministerial reshuffle saw the number of ministers in the department rising from five to six, with Philip Dunne sacked and the

Crime

Bijan Ebrahimi sitting in a police station and talking to a female police officer

December 21, 2017 0

Murdered disabled refugee ‘was repeatedly failed by council and police’

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A disabled refugee who was murdered after years of racist harassment and abuse was repeatedly failed by a police force and his local authority, according to a long-awaited review into the events that led to his death. The review by the Safer Bristol Partnership found that both Bristol City Council and Avon and Somerset

Benefits and Poverty

Hundreds of white flowers lying on grass

December 14, 2017 0

‘Staggering’ ESA suicide figures prompt calls for inquiry and prosecution of ministers

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“Staggering” new figures show that the proportion of people claiming the main out-of-work disability benefit who have attempted suicide doubled between 2007 and 2014. The new analysis of NHS statistics, being published for the first time by Disability News Service (DNS), shows that in 2007 – a year before the introduction of the much-criticised

Benefits and Poverty

Protesters at the vigil, holding banners about PIP, in front of the Royal Courts of Justice

December 14, 2017 0

Vigil as court hears that PIP rules are ‘unfair and discriminatory’

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Campaigners have taken part in a vigil outside the Royal Courts of Justice, as the high court was hearing claims by a disabled woman that new benefit rules are “unfair and discriminatory”. Regulations that came into force in March mean that people who are unable to plan or undertake a journey due to overwhelming

Employment

Philip Hammond giving evidence to a Commons committee

December 7, 2017 0

Outrage after chancellor blames disabled people for UK’s economic woes

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The chancellor of the exchequer is facing calls to apologise after he made “disgraceful” comments that blamed disabled people for the country’s poor economic performance. Philip Hammond’s comments to the Treasury select committee yesterday (Wednesday) came just days after his government launched its new 10-year Improving Lives strategy, which aims to find jobs for

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