DWP

Employment

October 18, 2018 0

DWP faces nearly 60 disability discrimination tribunal cases in 20 months

The Employment Tribunal has dealt with almost 60 claims of disability discrimination taken against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) by its own staff over a 20-month period, new research has shown. A database on the Employment Tribunal website shows that, since it began publishing its findings in February 2017, it has dealt

Politics

Jackie Doyle-Price shaking hands with Theresa May

October 18, 2018 0

New ‘suicide prevention’ minister evades questions on ESA suicide stats

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The new “minister for suicide prevention” has refused to say if she will alert agencies across the country to NHS figures that show the high risk of suicide faced by claimants of out-of-work disability benefits. Last week, mental health minister Jackie Doyle-Price had “minister for suicide prevention” added to her job title, with prime

Benefits and Poverty

October 11, 2018 0

Anger and dismay after Labour back-tracks on pledge to scrap universal credit

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Labour has infuriated its own disabled members by backtracking on a public pledge by the shadow chancellor that the party would scrap universal credit if it won the next general election. John McDonnell drew widespread praise when he told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday that universal credit was a “shambles” and “iniquitous” and added:

Benefits and Poverty

Mik Scarlet doing yoga in his wheelchair

October 11, 2018 0

DWP ignores concerns from disabled people who shun activity over benefit fraud fears

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has refused to offer a solution to disabled people who say they are fearful of taking more exercise in case they have their support cut or are branded benefit cheats. A new report by the disability sports organisation Activity Alliance found that four-fifths (83 per cent) of

Benefits and Poverty

Esther McVey speaking in the House of Commons

October 4, 2018 0

Tory conference: Charity’s silence on universal credit deaths, hours after minister announces £51m funding

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A charity has refused to criticise the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over four deaths linked to universal credit, hours after a minister announced it would receive tens of millions of pounds to support claimants on the new benefit system. Work and pensions secretary Esther McVey (pictured) told the Conservative party conference on

Politics

Sarah Newton standing and speaking, alongside four men sitting down, with words behind her on the screen about listening to disabled people

October 4, 2018 0

Tory conference: Newton ‘breaches ministerial code’ while dodging questions

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The minister for disabled people appears to have breached the ministerial code of conduct, after refusing to answer questions at her party’s annual conference and suggesting that civil servants could answer them for her instead. Sarah Newton’s office had failed to respond to emails requesting an interview sent in advance of the conference by

Politics

October 4, 2018 0

MPs help WOW win fight for second Commons debate

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Campaigners have won their fight to persuade MPs to hold a second debate in the House of Commons on the need for the government to assess the overall damage caused to disabled people by years of austerity cuts. The announcement that a debate will take place is a victory for members of the WOW

Benefits and Poverty

October 4, 2018 0

Tory conference: Newton admits DWP needs to improve

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The minister for disabled people has admitted that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) needs to “make improvements” in order to increase disabled people’s “confidence” in the social security system. Sarah Newton told a fringe event at her party’s annual conference in Birmingham that “for lots of reasons” too many people were worried

Benefits and Poverty

September 27, 2018 0

WCA tragedy woman’s mum vows to fight on for justice despite No 10 letter snub

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A disabled woman whose daughter took her own life after being wrongly found “fit for work” has vowed to continue her fight for justice, despite the prime minister’s office brushing off her request for a meeting. Joy Dove wrote in July to ask for a meeting with Theresa May to discuss the tragic death

Benefits and Poverty

September 27, 2018 0

DWP ‘dispute with contractor’ led to ‘months of delays’ with alternative format letters

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Disabled people who need to receive letters from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in alternative formats have been facing lengthy delays with their benefit claims, apparently because of a dispute between DWP and private sector contractors. It has been claimed that a dispute between DWP and the US print services giant Xerox,

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