A disabled benefit claimant is set to lodge a complaint with the information commissioner after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) sent him highly confidential medical details belonging to another benefit claimant. The man was sent the report, written by […]
DWP
FoI reveals EHRC chair’s ‘conflict of interest’ over welfare reform inquiry
The equality watchdog’s new chair, who is set to lead an investigation into whether Tory welfare reforms breached disabled people’s human rights, worked for the government on key contracts at the heart of those reforms, Disability News Service can reveal. David […]
ESA figures show ‘very disturbing’ drop in number placed in support group
“Very disturbing” new government figures show a steep fall in the proportion of disabled people being found eligible for out-of-work disability benefits. Disabled campaigners fear the figures show the government is cutting spending on disability benefits “below the radar”, after being […]
Disabled researcher’s book exposes ‘corporate demolition of welfare state’
A string of activists, academics, politicians and journalists have welcomed the publication of a new book by a disabled researcher which exposes how successive governments have planned the “demolition of the welfare state”. Mo Stewart has spent eight years researching the […]
DWP hides seven secret benefit suicide reviews
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is refusing to publish nine secret reviews into the deaths of benefit claimants, despite finally admitting that seven of them relate to people who took their own lives. DWP only released the information after […]
DWP silent over ‘fitness for work’ tests carried out by drunk Atos nurse
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is refusing to say whether it has reviewed hundreds of “fitness for work” tests carried out by a nurse who has been struck off for conducting assessments of disabled benefit claimants while drunk. Although […]
Atos nurse struck off over PIP assessment lies
A nurse has been struck off after pretending that she had assessed disabled people for their eligibility for disability benefits in their own homes, when she had actually carried out the assessments by telephone. Amelia Victoria Bailey was conducting personal independence […]
UN report raises ‘deep concerns’ about impact of austerity on disabled people
UN experts have expressed serious concerns about the impact of government austerity on the rights of disabled people and other disadvantaged groups. In a scathing report, the UN committee on economic, social and cultural rights said it was “seriously concerned” about […]
PIP figures fuel concerns over cuts, while activists plan day of action
Only about seven in 10 disabled people who were previously claiming disability living allowance (DLA) are being found eligible for the government’s new disability benefit, official figures have revealed. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures show that just 71 […]
Ministers ‘breach FoI laws’ by delaying release of fresh benefit deaths reviews
Ministers are delaying the release of nine secret reviews into the deaths of benefit claimants, even though civil servants apparently prepared them for release three weeks ago under freedom of information laws. A response to a request to release redacted versions […]