The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has ignored a deadline imposed by the information watchdog, as part of its investigation into DWP’s refusal to publish secret reviews into 49 benefit-related deaths. The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) launched the investigation in March, following […]
DWP
Capita hands its receptionists ‘overbooking scripts’ after new PIP crisis
Delivery of the government’s new disability benefit appears to have been plunged back into crisis, after reception staff were sent scripts telling them how to explain to benefit claimants why their appointments have been cancelled. Disabled people across the country are […]
DWP is ‘taking baby steps’ on sanctions when regime ‘is costing lives’
Companies delivering the government’s Work Programme appear to have ignored rules that protect disabled people from serious harm, forcing the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to publish new guidance on its benefit sanctions regime. DWP has accused providers of an […]
DLA reforms could dash teenager’s Paralympic dreams
A talented Scottish teenager has described how her dreams of Paralympic glory may have been dashed by the government’s disability living allowance (DLA) cuts and reforms. Kayleigh Haggo has been told that she will lose her entitlement to a Motability vehicle […]
One in five benefit-related deaths involved sanctions, admits DWP
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has admitted that 10 of the 49 benefit claimants whose deaths were subject to secret reviews had had their payments sanctioned. The admission came in a response to a freedom of information request submitted […]
PIP delay woman struggled to eat and heat her home, court hears
A court has heard how a disabled woman struggled to afford to feed herself and heat her home because of delays with her claim for the government’s new disability benefit. Lawyers representing the woman, known as Ms C, and another disabled […]
‘Disabled woman’s life at risk’ after DWP harassment
A disabled woman says her life is at risk following a “barrage” of texts and phone calls from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), threatening – unlawfully – to remove her benefits if she failed to attend a work-focused interview. […]
DWP carries out threat to ban questions from Disability News Service
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has carried out its threat to stop answering any questions from the country’s only disability news agency. DWP’s chief press officer (disability) had previously warned that he and his staff would stop dealing with […]
Information watchdog to probe DWP’s secret reviews on benefit deaths
The information watchdog is to investigate the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over its refusal to publish secret reviews into 49 benefit-related deaths. The Information Commissioner’s Office has launched the investigation into DWP’s failure to provide information requested by Disability […]
COMMENT: DWP’s threat to DNS
By John Pring, editor of Disability News Service It is fair to say that the Department for Work and Pensions is not disabled people’s favourite government department, but it is the one that Disability News Service (DNS) deals with most often. […]