the country's only news agency specialising in disability issues
The government has been accused of “another missed opportunity” to support disabled people, after ending all cost-of-living payments, including the annual payment to those on disability benefits. Disabled campaigners warned that Jeremy Hunt’s budget could lead to further cuts to disabled […]
The government is to push ahead with “nightmare” cost-cutting plans to tighten the work capability assessment, which will save the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) nearly £1.3 billion a year by 2028. Confirmation of the changes to the assessment were […]
Disabled campaigners have questioned government plans to tighten the benefit sanctions regime and even end access to free prescriptions for some claimants, at a time of mounting evidence of a deeply flawed universal credit system and fatal safeguarding failures. Chancellor Jeremy […]
Conservative ministers have used their party conference to ramp up rhetoric that blames disabled people on out-of-work benefits for the country’s economic problems, just as they did in the post-2010 coalition government. Following months of media articles highlighting the growth in […]
The work and pensions secretary has sparked fresh concerns that a Conservative government would target the main disability benefit – personal independence payment (PIP) – for cuts and means-testing if it wins the next general election. Both Mel Stride and the […]
“Heartless” government reforms that will eventually scrap the “fitness for work” assessment “defy logic” and pose significant risks to sick and disabled people who cannot work, say activists who have fought for years to highlight the test’s fatal flaws. The decision […]
An Autumn Statement that has provided “distracting crumbs” of funding will not be enough to address the impact of 12 years of austerity that has stripped away support from disabled people, campaigners and activists warned this week. The response from disabled […]
A disabled campaigner has painted a stark picture of the psychological and financial impact of the system of charging for care and support services, as he gave evidence to a committee of MPs. Kevin Caulfield told the Commons health and social […]
A BBC documentary has revealed that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has lost more disability discrimination cases at employment tribunal than any other employer in Britain since 2016. Monday’s Panorama programme* reported on DWP’s “shocking track record” of discriminating […]
Measures introduced this week to address the scandalous treatment of autistic people and people with learning difficulties in mental health hospitals are strikingly similar to failed government measures announced seven years ago. Health and social secretary Matt Hancock announced five measures […]