Mental Health Resistance Network

Independent Living

Baroness Campbell speaking in the House of Lords, with a PA by her side

April 19, 2018 0

Disabled people split over personal health budget expansion plans

Government plans for a huge expansion of personal health budgets could help to deliver independent living for disabled people, according to a leading disabled peer. Baroness [Jane] Campbell (pictured), who has been receiving a personal health budget herself for more than a year, said the plans also had “huge potential” for “getting to grips”

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.

Activism and Campaigning

Paul Farmer speaking to protesters outside Mind's headquarters

January 25, 2018 0

Open letter from mental health activists probes charity’s links to DWP

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Disabled activists have called on the charity Mind to explain how seconding a senior member of staff to work for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) over the last year has affected mental health service-users. In an open letter to the charity’s chief executive, Paul Farmer, the Mental Health Resistance Network (MHRN) raises

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

Benefits and Poverty

Roy Bard in front of a banner saying 'Is There Justice Or Just Us?'

August 10, 2017 0

DWP ‘is using lost benefit assessment letters to cut spending’

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is using lost appointment letters for face-to-face assessments as an excuse for turning down disabled people’s benefit claims, to help it cut spending on social security, it has been claimed. Concerns have been raised about both the government’s new personal independence payment (PIP) – which helps meet

Benefits and Poverty

April 6, 2017

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PIP review ignores evidence of dishonesty among Atos and Capita assessors

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The former civil servant commissioned by the government to review its new disability benefit has refused to accept there is any dishonesty among the healthcare professionals who carry out assessments, despite being shown significant evidence of wrongdoing. Disability News Service (DNS) has twice contacted Paul Gray’s personal independence payment (PIP) review team with evidence

Activism and Campaigning

November 3, 2016

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Mind boss lies to protesters over DWP contracts

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Mind’s chief executive has lied to service-users and other disabled activists who were protesting about his charity’s close links with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Disabled activists who gathered outside Mind’s headquarters on Monday declared “war” on the charity because of its support for DWP policies that they say have damaged people

Activism and Campaigning

Sandra Daniels sitting in wheelchair speaking into a loudspeaker

July 14, 2016

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Protesters bring ‘rotten PIP’ message to the core of Westminster

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Disabled people across the country have marched stopped traffic and blocked the office entrances of government contractors as part of a national day of action that drew attention to a disability benefit they say is “rotten to the core”. Campaigners believe the personal independence payment (PIP) system was only introduced as a replacement for

Benefits and Poverty

Paula Peters holding a sign saying 'Pants 2 Normal IDS'

June 23, 2016

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PIP figures fuel concerns over cuts, while activists plan day of action

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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 per cent of DLA recipients who applied for the new personal independence payment

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