the country's only news agency specialising in disability issues
Proposals by a user-led commission for sweeping reform of the social security system – including a new “extra costs” benefit for disabled people – have secured overwhelming support in a consultation exercise. More than 1,100 people responded to a draft plan […]
The possibility of merging personal independence payment (PIP) with universal credit is “on the table” as part of a fresh wave of social security reforms, work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey has admitted. In response to a question from Disability News […]
Three judges have rejected a mother’s bid to secure a second inquest into the death of her disabled daughter – who killed herself after her benefits were wrongly stopped – despite one of the judges criticising the “shocking” failures in the […]
Disabled activists reacted with horror this week after learning that the discredited government contractor Atos could soon be carrying out “fitness for work” tests again, six years after withdrawing from its assessment contract. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is […]
Disabled benefit claimants have been facing significant delays with their claims because of pandemic-related issues at Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) mail-handling sites run by one of its contractors, DWP has admitted. Last month, DWP blamed Royal Mail for any […]
Disabled people seeking support through the benefits system appear to be facing extra delays of up to six weeks in dealing with their claims, but the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Royal Mail are disputing who is responsible. Claim […]
Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) and others have raised serious concerns about suggestions that ministers want to cut future spending on disability benefits and merge personal independence payment with universal credit. The big disability charities have so far remained silent about the […]
Ministers are considering measures to cut rising spending on disability benefits, and the possibility of merging personal independence payment with universal credit, a new government green paper has revealed. The health and disability green paper, Shaping Future Support, focuses on reforming […]
A young disabled man took his own life, just weeks after the Department for Work and Pensions slashed his benefits, despite being warned he was severely depressed, malnourished, could not face leaving his flat, and had made several suicide attempts. The […]
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may have acted unlawfully after potentially depriving tens of thousands of benefit claimants of thousands of pounds each in back-payments, campaigners believe. Now, after taking legal advice from a leading social security barrister, the […]