Sarah Newton

Benefits and Poverty

June 7, 2018 0

Atos and Capita win PIP contract extension ‘because DWP is chained to a corpse’

The government’s decision to extend the contracts of two discredited companies that carry out disability benefit assessments has been branded “appalling”, “shocking” and “a complete con”. The move has also been criticised by the Scottish government. Sarah Newton, the minister for disabled people, told MPs in a written statement this week that she planned

Benefits and Poverty

Sarah Newton speaking in the House of Commons

June 7, 2018 0

Confidentiality concerns over DWP’s pledge to videotape PIP assessments

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Campaigners have raised serious concerns about government plans to video-record all face-to-face assessments for personal independence payment (PIP). The move, which will begin with a pilot project, before being rolled out across the country, was announced this week by the minister for disabled people, Sarah Newton. Newton also announced that the government was planning

Benefits and Poverty

May 10, 2018 0

DWP figures on ‘unacceptable’ WCA reports cast doubt on decisions made on tens of thousands of ESA claims

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Tens of thousands of “fitness for work” benefit claims could have been decided by civil servants on evidence from assessment reports that should have been rejected because their quality was “unacceptable”, government figures suggest. The concerns about the way Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) decision-makers have decided employment and support allowance (ESA) claims

Employment

A female wheelchair-user holds a packet of Maltesers

May 10, 2018 0

Boards of biggest companies should appoint ‘disability champions’, says new report

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Every one of the country’s biggest companies should ensure they have a “disability champion” on their board by 2020, according to a new report co-authored by a leading disabled social entrepreneur. The report also calls on the boards of Britain’s biggest 350 businesses to include disability as a formal agenda item at least once

Benefits and Poverty

May 3, 2018 0

DWP figures suggest tens of thousands of PIP claims could have been decided on ‘unacceptable’ assessment reports

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Tens of thousands of disabled people could have had their disability benefit claims decided on evidence from assessment reports that were of “unacceptable” poor quality, government figures suggest. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures suggest that civil servants may have been deciding many personal independence payment (PIP) claims based on information contained

Transport

March 8, 2018 0

Motability ‘tit for tat’ row intensifies as bosses and minister give evidence

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The public “tit for tat” row between the government and Motability has intensified after senior figures in the organisation and the minister for disabled people gave evidence to MPs. The Treasury and work and pensions select committees are holding a joint inquiry following political and media criticism of how the car scheme for disabled

Employment

Marsha de Cordova speaking in the House of Commons

March 1, 2018 0

Government ‘must do more on disability employment’, MPs hear

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The government must do more to offer incentives to businesses to take on disabled people as employees, and to tackle the barriers that prevent them finding jobs, according to cross-party MPs. MPs from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the Conservative party all pushed the government to improve its policies. Disability Rights UK,

Benefits and Poverty

February 8, 2018 0

‘Muddle’ and ‘confusion’ over DWP’s 1.6 million PIP reviews

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is causing “muddle” and “confusion” by refusing to clarify which disabled people will have their claims re-examined through its mammoth programme of disability benefit reviews. Sarah Newton, the minister for disabled people, announced last week that DWP would review 1.6 million personal independence payment (PIP) claims to

Activism and Campaigning

Sarah Newton speaking in Westminster Hall

February 1, 2018 0

Activists explain why they ‘clashed’ with minister after PIP debate

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Two disabled activists have explained why they “clashed” with the minister for disabled people at the end of a parliamentary debate on personal independence payment (PIP). Paula Peters and Keith Walker, from Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), decided to confront Sarah Newton over the government’s record because of the “dismissive” way she had responded

Benefits and Poverty

February 1, 2018 0

DWP promises no-one will lose out in huge review of 1.6 million PIP cases

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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has promised that no disabled people will have their benefits reduced because of its decision to review 1.6 million personal independence payment (PIP) claims. The review follows last month’s decision by the new work and pensions secretary, Esther McVey, that she would not appeal a court ruling

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