the country's only news agency specialising in disability issues
A jobcentre security guard told a disabled man with a chronic bowel condition that he was not allowed to use the staff toilets, but that there was a bucket that was kept behind the building “for claimants to use”. AJ* had […]
The UK government has made no progress in improving the way its social security system protects the rights of disabled people and other groups, according to a new assessment by the equality and human rights watchdog. In its assessment of progress […]
The government’s cuts to social security will be found to have played a significant part in causing the deaths of many disabled people during the pandemic, MPs were told yesterday (Wednesday). Labour’s Debbie Abrahams said that ministers’ failure to assess the […]
Planning for a post-COVID Scotland must include a commitment to incorporate the UN disability convention into law, and fully involve disabled people’s organisations (DPOs), according to a leading Scottish DPO. Announcing its own manifesto for the upcoming elections to the Scottish […]
The government’s continuing failure to allow benefit appeals to be heard via video conferencing is discriminating against disabled claimants, say welfare rights experts. Many disabled people are being forced to ask for their tribunals to be postponed, because they are only […]
The right-wing thinktank responsible for designing universal credit has launched a new “Disability Commission” that it hopes will influence the government’s planned disability strategy. At least half of the 12 commissioners, who will not be paid for their work, are disabled […]
Disabled people and others with personal experience of claiming benefits are leading a ground-breaking project to devise a new social security system, in which claimants would be treated with dignity, trust and respect. The Commission on Social Security, led by Experts […]
The government is discriminating against disabled benefit claimants by failing to install equipment at tribunal venues that would allow them to record what happens at their social security appeals, according to university researchers. Leeds University’s International Disability Law Clinic (IDLC) has […]
A shadow cabinet member has supported calls by party members for Labour to come up with a stronger policy on reversing government cuts to social security spending. Debbie Abrahams spoke out after Labour’s annual conference in Brighton voted overwhelmingly to ask […]
Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary has pledged to transform the social security system from one that “demonises” benefit claimants to one that is “supportive and enabling”. Debbie Abrahams told Labour’s annual conference in Brighton that the social security system was […]