UNCRPD

Benefits and Poverty

A sign pointing to Parliament Street and Whitehall

March 15, 2018 0

Eight years of benefit cuts ‘will cost some disabled lone parents £11,000 a year’

Some disabled lone parents will eventually lose more than 30 per cent of their income – more than £11,000 a year – as a result of eight years of government social security cuts, according to new research for the equality watchdog. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) report examines the “cumulative impact” of

Human Rights

An overhead view of the delegates in the chamber in Geneva

March 1, 2018 0

DPOs ask May for meeting over lack of progress on UN convention rights

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Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) have accused the government of maintaining a “head-in-the-sand denial” of its failure to protect disabled people’s human rights. The criticism came from a coalition of DPOs from across the UK as they wrote to the prime minister, Theresa May, to question the lack of progress in the six months since

Benefits and Poverty

February 15, 2018 0

DWP quietly dumps plan to trial softer sanctions regime

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Ministers have quietly dumped their promise to test a gentler approach to dealing with claimants who breach strict benefit conditions for the first time. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) agreed in October to trial handing out warnings instead of benefit sanctions when claimants breach the conditions imposed on them for the first

Human Rights

Baroness Campbell speaking in the House of Lords

February 8, 2018 0

Disabled peer raises ‘deep concerns’ over impact of Brexit bill on rights

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Disabled people should be concerned that the process of leaving the European Union (EU) could see their rights “lost or watered down”, according to a disabled peer. Baroness [Jane] Campbell told fellow peers last week that she had “deep concerns” at the “sweeping powers” that the government’s European Union (withdrawal) bill would give 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

Independent Living

Mark Harrison holding a microphone for another speaker

November 30, 2017 0

Equality watchdog seeks legal advice on possible right to independent living

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The equality watchdog has asked a barrister to examine whether there needs to be a legal right to independent living for disabled people, because of concerns that their rights to choice and control over their lives is being “eroded”. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has asked the lawyer to assess how independent

Independent Living

Mark Williams speaking into a microphone held by Ellen Clifford

November 30, 2017 0

Conference plans fightback against independent living ‘catastrophe’

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Disabled campaigners have gathered at a conference to help develop plans for a fightback against the independent living “catastrophe” facing users of support services across the country. The Independent Living Campaign Conference heard that disabled people are now designing “a new vision” for independent living that is user-led and based on rights and the

Benefits and Poverty

November 16, 2017 0

Disabled woman takes DWP minister to court over PIP mental health changes

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A disabled woman is taking work and pensions secretary David Gauke to court over “unfair and discriminatory” changes that were made to a disability benefit. There was widespread anger earlier this year when Penny Mordaunt, minister for disabled people, announced new rules that made it harder for people in mental distress to secure mobility

Independent Living

November 16, 2017 0

Council and care company retreat over disabled woman trapped in residential home

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A young disabled woman says she has been “punished for a crime she did not commit”, as she waits for written confirmation that she can finally leave the care home where she has been trapped for nearly a month. Lakhvinder Kaur, who is still facing an eviction notice from the care home in east

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