wca

Benefits and Poverty

March 27, 2015

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Campaigners call for next government to ‘cease firing’ on welfare reform

Plaid Cymru and the Green party – and a key figure in the SNP – have backed a call from disabled campaigners and carers for an “emergency ceasefire” on major parts of the government’s “fitness for work” regime. They say it is unfair to “continue to threaten sick and disabled people” while politicians are

Benefits and Poverty

John McArdle wearing a Black Triangle tee shirt

March 20, 2015

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Doctors’ union finally agrees to spread the word on ‘life-saving’ WCA rules

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The doctors’ union has finally agreed to tell every GP in the country about two regulations that campaigners believe could protect disabled people facing the controversial “fitness for work” test. Activists have been trying since August 2012 to persuade the British Medical Association (BMA) to inform GPs about the regulations, part of the rules

Benefits and Poverty

March 13, 2015

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Doctors’ union facing fresh criticism after snubbing WCA meeting

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The doctors’ union is facing fresh criticism after refusing to meet MPs and disabled activists to discuss continuing concerns over the government’s “fitness for work” test. The Labour MP John McDonnell had asked the British Medical Association (BMA) to meet MPs and campaigners from the user-led grassroots groups Black Triangle and Disabled People Against

Activism and Campaigning

March 6, 2015

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Humiliation greets Maximus in first week of WCA delivery

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The new provider of the government’s controversial “fitness for work” tests has faced a humiliating first week in its new job, after it emerged that the company had been forced by disabled activists into buying an embarrassingly-named website. More than 30 protests took place across England, Scotland and Wales on Monday (2 March) to

Benefits and Poverty

January 23, 2015

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MP to quiz ministers over Gunnyeon’s Maximus WCA role

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An MP is to ask ministers why a former senior civil servant had to wait just six months before working for a private sector company on two disability contracts he led on at the Department for Work and Pensions. Disability News Service (DNS) revealed last week that Bill Gunnyeon had been given permission by

Benefits and Poverty

January 16, 2015 0

Former WCA boss free to advise Maximus on ‘fitness for work’ test within weeks

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The senior civil servant previously responsible for government policy on the notorious “fitness for work” test could start offering advice on the same issue to his new private sector bosses within weeks. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) suggested last week that Bill Gunnyeon would not be able to carry out any work

Benefits and Poverty

January 16, 2015 0

Campaigner’s Maximus job splits opinion among activists

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The decision of a leading disabled campaigner to accept a highly-paid job with the US company taking over the controversial “fitness for work” test has split activists. Many accused Sue Marsh of betraying those who had followed her blog, Diary of a Benefits Scrounger, backed her campaigning efforts, and had even supported her financially

Benefits and Poverty

January 9, 2015 0

Concern as Maximus recruits former DWP ‘fit for work’ boss

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The US company that won the lucrative contract to deliver the “fitness for work” test has been forced to defend its decision to employ the former senior civil servant responsible for government policy on the assessment. The decision of controversial outsourcing giant Maximus to hand consultancy work to Bill Gunnyeon comes just months after

Activism and Campaigning

January 9, 2015 0

Leading WCA campaigner swaps sides to join Maximus

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One of the leading disabled critics of the government’s welfare cuts and reforms has explained her decision to take a job with the US company taking over provision of the controversial “fitness for work” test. For the last five years, Sue Marsh has played a major part in campaigning for improvements to the work

Benefits and Poverty

December 5, 2014 0

Scottish devolution agreement ‘falls far short of disabled people’s demands’

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An agreement between the leading political parties over devolving further powers to Scotland “falls far short” of what was demanded by disabled people, say campaigners. The Smith Commission which reported last week, secured an agreement backed by the five parties represented in the Scottish parliament: the SNP, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green party

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