22 January 2022
Two severely disabled men have won a legal challenge over the Department Of Work And Pensions’ failure to provide adequate transitional payments to protect them and others from a loss of income following their move on to Universal Credit. The DWP is found to have discriminated against the pair when it didn’t compensate them the full payment of around £180 a month difference in the payments on legacy benefits.
FULL ARTICLE02 September 2020
The Department for Works and Pensions has published updated guidance explaining that during the Coronavirus outbreak you can still get help from Access to Work if you have a disability or a physical or mental health condition that makes it hard for you to do your job. You may be able to get extra help with working from home, at your normal workplace, or a combination of both.
FULL ARTICLE02 September 2020
The Department for Work and Pensions has entered into a legal agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to improve their provision for deaf claimants who contact them by telephone. The DWP has committed to an action plan to address problems complainants identified. The EHRC will monitor the action plan on a monthly basis to ensure the agreed steps have been completed.
FULL ARTICLE18 May 2020
The government has published information detailing how you can get help if you have difficulties claiming benefits and pensions because of a disability or long term health condition. If you require an adjustment and you feel that the Department for Work and Pensions service or information is not accessible, you can make a complaint.
FULL ARTICLE11 May 2020
Disabled people are having problems receiving Access to Work funding during the pandemic, leading to campaigning organisation Inclusion London writing to the Government. The user-led group say that delays in awards and difficulties in getting responses when contacting the Department Of Work And Pensions could lead to working disabled people not being able retain their jobs now and after the crisis.
FULL ARTICLE07 April 2020
The Disability Benefits Consortium has written an open letter to Therese Coffey, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to call for emergency changes to the benefits system to ensure disabled people are protected from further physical and financial harm during the Covid-19 crisis. The Consortium has separately recommended that the DWP should engage more with disabled people in formulating policies and processes which affect them.
FULL ARTICLE23 January 2019
Campaigning journalist Steve Topple has reported that over 21,000 sick and disabled people died between April 2013 and 2018 while waiting for a decision about their benefit claim. The figures were published by DWP Minister Sarah Newton in response to a question by Labour MP Madeleine Moon and questions are being asked about the figures’revelations.
FULL ARTICLE01 November 2018
The DWP has begun the process of reviewing Employment Support Allowance cases to identify those that could be affected and pay arrears. Disability Rights UK Deputy CEO Sue Bott said, “the DWP has spent five years trying to hide behind constructing a legal argument as to why they shouldn’t pay up despite the hardship they have caused to tens of thousands of disabled people. We urge the DWP to urgently ensure all underpayments are rectified as soon as possible. Enough is enough.”
FULL ARTICLE17 October 2018
Sheffield City Council has launched a new information sheet designed to help people find out and apply for Universal Credit, which is being rolled out across the city from next month for new claimants and anyone reporting a change in their circumstances. The controversial benefit, which only affects working age people, will eventually replace six existing benefits – Housing Benefit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit and Income Support.
FULL ARTICLE14 May 2018
The Department for Work and Pensions has published an Easy Read version of the government’s reply to the House of Commons Committee of MPs who have been looking into how Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) are assessed. Documents written in an Easy Read format are written in a way that makes them more accessible to people with learning disabilities.
FULL ARTICLE