Promoting choice, control and independence
for disabled people in Sheffield
Blog Archive
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Access to Work : Updated Guidance
02 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.
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DWP to Improve Services for Deaf Claimants
02 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.
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Adjustments to Help You Access Benefits and Pensions
18 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.
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Access to Work Issues Arising from Covid-19 Emergency
11 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.
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Emergency Changes To Disability Benefits 'Needed'
07 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.
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Twelve disabled people die every day waiting for benefit decisions
23 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.
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DWP to pay out £970 million in ESA underpayments
01 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.”
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Universal Credit Information Sheet
17 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.
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DWP Easy Read Report about ESA and PIP Assessments
14 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.
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Underpayment of Disability Benefits due to Government Error
22 March 2018
The National Audit Office has revealed in a report this week that staff at the Department for Work and Pensions have made errors resulting in around 70,000 disability benefits claimants not receiving their full entitlement, between 2011 and 2014 during a government overhaul of incapacity benefits when claimants were transferred from older benefits on to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
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