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Cost of ESA appeals

In reply to two separate parliamentary questions about the cost to the public purse of the increase in the volume of employment and support allowance (ESA) appeals, Jonathan Djanogly, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (HM Courts Service and Legal Aid) revealed an increase in funding to the Tribunal Service for ESA appeals from £​1.3 million in October 2008 to £​26.3 million for the year...

DID YOU KNOW : Disability rights protesters bring Trafalgar Square traffic to a standstill

Yesterday Wednesday 18/04/2012 saw over 100 disabled activists block one of central London’s busiest road junctions. The protesters used metal chains and padlocks to block two junctions around Trafalgar Square. Traffic stood still for over two hours. Police armed with bolt cutters attempted, vainly to clear the highways. Despite the rain the protesters, many in wheelchairs or using other mobility...

The Fight Must Continue to Save our NHS.

The Health and Social Care Bill which would privatize the National Health Service has now passed both houses of our Parliament and has now become law. An Act is now upon our statute book. This effectively means the NHS has been abandoned, abolished in all but name, with a Logo for hire. All the historical work of our forebears, the social cohesion, billions of pounds of National Insurance contributions...

Personal Independence Payment – completing the detailed design ????????????

Public consultation on specific detailed proposals in relation to Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and Attendance Allowance that will further inform the development of secondary legislation. March 2012 1. Executive summary 1.1 Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is being reformed to create a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment – initially...

Time-limited Contributory Employment and Support Allowance

Time-limited Contributory Employment and Support Allowance is being restricted to one year for those in the Work-Related Activity Group – see http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/esa-time-limit-wr2011-ia-revised-apr2011.pdf Solicitors Irwin Mitchell are keen to find someone entitled to legal aid to try to challenge this appalling EIA. We ideally need someone who has already been placed in WRAG group to...

New PIP consultation adds fuel to concerns

A new consultation on disability living allowance (DLA) reform has added fuel to concerns that the government is ignoring the likely impact of the changes on disabled people’s lives, say campaigners. Disability Rights UK (DR UK) spoke out after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) quietly published the latest consultation document on its plans to replace working-age DLA with a new personal...

Remploy campaign could lead to factory occupations, activists warn

Closing many of the remaining Remploy factories is set to lead to direct action, national protests and even the occupation of the factories by disabled workers, a meeting of campaigners and union activists has heard. Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) this week pledged its full support for a campaign against the closures, at a meeting it called to discuss how it could help disabled Remploy workers...

Atos “The Final Solution”

Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights has slammed the DWP over changes to disability benefits

Iain Duncan-SmithParliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights has slammed the DWP over changes to disability benefits, saying Iain Duncan Smith’s department broke the law with a botched consultation after trying to cover up negative responses from the public. In a letter to disability minister Maria Miller (Link below), the Committee backs the Spartacus report, produced by disability activists...

Foundation trusts to form partnerships with independent hospitals

By Gareth Iacobucci | 27 Mar 2012 NHS foundation trusts will be able to form partnerships with independent hospital groups to increase their volume of private work following the passing of the health and social care bill. The move has prompted fears that private patients will benefit from cheaper health care, subsidised by the taxpayer. With hospital overheads largely covered by NHS tariffs, trusts...