The perils of being a “vulnerable” benefit claimant
Today, the Commons Public Accounts Committee published its report into some of the activities of JobCentre Plus (JCP), managed by the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP). Despite being snowed under with other work, I’ve read some of the report with interest, since I know very well that sick & disabled people who are dependent on benefits […]
Do we still value people for who they are?
Recently, I’ve been wondering: what happened to our society’s fundamental moral belief that people have inherent value by virtue of being human? When did we start, consciously or sub-consciously, measuring people’s well-being in terms of cost? Is this the kind of society we really want, or is it the result of a political ideology for […]
“Bedroom tax” hearing starts 15 May
The High Court will next week consider 10 claims being brought against the Government’s ‘Bedroom Tax’ that came into force on 1 April this year. The claims, made by a range of people affected by the Bedroom Tax, will be heard together over three days starting on Wednesday 15 May. Law Firm Leigh Day are […]
Fighting for our independence
“The big question for me is, even in these difficult times, can the Coalition rise to this vital challenge, or will the life chances of disabled people be destroyed for a generation?” Jane Young argues for an alternative to the Government’s welfare reforms and the planned closure of the Independent Living Fund.
PIP: What have we won?
“We’ve won some important battles but we’ve not yet won the war. …Independent mobility matters to all of us, including disabled people, so we keep fighting.” Jane Young takes stock of the grassroots campaign against the Government’s “ill-advised and incompetent” welfare reforms.
Well over 100,000 to lose Motability vehicles under draconian new rules
When I blogged on this topic back in January, I predicted thousands of disabled people would lose their Motability vehicles under the Government’s draft criteria for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), set to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) under the Welfare Reform Act. Yesterday, the Government published the final version of the criteria and the reality is far, far worse […]