CUTS CAFÉ is now GO. With ramp, flushing toilets and electricity – plus free teas

Action, All Posts, Benefits, Events, Welfare reforms No Responses »

Oct 122012

The venue is 1,Stamford Street,Blackfriars,SE1 9NTand there’s a very full programme of events that are all important and informative and mostly interactive with your participation being needed.

Fuller details are available at cutscafelondon.wordpress.com or email cutscafe@riseup.net Telephone is 07842 631 370

In particular DPAC is involved with a Red Pepper debate on welfare reform on Sunday October 14^th 2-4 pm and on Monday 15^th 4-6pm a discussion on health service user empowerment.

Many of the other workshops are with those we network with so this should be a great week of activities for anyone who can get there.

Have you been denied ESA or DLA, exhausted the appeals process or trying to survive on no income?

Action, Benefits, Independent Living, legal challenges, Welfare reforms No Responses »

Oct 072012

If you have been refused ESA or DLA , have exhausted the appeals process or are trying to survive on no income-Please contact Merry Cross at merry4u@talktalk.net

This is for a potential legal challenge and to publicise these issues more widely

You can also call Merry on her radio show or be an interviewee.

Merry’s show is : Make Yourself Heard on Tuesdays 2-4p.m. The link is www.Reading4u.co.uk

More on the Independent Living Fund (ILF)

All Posts, Benefits, Disability Rights, Independent Living, Independent Living Fund ILF, Welfare reforms 1 Response »

Sep 292012

Act Now to Save the Independent Living Fund (ILF)- an article by a disabled activist involved in the ILF campaign

When ILF users and supporters involved in Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) delivered a letter on 13 September to the new Minister for Disabled People, Esther McVey MP, asking for a meeting to be arranged so they could discuss their concerns with her about the government’s plan to close the Fund, they were greeted by a very friendly Metropolitan Police press officer and several vans full of Tactical Support Group officers parked immediately in front of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) HQ in central London.

Why was there a need for the DWP and Met Police to use the ‘carrot and stick’ approach? What were the ILF users present doing wrong?

What was absent was a willing team of senior civil servants from the DWP prepared to come outside and discuss with the ILF users why the DWP are running a consultation that is misleading and fails to discuss a range of options for the ILF. Including that favoured by many in the disabled people’s movement of a national Independent Living Fund under our control, free of political interference, which provides one source of personal assistance funding as of right for all disabled people, irrespective of their age.

Four days after these ILF users were greeted with the Met Police, Esther McVey and the DWP hypocritically announced the formation of a new Disability Action Alliance “to help respond to the ideas put forward by disabled people and their organisations on living fulfilling lives”. Clearly though this does not include ILF users who oppose a return to the forced institutionalisation of the past or living in the community with limited life chances, and who are trying to protect the interests of 20,000 families and the livelihoods of 15,000 personal assistants and care workers.

The Disability Action Alliance will help to implement the government’s new disability strategy. On 17 September, the Office for Disability Issues published the related ‘Fulfilling Potential – the Discussions So Far’. In the Easy Read document it explains on page 27 that “residential care” is “where people go to live when they cannot get the support they need to live in their own home”. It reveals: “The government is going to change the rules about the way people are charged for residential care. This will mean that any money a disabled person gets from their job will not affect the residential care charge.”

Given people with learning difficulties not living with their families usually have their own tenancies in Independent Supported Living schemes, and people with severe physical impairments live in their own homes with ILF and local authority funded personal assistance, why would disabled people of working age be in danger of losing their wages to residential care fees unless a policy assumption is being made in government that residential care will become the norm once again for some of us in the future? After all, it was the Independent Living Fund that allowed many disabled people to leave residential care in the past before it was closed to new applications in May 2010.

What you can do

Be an ‘ILF Champion’ – be proactive and do not assume others in your area are campaigning to save the ILF.
Respond individually or through your disability or carers organisation, trade union, community group and so on to the government’s consultation ‘A Future for the Independent Living Fund’ which closes on 10 October 2012. You can find the documents on this page: https://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2012/future-of-ilf.shtml
The online version of the consultation is unreliable, so give yourself the time to respond by post if necessary and keep a copy of your comments.
Respond to the online survey being run by Disability Rights UK as their response to the government’s consultation will include an analysis of this survey. This survey ends at the end of September and can be found at: https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/ilfconsult.htm
If you know other ILF users or their families, contact them and organise a local ‘Save the Independent Living Fund’ campaign in your town and city.
Organise a public meeting with local disability and carers organisations. Ask your Council’s Director of Adult Social Care to circulate the information to ILF users and their families and/or contact your local newspapers and radio stations.
Write to your MP and/or go to their monthly surgery and explain the issue to them and what your feelings are about the possible closure of the ILF. Explain it from your perspective as a disabled person, family carer, family friend, personal assistant or care worker, social worker or member of the public.
Contact your local Council leader and the Cabinet member for adult social care and ask them what they are doing to stop the closure of the ILF. If nothing, organise a lobby of the next Council meeting.
Keep DPAC informed about what you are doing and try to coordinate local campaigns with others in your area and region.

10. Share this information and article as widely and as quickly as possible.

Criticisms of the consultation process:

The DWP consultation is deeply flawed and demonstrates a ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude towards 19,000+ ILF users and their families.
There is no equality impact assessment – this avoids the need to discuss the ILF’s history, policy implications and practical examples of what closure would mean.
Each ILF user is subject to regular reassessments so it is easy to identify what the loss of ILF funding would mean in 19,000+ cases.
Questions steer respondents towards the option of closure and transfer of responsibility to local authorities.
There is no discussion of the option of a national Independent Living Fund under disabled people’s control free of political interference that provides one source of personal assistance funding as of right for all disabled people irrespective of their age.
The shortest possible timescale for the consultation of 12 weeks has been adopted.
Only 14 consultation meetings have been organised across the UK with very limited numbers.
These have given less than 2% of the ILF’s 19,000+ users the opportunity to attend, a figure that falls well below 1% if family carers are factored in.
The ILF itself has organised the consultation meetings at the behest of the DWP – ILF trustees are in conflict with their fiduciary duty to defend their beneficiaries’ interests and actively oppose closure.
The Easy Read document gives no practical examples that set-out what closure of the ILF would mean, an essential step for disabled people who find comprehending abstract ideas difficult.
‘The Future of the Independent Living Fund’ is an English consultation document for a UK-wide fund – there is no discussion of a scenario where national independent living funds are set-up in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland while there is transfer of responsibility to local authorities in England.

The Independent Living Fund’s History

An Erroneous and Misleading Assertion

The DWP’S consultation document ‘states: “The fund was originally established for a maximum of 5 years and was expected to support around 300 people.”
This assertion is erroneous and deliberately misleading to give the impression the ILF was and is an anomaly.
While the ILF was set-up in April 1988 to help 250-300 people who were directly affected by the loss of domestic assistance addition with changes to the social security system, disability organisations had a clear view from the start that it would help many more than this.
In the July 1994 edition of Critical Social Policy, Bob Hudson recalled: “The Disablement Income Group (DIG) estimated the figure to be nearer 1500, while the more radical Disability Alliance saw potential demand running into several thousands.”
By 30 November 1988 the new Fund had received 2,502 applications with 354 people having received assistance and 1,574 being assessed.
Nicholas Scott MP, Minister for Social Security, reported to Parliament on 19 December 1988 that: “I understand that 16,000 posters and 55,000 leaflets have been produced by the ILF, for distribution to directors of social services, health authorities, voluntary organisations, and so on.”
These facts and the ILF’s proactive marketing of itself are not consistent with the assertion the ILF “was expected to support around 300 people.”

Responding to Unmet Need

• The National Assistance Act 1948 marked the beginning of the welfare state and the end of the Poor Law.

• In the 1960s, Paul Hunt and other disabled people in residential care started to assert their right to be treated equally – this was one of the main seeds in Britain for independent living, personal assistance, the disabled people’s movement and social model of disability.

The Disablement Income Group (DIG) was set-up in 1965 to campaign for disability benefits and services.

• In 1970, section 2(1) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act created an individual right to services once a person was assessed as having a need and their local authority’s eligibility criteria was met.

• Attendance Allowance was created in 1971 with day and night time rates for disabled children and adults – the original ‘cash for care’.

• A DIG Policy Statement argued in 1987 for the creation of “a third rate of attendance allowance, substantially higher than the rates presently payable, ….to enable even the most severely disabled to buy the help they need to live outside institutions. As with the existing attendance allowances, this should be payable to the disabled person, thus giving disabled beneficiaries a measure of control over their own lives.”

1988

When the ILF was set-up there was a policy flux as changes to the social security system were being made and Sir Roy Griffiths reforms to community care were being debated.
In 1988, while the ILF helped to resolve a bureaucratic problem for the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS), for DIG and the British Council of Organisations of Disabled People (BCODP) the ILF freed disabled people for the first time from the forced institutionalisation associated with the localism of the Poor Law and the early welfare state.
There were differences among disability organisations. DIG was centrally involved in the development of the ILF and nominated with its Scottish counterpart 5 out of 10 ILF trustees. The disabled people’s movement opposed the discretionary nature of the ILF. The BCODP organised a demo on 28 July 1988 that demanded ‘Rights Not Charity’ and won the ‘hearts and minds’ of young disabled people.

• The development of the ILF quite literally revolutionised the social opportunities of a generation and meant for the first time severely disabled people could become or continue to be parents, care-givers, workers, students, volunteers, partners, and of course, disability activists.

It gave disabled people the freedom to move from one area to another because their care packages were portable in a way that was consistent with the principle of free movement now promoted by the European Disability Forum.
The ILF provided funding for critical personal care support and personal assistance not just in the home, but also in community settings in a person’s local area or in other parts of Britain and abroad.
It also meant thousands of people with learning difficulties started to receive funding for community based support that enabled them to live active lives in the community on their terms.
The opportunities and life chances ILF users have experienced since with the help of their personal assistance are entirely consistent with the aims and principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

An extension of the social security and national insurance system

In 1988 the DHSS was split into the Department of Health and Department of Social Security. The latter maintained responsibility for the ILF, which reflected the fact the Fund was itself an extension of the national insurance and social security system.
By the end of 1992, 18,000 disabled children and adults of all ages were receiving ILF support.
The ILF freed disabled people from the unwillingness of local authorities to meet their statutory duties under section 2(1).
The ILF would only give funding to those living in the community and its practice has been to maintain this for life.
No local authority can ever make this commitment as it would mean providing community based services to all older disabled people over 65.
The ILF’s creation was also recognition that broad resource-led allocations such as Attendance Allowance or even today’s personal budgets were insufficient for severely disabled people.
The ILF recognised the needs of people with complex physical impairments or learning difficulties or autism required assessment in a personalised way with the full involvement of a social worker with the experience to ensure a person’s needs were fully met.
And the cost of care should be established based on the most appropriate way of meeting these needs from person to person.
The DWP’s consultation forgets to mention the closure of the ILF will mean the loss of this approach in social care, marking a fundamental and regressive change.

Central Government’s Bureaucratic Mismanagement of the ILF

Bob Hudson in Critical Social Policy in July 1994 pointed out: “Once the ILF had in effect uncovered a huge and legitimate demand for independent living amongst severely disabled people, the government took fright at the contents of this Pandora’s box, and began to seek ways of restricting demand and diverting responsibility.”
The ILF used the age criteria for Attendance Allowance from the start, but government funding restrictions eventually stopped disabled children under 16 and people aged over 75 from accessing the ILF.
An opportunity to create one cohesive funding system for personal assistance and social care was lost and gave way to the current bureaucratic maze where large care packages can be made up of several sources of funding – including local authority adult services, Access to Work, primary care trusts, education services, children’s services, Disability Living Allowance and the Independent Living Fund. Given the multiple layers of personal assistance funding, the assertion there is a “mainstream care and support system administered by local authorities” is a myth.
After April 1993, the £200 of local authority services threshold for the new ILF 93 was introduced.
Rule changes initiated by the government also led to the means-testing of ILF users whereby any ILF user who worked was expected to contribute all their wages above income support levels to their care package – not surprisingly many young ILF users were dissuaded from finding paid employment.
Maria Miller’s Ministerial Forward recognises the ILF has applied its eligibility criteria consistently across the country.
Before it was closed to new applications, the ILF had a reputation for a very rigorous assessment process – applications from the local authorities with the greatest uptake were needs-led and necessary.
The significant variations in uptake between local authorities stem in part from the different ways local authorities spent their part of the £230 million Independent Living Transfer between 1993 and 1996 – the most progressive ring-fenced it for severely disabled people.
One of the ironies that will result from the closure of the ILF if funding is transferred from central government to local authorities on a per capita basis is the very local authorities who have done most to promote independent living rights through the uptake of ILF will lose out the most.

Changes in Social Care

• Maria Miller argues there’s been a fundamental change in social care in the last 20 years citing the development of ‘personal budgets’ – this puts the cart before the horse.

• The changes proposed in the recent social care White Paper will see a statutory right to personal budgets introduced, but repeal of the section 2(1) duty.

• A needs-led, personalised approach is to be replaced by a resource-led, administrative approach.

• Since the 1990s legal judgments that allow councils to consider their resources when meeting need and to choose different options based on cost there’s been a search nationally for a mechanism to control costs.

• The Department of Health, Department for Work and Pensions, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, and the Care Quality Commission and its predecessors have developed personal budgets and personalisation through the misnamed In Control to this end.

• Statutory and professional bodies tasked with safeguarding disabled people worked to undermine the statutory duty and individual rights of section 2(1).

ILF Review in 2007

• The ILF review in 2007 commissioned by DWP recommended “the ILF should be fully integrated with personal budgets rather than existing as a parallel system of social care funding” when personal budgets were only being piloted in 13 local authorities. Its authors Melanie Henwood and Bob Hudson helped prepare the red carpet for personalisation and personal budgets.

• It recommended a proven model that was successful and gave disabled people ‘choice and control’ should be ditched for an experimental idea that still has major teething problems.

The ILF review chose not to debate Colin Barnes proposal from 2004 for a single national independent living fund for all personal assistance and direct payments under disabled people’s control, or other examples of European countries where national independent living schemes successfully sit alongside local services.

• The ILF review continued the ‘paternalism’ that disabled people sometimes experience when changes are being proposed about their lives and held only 6 consultation meetings with 120 ILF users and carers. The principle of ‘nothing about us without us’ was lost in translation.

The confusion about the intentions and recommendations of the ILF Review led Sue Bott, the Strategic Director of the National Centre for Independent Living (NCIL), to declare in NCIL’s ‘Independently’ newsletter in April 2007 that: “NCIL is in support of the recommendation not to transfer the ILF to local authorities.”
Yet Henwood and Hudson wrote in Community Care on 14 December 2010, the day after Maria Miller MP’s parliamentary statement that the ILF was “financially unsustainable”, about their review: “Our core conclusion was that it is highly anomalous for significant amounts of public money to be placed in the hands of a cash-limited, discretionary fund administered by a board of trustees, resulting in inequity, lack of accountability, overlap and duplication of functions, arbitrary decisions and major confusion for disabled people seeking support for independent living. / This is an anachronistic and paternalistic model that should have no place in a 21st century system of care and support. We recommended therefore that the ILF should be fully integrated with personal budgets rather than existing as a parallel system of social care funding. / Despite welcoming our report, the previous administration failed to act on it, and the coalition government should be congratulated for these first steps towards a principled and strategic decision about the future of the fund.”
For disabled people and family carers who appreciate plain language and being told what’s what, Henwood and Hudson mean they were recommending the ILF should be closed all along.

We trust Esther McVey MP and/or Maria Miller MP or a senior civil servant from the DWP will correct DPAC if any of the assertions above are factually incorrect.

Changes to appealing ESA and DLA Decisions from April 2013

All Posts, Benefits, Welfare reforms 120 Responses »

Sep 182012

Section 102 and Schedule 11 Welfare Reform Act 2012 – Power to require consideration of revision before appeal

Section 102 and Schedule 11 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 legislate for the following changes to the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) appeals process:

Under the new rules, due to be implemented from April 2013, claimants who wish to challenge a benefits decision will no longer be allowed to choose to lodge an appeal immediately.

Instead, there will be a new requirement for claimants to request a revision of the original decision from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and have that request determined before launching the right to appeal to an independent tribunal.

Only once the decision maker has either issued a revised decision, or decided that they cannot revise the decision, will the claimant be able to lodge their appeal.

There will be no time limit on how long this process can take.

DPAC is very concerned at the harmful impact these changes will have on many claimants:

The new bureaucratic tier in the appeal system has the potential to cause confusion for many claimants and lead them to make the wrong appeal to the wrong people at the wrong time, leading to inevitable problems with the payment of their benefits. Some disabled people may even withdraw from the appeals process altogether. The current appeal system is already a highly stressful, time-consuming process, resulting in considerable instability in many people’s lives and finances. The addition of a mandatory review stage, with all the attendant uncertainties, can only exacerbate these problems. DPAC is not convinced that the addition of a mandatory revision stage will in any way increase the efficiency of the system.

This problem will be heightened by the fact that there is no statutory time limit for the revision stage. This could lead to indefinite delays to the process while the DWP revises the decision. There is already no time limit in the current system, so adding another stage can also maximise delays, with, once again, a corresponding adverse impact on the health and well-being of the claimant. This could be alleviated if there was a maximum set period for the review process. This would at least provide the claimant with some level of certainty.

Around 40% of all WCA appeals are currently successful with 70% sucessful with representation which is a damning indictment of the quality of ATOS Healthcare’s initial assessment. Tragically and scandalously, many people who have initially been found fit for work have actually died before the appeals process was completed. With the extension of the time frame for appeals that this change will introduce, and no perceivable improvement in the WCA itself, this number can only rise even further.

It is also unclear how the new process will deal with the payment of ESA during the new mandatory revision stage. Currently, a claimant appealing against a decision that they do not have a limited capability of work is able to continue to receive ESA at the assessment phase rate pending the outcome of their appeal. However, if the ESA Regulations are not amended, the position would be that claimants would have to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), and therefore comply with all the conditions associated with receipt of that benefit, or face receiving no benefit at all. Many claimants with severe conditions would simply be unable to fulfill the JSA conditions and therefore face a very real prospect of destitution. This would be inhumane and lead to a catastrophic increase in the amount of distress, poverty and debt many disabled people already suffer from. The Government should therefore, as a matter of urgency, provide clarification on whether it intends to allow ESA claimants to continue to receive ESA at the assessment rate while they undergo the mandatory revision stage.

The fundamental problem is that the WCA process is itself fundamentally flawed and it this broken system that needs to be completely overhauled. The standard of the initial medical examination, and the information provided to the claimant on their WCA decision, need to be drastically improved before any needless tinkering with the appeals system is introduced.

The Government consulted on the implementation and operation on the appeals reform provisions from February to May this year. The consultation, though, did not ask for responses on whether the mandatory reconsiderations should be introduced. The Government revealed, in its interim response published in June, that it had received 154 responses to the consultation but indicated that it “does not propose to make any significant changes to the draft regulations included in the consultation document as a result of the comments received“. DPAC calls on the Government to publish a full response to this consultation as soon as possible so we can ascertain the evidential basis for this change and just how much support the proposed change has received from respondents.

With Thanks to Richard Woodward

Universal Credit – how is this simplification?

All Posts, Benefits, Welfare reforms 1 Response »

Sep 162012

Will Universal Credit merge all
working age benefits…In to a ‘single’ streamlined payment?

With thanks to the brilliant Nick fighting for justice and raising issues we should know about: see more at https://mylegal.proboards.com/index.cgi

“Universal Credit will simplify the benefits system by bringing together a range of working-age benefits into a single streamlined payment.” – say DWP

Well let’s just check the DWP’s claim out…..

Take the case of John. He’s 59 and he’s in receipt of Employment & Support Allowance (Support Group] because he has very severe limitations and cannot work, he also receives some Disability Living Allowance. Having paid all his National Insurance contributions he is entitled to the contribution based variant of his Employment & Support Allowance. He lives in his own rented property.

Under the current system John has to claim four separate benefits:

Employment & Support Allowance (contribution based)
Housing Benefit (for his rent)
Disability Living Allowance for his severe mobility & personal care needs
Council Tax Benefit

So will John’s life be made any easier once he’s been reassessed under the welfare reforms?

Will Universal Credit simplify things for John?

Will John’s four benefits all be merged into one?

Here’s how John’s claim will be affected by welfare reform ….

John will carry on claiming his Employment & Support Allowance – because it’s contribution based it won’t be included with his Universal Credit claim.
John’s Housing Benefit will be replaced by Universal Credit, but it will no longer be paid by his local Council.
John’s Disability Living Allowance may well end up being replaced by Personal Independence Payment but it won’t be included with his Universal Credit claim.
John’s Council Tax Benefit will be replaced by a localised benefit for Council Tax but it won’t be included with his Universal Credit claim.

John will still be claiming four separate benefits despite his ‘Universal’ Credit – hardly simplification is it?

Government is spending billions of pounds in a blaze of publicity aimed at convincing us all that the new Universal Credit will integrate working age benefits into one ‘single streamlined payment’. It’s a claim which falls flat on its face when you start to look at the detail.

It’s only Income Based Employment & Support Allowance which will be included in a Universal Credit claim, the contributory based variant John claims stays outside of the system because it is not a means tested benefit. It’s only John’s Housing Benefit which becomes part of his Universal Credit claim. Under the current system John’s Housing & Council Tax Benefit are both paid by the Local Authority but from next April it all changes as Council’s commence the administration of their own ‘localised’ version of Council Tax Benefit. John’s rent payments will be paid directly to him rather than get paid directly to his landlord under the new scheme and what’s more they will be paid from a completely different source to his Council Tax Benefit.

John’s Disability Living Allowance will eventually be transferred (subject to assessment) to the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) which has never been integrated into the plans for merging of payments in with Universal Credit.

So John’s Employment & Support Allowance stays exactly as it is, his Housing Benefit becomes his Universal Credit, his Council Tax merely becomes localised and his new Personal Independence Payments stays outside of the system.

Now will someone tell me, or rather to the point the DWP: how is this ‘simplification’ of the system?

We will take a look at some more comparisons in due course, although this one seems to say it all I think; what do you reckon?

Now let’s look at another typical claimant situation involving a family…..

Take the case of Ben and Barbara and their 3 children: aged 9,11 and 14. Barbara is the carer for their 11 year old son who is disabled. Bob goes to work and the family receive Working & Child Tax Credits, they don’t qualify for any help with their mortgage and nor do they get any help with Council Tax.

Under the current system Ben and Barbara have to claim four separate benefits:

They receive Tax Credits: Working & Child Tax Credits from the HMRC
Carer’s Allowance for Barbara who looks after the family’s son.
Disability Living Allowance for their son
Child Benefit for all 3 children

So will Ben and Barbara’s life be made any easier once they’ve been reassessed under the welfare reforms?

Will Universal Credit simplify things for this family?

Will Ben and Barbara’s four main benefits all be merged into one?

Here’s how Ben and Barbara’s claim will be affected by welfare reform ….

Universal Credit replaces their Tax Credit claim (Working Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit)
Child Benefit is not included in the Universal Credit
Carer’s Allowance is not included in the Universal Credit
Disability Living Allowance is not included in the Universal Credit

Ben and Barbara will still have to claim four separate benefits despite their ‘Universal’ Credit – it’s not really simplification is it?

So again we see another example of how this unification doesn’t really merge payments at all. Some may of course argue that their Working Tax Credits and Child Tax Credits are two separate benefits but existing claimants will be aware that both are paid in the existing system by the HMRC; essentially the claim process and award notices for both the working and child related credits are already unified. In this case the two different credits are reclassified as ‘Universal Credit’. The other benefits which Ben and Barbara claim all fall outside of the new Universal Credit because they are non-means tested. How can we claim this to be simplification?

It’s another example which shows how Universal Credit isn’t the ‘single streamlined payment’ claimed by the DWP.

So perhaps it will be easier to claim Universal Credits in the event of Ben losing his job…..

In the previous post we looked at how Ben and Barbara would be affected by Universal Credit if they were in work. Now let’s look at the same family and how they will benefit (or not as the case may be) in the unfortunate event that Bob lost his job.

Under the Universal Credit system with Ben working, the family would still be claiming four separate benefits:

Universal Credit replaces their Tax Credit claim (Working Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit)
Child Benefit is not included in their Universal Credit
Carer’s Allowance is not included in their Universal Credit
Disability Living Allowance is not included in their Universal Credit

So will Ben and Barbara’s life be made any easier with Universal Credit as they move from being in work to unemployed?

Will Universal Credit make it easier to transition from employment to unemployment?

Will Ben and Barbara’s four main benefits become all merged into one?

Here’s how Ben and Barbara’s claim is affected as Ben becomes unemployed….

Ben will be entitled to claim contributory based Jobseeker’s Allowance – which is not part of Universal Credit (but see below)
The Disability Living Allowance claimed for their son is not part of Universal Credit
The Carer’s Allowance claimed for looking after their son is not part of Universal Credit. (but see below)
The Child Benefit is not part of Universal Credit.
Because Ben and Barbara are now on a low income – they can claim some Council Tax benefit, but it will not be part of their Universal Credit.
Their existing Universal Credit claim is altered to take account of how Ben is no longer working but the Children still need to be claimed for. (but see below)

Potentially Ben and Barbara may be seen as still having to claim 5 separate benefits!

This scenario flags up a number of problems, take it from me these are the kind of problems which you always get when merging contributory based benefits with those which are income based. Anyone in this situation will also be affected by the Universal Credit regulations, they are in draft form but are now at an advanced stage and can therefore be relied upon to get an idea where the problems may be. The potential problems in Ben and Barbara’s claim will revolve around the following:

Their Carer’s Allowance
Their mortgage costs
The correct handling of their claim
Ben’s contributory based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

The reason these are all problematic is because because Ben and Barbara’s income has fallen so low that they now fall subject to ‘means testing’ of their non – means tested benefits. Bob’s Contribution based Jobseeker’s Allowance and the Carer’s Allowance are both treated as income in a Universal Credit claim. The problem is how many claim handler’s or advisers will recognise this or for that matter how can we be sure it will be picked up by the IT system when a claimant does their claim on-line. Remember claimants will only put in what they consider to be relevant.

This is always a classic point of failure in the benefits system and Universal Credit has merely moved it in to the arena for error. Having been told Carer’s Allowance and Contributory based Jobseeker’s Allowance are not part of Universal Credit, how many claimants are going to think ” I don’t have to put that in then”. It’s no good saying there will be comprehensive instruction or advice on tap – the reality is people don’t understand or always read the instructions and advice is something the government has made it clear they do not want to fund. The scope for error is immense, in fact it’s just waiting to happen.

In practice Universal Credit is composed of elements which offset the income which you have to declare. So for the Carer’s Allowance there is a ‘carer’s element’ and for Ben and Barbara’s mortgage interest costs there is a ‘mortgage element’. It’s more or less exactly the same as it is in existing income based claims. The Universal Credit will make an allowance for both Ben and Barbara by regarding them as a couple. But remember Bob’s Jobseeker’s Allowance isn’t actually part of the Universal Credit claim but it is very much taken in to account as their income for Universal Credit purposes.

Confused?

Yes I expect you are, it’s no different to the confusion which exists already – its just been extended to a newly named benefit. The confusion doesn’t end here because the mortgage interest costs (only the interest is paid) fall to be included as part of Ben and Barbara’s Universal Credit but only after a ‘qualifying period. It’s the point at which all of these elements & allowances apply which marks the point at which the contribution based benefits fall to be assessed as income.

In an ideal world Ben and Barbara’s Universal Credit should include their Carer’s Allowance, housing costs and Bob’s Contribution based Jobseeker’s Allowance but the problem arises in working out when they fall to be assessed and in recognising the alignment of all the different elements and the dates from when they ‘kick in’.

Many of us will remember the chaos caused with the implementation of the tax credits system, it resulted in an epidemic of overpayments. The scope for overpayments is far greater with Universal Credit because it’s being carried out on such a huge scale. What makes it all the more alarming is that if you make a mistake you risk a new £50 fine, the fine could be the least of your worries because there is also a pronounced determination to prosecute those who are deemed to be ‘cheating’ the system. We have all seen examples of a hostile media and a renewed DWP stance to get tough in a desire to name and shame anyone who falls foul.

Overpayments under the new system will not be subject to the same rights of dispute which currently exist so many claimants simply won’t be able to properly contest an unfair decision. When government is asked about the problems all of this creates they stick to script and tell us all how ‘work pays’. The emphasis on work is backed up by an assurance that simplifying the benefits system makes it more possible to transition from welfare to work; the new highway for making the transition is Universal Credit which we are all told is ‘on track’.

Let’s just wait and see whether the government’s new super – highway from welfare to work is all they say it will be. They can make all the claims they like but the one which promotes Universal Credit as a ‘single streamlined payment’ is to say the least a gross distortion of the facts.

To those of you who don’t understand a word of this: welcome to Universal Credit, you’ll need to put all your faith in the DWP and the Ministers who tells us it’s on track. I can see the newspaper headlines which will highlight all this chaos, it won’t be too long before the printing presses start rolling!

And they say there’s no need for benefit specialists, honestly what planet are they on?

It’s yet another example which shows how the DWP’s claim that Universal Credit is a ‘single streamlined payment’ is nothing short of a lie.

JOBS NOT SANCTIONS protest at DWP September 12th

Action, All Posts, Benefits No Responses »

Sep 082012

Jobs Not Sanctions Protest at DWP HQ – Weds 12^th Sep 9am

This week Newsnight reported on one of the most shocking consequences of this Government’s austerity measures and in particular their attacks on welfare.

In 2007, food banks fed around 14,000 people in the UK.

Last year 130,000 were fed at food banks and by 2013 that figure is expected to leap to 200,000.

There are at least three food banks opening every week.

43% of those that ask for help from food banks do so because of problems with their benefits, mostly sanctions.

Benefit sanctions, where the DWP stop or reduce benefits for a period as a punishment for a ‘failure’ to adhere to an instruction (e.g. being more than a minute late for an interview, failing to complete a job diary satisfactorily,etc) have also increased massively.

In 2009, 139,000 claimants were sanctioned. By 2011, this had trebled to 508,000 and just in the first 3 months of this year, sanctions have been imposed on 167,000.

The Tories’ Workfare schemes, providing the unemployed with the “choice” of working unpaid or losing their benefits, has contributed to many of these sanctions.

110,000 recommendations to sanction claimants have come from welfare-to-work firms such as A4e. These firms are paid to provide unemployed labour for workfare schemes.

Newsnight item on food banks (starts 26:26)

Jobs Not Sanctions

Protest Called By Unite Community London

Wednesday 12th September from 9am

Department of Work and Pensions

Caxton House

Tothill Street

London SW1H 9NA

List of advice and legal info resources

All Posts, Benefits, Resources 2 Responses »

Sep 062012

We have put together a list of resources- please contact us if you know of others that would be useful to add

DPAC receive a large number of requests for advice and information on cuts and the WCA . We cannot give advice, but direct to web resources that we know.

We also have a DPAC Facebook page which includes many people struggling with issues of ESA, Atos assessments and DWP failures –it acts as an advice forum from those that may have been through the issues you might be experiencing it’s at https://www.facebook.com/groups/DPAC2011/418279398228320/?notif_t=group_activity

Useful web sites

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

https://edinburghagainstpoverty.org.uk/

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

https://www.citizensadvice.co.uk/en/ Northern Ireland

https://www.cas.org.uk/cta/find-your-local-cab Scotland

https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DoItOnlineByCategory/DG_067277 Find your local CAB

WCA: how to prepare

https://www.socialworkfuture.org/articles-and-analysis/articles/242-survival-tips-for-the-work-capability-assessment

https://antp.org.uk/wcarules.htm

WCA Appeals: what you need to do

https://www.solfed.org.uk/?q=unwaged-workers/know-your-rights-failing-a-work-capability-assessment

Free legal assistance list with thanks to Inclusion London

Bar Pro Bono Unit

Who are they?

A charity that helps to find pro bono legal assistance from volunteer barristers for individuals and organisations who cannot afford to pay and who cannot obtain public funding (legal aid).

What do they do?

The Unit matches barristers prepared to undertake pro bono work with those who need their help. The office itself does not give advice.

The volunteer barristers can provide advice, representation and help at mediation; representation in any court/tribunal; give legal advice on any subject; and draft documents such as skeleton arguments.

How do you access the service?

They cannot accept applications unless they come via a referrer (generally, an advice agency such as the CAB or a Law Centre, or a local MP)
Visit the website www.barprobono.org.uk
For more information if you are an individual needing help Click Here
Submit a query via contact form Click Here

Community Legal Advice

Who are they?

A free and confidential advice service in England and Wales paid for by legal aid.

What do they do?

Provide free help or legal advice over the phone. They can help with family, debt, housing, employment, education, welfare benefits and tax credits problems.

They will check to see if you are eligible for legal aid and put you in touch with a specialist legal adviser, or refer you to other agencies of you do not qualify for their services.
Has a free translation service available in 170 languages.

How do you access the service?

Telephone 0845 345 4 345 (Open Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 8.00 pm. Saturday 9.00 am to 12.30 pm. Calls cost 4p per minute from a BT landline; cost from mobiles will be more)
Request a call back

-Via online form Click Here

-Text ‘legalaid’ then your name to 80010 (Call back within 24 hours)

Talk to an advisor in BSL via webcam Click Here (Service provided by RAD Legal Services)
Visit the website www.direct.gov.uk

Disability Law Service

Who are they?

A national charity run by disabled people, which specialises in free legal advice and information for disabled people, their families and carers.

What do they do?

They provide free legal advice and representation (e.g. in complaints, using the Ombudsman, tribunals and courts), specialising in Welfare Benefits; Community Care; Disability Discrimination in Employment, Access to Goods and Services; and using the Equality Duty to challenge public authorities.
They run a free legal advice line, open Mon-Friday, 10am–5pm, with an answering machine service for out of hours calls.
They run an Employment Law drop in at their office in Tower Hamlets, where a member of their legal team will assess whether you are financially eligible for legal aid under the Legal Services Commissions (LSC) Legal Help scheme.
They also have factsheets available to download on key areas of the law, such as Community Care; education; employment; goods and services; and welfare benefits. The factsheets are available for download in different formats – regular, large print, text only and audio file.
They commit to responding to telephone enquiries within 24 hours, and written enquiries within 7-10 days.

How do you access the service?

Visit the website www.dls.org.uk
For Employment drop in information Click Here
For factsheets Click Here
Email advice@dls.org.uk
Via online form www.dls.org.uk/Advice/written_submission.html
Adviceline 020 7791 9800
Fax 020 7791 9802
Address – Disability Law Service, 39-45 Cavell Street, London, E1 2BP

Free Representation Unit (FRU)

Who are they?

A charity that provides free legal representation for the public  and advocacy experience for junior lawyers.

What do they do?

Provide legal advice, case preparation and advocacy in employment tribunals (and appeals from decisions of the employment tribunals); social security appeals in the first-tier tribunal (and appeals from such decisions); and criminal injury compensation cases.

How do you access the service?

*Do not accept cases directly from members of the public – all cases must come through a referral agency. For a list of referral agencies, Click Here
Visit the website www.thefru.org.uk

LawWorks

Who are they?

A charity that works with law firms and legal professionals to involve them in delivering pro bono work.

What do they do?

Aim to provide free legal help to those who cannot afford to pay for it and who are unable to access legal aid.

Services to individuals include free Legal Advice Clinics, free mediation to settle disputes out of court, and free casework assistance if you need more than one-off advice.

Who are they for?

Individuals

How do you access the service?

Visit the website www.lawworks.org
Find your nearest free Legal Advice Clinic Click Here
For more information on Free mediation Click Here
For more information on Free Casework Assistance Click Here
Switchboard 020 7092 3940
E-mail enquiries@lawworks.org.uk

ProBonoUK.net

Who are they?

A charity that run a website for the promotion of pro bono legal work.

What do they do?

Act as a resource for news andinformation about pro bono work for individuals, advice workers and lawyers wishing to offer help.

How do you access the service?

Visit the website www.probonouk.net

RAD Legal Services: BSL

Who are they?

A dedicated legal advice service for Deaf BSL users provided by the Royal Association of Deaf People (RAD).

What do they do?

RAD Legal Services currently has three projects: a Discrimination Advice project, a Webcam Advice Project and a Money Advice Service project.
Discrimination Advice gives free specialist legal advice on discrimination issues in the areas of employment, housing, education and goods, facilities and services. This is provided by a Deaf solicitor, and can be delivered face to face, via webcam, email, telephone or instant messaging software.
Webcam Advice is the BSL version of the Community Legal Advice Helpline, and is available free of charge to people eligible for legal aid in the areas of welfare benefits, debt, housing and employment. As well as webcam, they can also provide advice via instant messaging software such as Windows Live Messenger, ooVoo, etc.
Money Advice Service has a qualified Money Adviser giving free, clear and ‘jargon-free’ Money Advice money advice to D/deaf and hard of hearing people who live in the South East. The Service covers the savings and investments; borrowings (credit cards, loans and mortgages); retirement planning and pensions; redundancy; tax and tax credits; insurance; debt; starting a family; and budgeting.

How do you access the service?

Visit the website www.radlegalservices.org.uk
For the Money Advice Service Click Here
Via online contact form www.radlegalservices.org.uk/contact-us/
Email legal@royaldeaf.org.uk
Mobile 07749 965725

Other links

Advice Guide

Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) online advice resource.
www.adviceguide.org.uk

Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB)

The website of the national advice agency, including Search for your nearest CAB.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Law Centres Federation

The umbrella organisation that supports and promotes UK Law Centres. For a list of London’s Law Centres, visit
www.lawcentres.org.uk/directory/location/London

Legal Adviser Finder

Find legal advisers or solicitors near you
https://legaladviserfinder.justice.gov.uk/AdviserSearch.do

Download the list of Legal firms: Public Law Specialists

Download list of Legal Firms: Community Care specialists

Collected ATOS News Articles

All Posts, Atos, Benefits, Disability Rights, DLA, Independent Living, Resources, Welfare reforms 2 Responses »

Sep 022012

This list is work in progress; there are many more articles to add……

With thanks to @Blacktriangle1 @WelfareUnion @Dis_PPL_Protest who provided the links to many of these articles.

DPAC thanks to Bob Ellard see https://llxs.blogspot.co.uk/ for more great stuff

Publishing this list does not represent acceptance of the content of any articles in the list by DPAC.

Articles from September 2012

Socialist Worker ~ 09 ~ 2012 ~ ‘ATOS forced me to crawl on floor in tears’ ~ https://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=29452
Socialist Worker ~ 09 ~ 2012 ~ ‘Seven medals but now Tories want my benefits’ ~ https://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=29451
Irish Times ~ 09 ~ 2012 ~ Death of cancer patient who went public over benefit cuts ~ https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0901/1224323462479.html
Socialist Worker ~ 09 ~ 2012 ~ Hundreds protest outside ATOS headquarters then blockade DWP ~ https://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=29461
Independent ~ 09 ~ 2012 ~ Paralympics stars urged to denounce ATOS ~ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/paralympics-stars-urged-to-denounce-atos-8100016.html
Google News ~ 09 ~ 2012 ~ Protest over ‘fit for work’ tests ~ https://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jFfy_GCYe5Mgv-_IUyNpsbZqkxlA?docId=B15689781346426077A00000
RT News ~ 09 ~ 2012 ~ Sponsorship scandal mars Paralympics ~ https://rt.com/sport/people-atos-work-disabled-126/
Morning Star ~ 09 ~ 2012 ~ What game is ATOS playing? ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/122971

Articles from August 2012

Morning Star ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ ‘Is this country worth dying for?’ ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/123285

This is Hull and East Riding ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ ‘Responsibility to treat disabled people fairly’ ~ https://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Responsibility-treat-disabled-people-fairly/story-16780701-detail/story.html
Sourcing Focus ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ “Disability activists prepare to protest against ATOS” ~ https://www.sourcingfocus.com/index.php/site/newsitem/6144/ Washington Post ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Activist Patrick Lynch sobs during a protest next to ATOS’s London headquarters ~ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2012-paralympic-games-begin-in-london/2012/08/29/e759c3a6-f201-11e1-adc6-87dfa8eff430_gallery.html#photo=14
Washington Post ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ As Paralympics start, Britain’s disabled decry cuts ~ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/as-paralympics-start-britains-disabled-decry-cuts/2012/08/25/124b4756-ee10-11e1-b624-99dee49d8d67_story.html
Computer Weekly ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ ATOS and Capita win £540m in controversial DWP disabilities testing contract ~ https://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240160775/Atos-and-Capita-win-540m-in-controversial-DWP-disabilities-testing-contract
Times of News ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ ATOS benefit appeal woman dies ~ https://timesofnews.co/2012/08/31/atos-benefit-appeal-woman-dies
Guardian ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ ATOS doctors could be struck off ~ https://gu.com/p/3x7jd/tw
Computer Weekly ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ ATOS employees to be investigated over Facebook remarks about disability benefit applicants ~ https://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240105368/Atos-employees-to-be-investigated-over-Facebook-remarks-about-disability-benefit-applicants
The Daily Shame ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ ATOS parasites, sorry, employees have fun on Facebook ~ https://www.dailyshame.co.uk/2012/08/satire/atos-parasites-sorry-employees-have-fun-on-facebook/
BBC News London ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Atos protest: Disability rights groups target firm ~ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19437785
Guardian ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ ATOS protests climax with ‘day of action’ against Paralympics sponsor ~ https://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/aug/31/atos-protest-paralympics-sponsor
Press TV ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ ATOS protests climax with ‘day of action’ against Paralympics sponsors‎ ~ https://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/08/31/259221/atos-protests-paralympics-sponsors/
Mirror ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ ATOS protests: “Grand finale” to a week of action against ‘fit for work’ testing firm ~ https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/atos-protests-grand-finale-to-a-week-1293518
Blottr ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ ATOS: Public criticism gains momentum after inspirational Paralympics Opening Ceremony ~ https://www.blottr.com/breaking-news/atos-public-criticism-gains-momentum-after-inspirational-paralympics-opening-ceremony
Morning Star ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Beggaring the nation ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/122744
BBC News Northern Ireland ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Benefits appeal woman Cecilia Burns from Strabane has died ~ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-19433535
Rocket News ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Benefits cut appeal woman dies ~ https://www.rocketnews.com/2012/08/benefits-cut-appeal-woman-dies/
This is Hull and East Riding ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Benefits protest at Hull branch of ATOS over Paralympic Games ‘hypocrisy’ ~ https://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Benefits-protest-Hull-branch-Atos-Paralympic/story-16780711-detail/story.html
Guardian ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ British Paralympic team deny ‘anti-ATOS protest’ ~ https://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/aug/30/paralympics-gb-atos-protest
Morning Star ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Callousness beyond belief ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/layout/set/print/…/122249
Huffington Post ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Cecilia Burns Dead: Benefits Campaigner, Who Appealed Against ‘Fit To Work’ Report By ATOS, Dies ~ https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/08/31/cecilia-burns-benefits-atos-fit-to-work-cancer-northern-ireland_n_1846314.html
Guardian ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Celebrate Paralympians, but remember they needed state help to get there ~ https://gu.com/p/3axvb/tw
Morning Star ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Coalition told it must punish ATOS for mess ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/122842
Guardian ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Cuts to disability services threaten our Paralympian future – Sue Marsh ~ https://gu.com/p/3a3cy/tw
Computer Weekly ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Disability activists hijack Paralympics for ATOS protest ~ https://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240162193/Disability-activists-hijack-Paralympics-for-Atos-protest
Sourcing Focus ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Disability activists prepare to protest against ATOS ~ https://www.sourcingfocus.com/site/newsitem/disability_activists_prepare_to_protest_against_atos/
Morning Star ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Disability campaigners are set to descend on Paralympic sponsor ATOS yet again tomorrow ~ https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/123345
BBC News London ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Disability protests at benefits contractor ATOS HQ ~ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19437785#
Channel 4 News ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Disability rights protesters invade government building ~ https://www.channel4.com/news/disability-rights-protestors-lobby-paralympic-sponsors-hq
This is South Wales ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Disabled groups in sponsor protest ~ https://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Disabled-groups-sponsor-protest/story-16781328-detail/story.html
Guardian ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Disabled people protest against ATOS role in Paralympics ~ https://www.guardian.co.uk/society/video/2012/aug/31/disabled-protest-atos-paralympics-video
Womens Views on News ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Disabled people slam ‘hypocrisy’ of Paralympics sponsor ~ https://www.womensviewsonnews.org/2012/08/disabled-people-slam-hypocrisy-of-paralympics-sponsor/
Metro ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Disabled rights campaigners protest at ATOS and DWP ~ https://www.metro.co.uk/news/910348-disabled-rights-campaigners-protest-at-atos-and-dwp#ixzz25D1fzhhN
Morning Star ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Disabled storm DWP in daring anti-ATOS raid ~ https://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/123345
This is Derbyshire ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Fury at Paralympic ‘hypocrisy’ of private firm ATOS behind fit-to-work tests ~ https://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Fury-Paralympic-hypocrisy-private-firm-Atos-fit/story-16781044-detail/story.html
Morning Star ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Home carer calls for hypocrite Cameron to be prosecuted ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/122682
Independent ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Hundreds protest against Paralympics sponsor ATOS as anger about its role in slashing benefits bill intensifies ~ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hundreds-protest-against-paralympics-sponsor-atos-as-anger-about-its-role-in-slashing-benefits-bill-intensifies-8092512.html
New Statesman ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Is benefit-bashing the next Osborne gamble to go wrong? ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/benefit-bashing-next-osborne-gamble-go-wrong
New Statesman ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Labour must lead the way in restoring politics after its abuse by elites ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/188064/
Independent ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Leading article: These Games are about ability and inspiration ~ https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-these-games-are-about-ability-and-inspiration-8084634.html
Guardian ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Letter: Paralympic paradox ~ https://gu.com/p/3a4xj/tw
BBC News Kent ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Maidstone CAB ‘wins 95% of work test benefit appeals’ ~ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-19436358
BBC News UK ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Minister for Disabled People: ‘We need to get changes right’ ~ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19419243
Sourcing Focus ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ National Audit Office criticises ATOS ‘under-performance’ ~ https://www.sourcingfocus.com/site/newsitem/national_audit_office_criticises_atos_under-performance/
Morning Star ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ New disability test will ’cause suicides’ ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/layout/view/full/122317
Computer Weekly ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Paralympic protests against ATOS reaches Whitehall ~ https://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240162538/Paralympic-protests-against-Atos-reaches-Whitehall
Independent ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Paralympic sponsor ATOS engulfed by disability tests row ~ https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/paralympics/paralympic-sponsor-engulfed-by-disability-tests-row-8084799.html
Brand Channel ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Paralympic Sponsor ATOS Getting Grief From Athletes ~ https://www.brandchannel.com/home/post.aspx?id=e179ece3-4a27-4936-8c21-d0dacf1dd9a7
Londonist ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Paralympic Sponsor ATOS Provokes Protests ~ https://londonist.com/2012/08/paralympic-sponsor-atos-provokes-protests.php
Guardian ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Paralympics 2012: crossing London can be an obstacle course for disabled fans ~ https://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2012/aug/31/paralympics-2012-disabled-travel?CMP=twt_gu
Tech Week Europe ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Paralympics Sponsor ATOS Hits Back At Disability Protesters ~ https://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/paralympics-atos-disability-protest-benefits-90709
Socialist Party Magazine ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Paralympics, ATOS scandal, Remploy closures… Con-Dems win gold for hypocrisy! ~ https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/articles/15093
Huffington Post ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Paralympics: Government Accused Of ‘Hypocrisy’ Towards Disabled People ~ https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/08/29/atos-paralympic-sponsors-under-fire-disabled-attitude_n_1838614.html?ref=topbar
New Statesman ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Perhaps Iain Duncan Smith will accuse me of peeing on the data ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/economics/economics/2012/08/perhaps-iain-duncan-smith-will-accuse-me-peeing-data?page=3
Guardian ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Phil Disley on ATOS‘s involvement with the Paralympics – cartoon ~ https://gu.com/p/3a5xx/tw
This is Derbyshire ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Pressure mounts against firm over assessments for sickness support ~ https://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Pressure-mounts-firm-assessments-sickness-support/story-16732273-detail/story.html
ITV News Wales ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Protest in Cardiff over tests for incapacity benefit ~ https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2012-08-29/protest-in-cardiff-over-tests-for-incapacity-benefit/
Yahoo! News ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Protest over ‘fit for work’ tests ~ https://uk.news.yahoo.com/protest-over-fit-tests-153541825.html?ugccmtnav=v1%2Fcomments%2Fcontext%2F9dfabedf-b407-3eb5-9188-941d329dea3c%2Fcomments%3Fcount%3D20%26sortBy%3DhighestRated%26isNext%3Dtrue%26offset%3D20%26pageNumber%3D1
Metro ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Protesters show anger at Paralympic sponsor over disability benefit work ~ https://www.metro.co.uk/olympics/910105-protesters-show-anger-at-paralympic-sponsor-over-disability-benefit-work?ITO=socialnet-twitter-button
Blottr ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Protesters stage ‘die-in’ against ATOS sponsorship of Paralympics ~ https://www.blottr.com/breaking-news/protesters-stage-die-against-atos-sponsorship-paralympics
Huffington Post ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Scuffles At Atos Paralympics Protest As Police And Disability Campaigners Clash (VIDEO) (PICTURES) ~ https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/08/31/atos-paralympics-protest-uk-uncut-disability-_n_1846633.html
Sheffield Telegraph ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Sheffield’s disabled join Paralympic protest ~ https://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/local/sheffield-s-disabled-join-paralympic-protest-1-4873379#.UD-mQYBDVYY.twitter
BBC News UK ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Sickness benefit contractor ATOS Healthcare to review letters ~ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19370200
Independent ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ The lasting legacy of the Paralympics should be to see disabled people as equal ~ https://ind.pn/NC2ewG
Mail ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ The Paralympics celebrate the strength of disabled people – and so do all the protests that accompany them ~ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2195885/The-Paralympics-celebrate-strength-disabled-people–protests-accompany-them.html#ixzz259Ao8YTb
Morning Star ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Tycoonery ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/122651
Telegraph ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Video: Disability rights protesters clash with police outside Department for Work and Pensions ~ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/9512523/Disability-rights-protesters-clash-with-police-outside-Department-for-Work-and-Pensions.html
BBC News UK ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Watchdog finds ‘weaknesses’ in sickness benefit system ~ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19244639
Morning Star ~ 08 ~ 2012 ~ Where the real greed lies ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/content/view/full/122290

July 2012

Computer Weekly ~ 07 ~ 2012 ~ ATOS profits grow 2% in first half of 2012 to €102m ~ https://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240160348/Atos-profits-grow-2-in-first-half-of-2012-to-102m
Guardian ~ 07 ~ 2012 ~ Benefits assessment firm causing ‘fear and loathing’ among claimants, says MP ~ https://gu.com/p/3vn6j/tw
Telegraph ~ 07 ~ 2012 ~ Disability tests ‘sending sick and disabled back to work’ ~ https://soc.li/gCxerBI
Morning Star ~ 07 ~ 2012 ~ Disabled means-test to be challenged at High Court ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/121944
Guardian ~ 07 ~ 2012 ~ Fitness-for-work tests hit by technical chaos ~ https://gu.com/p/3974x/tw
This is Derbyshire ~ 07 ~ 2012 ~ Hundreds in Derbyshire win victory in sickness benefits battle ~ https://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Hundreds-Derbyshire-win-victory-sickness-benefits/story-16337459-detail/story.html
Sourcing Focus ~ 07 ~ 2012 ~ Olympic sponsor ATOS faces summer strikes ~ https://www.sourcingfocus.com/site/newsitem/olympic_sponsor_atos_faces_summer_strikes/
This is Derbyshire ~ 07 ~ 2012 ~ Review into flawed benefits system assessment praised ~ https://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Review-flawed-benefits-assessment-praised/story-16602404-detail/story.html
New Statesman ~ 07 ~ 2012 ~ Welfare reform suicides must not be overlooked ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/187216/
New Statesman ~ 07 ~ 2012 ~ Withdrawing benefits when there are no jobs to find is just cruel ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/187543/
New Statesman ~ 07 ~ 2012 ~ Work capability assessments: the fightback ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/staggers/2012/07/work-capability-assessments-fightback

June 2012

This is Derbyshire ~ 06 ~ 2012 ~ ‘The whole system needs sorting out’ says patient after benefit claim saga ~ https://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Whitehall-departments-told-save-cash/story-15900034-detail/story.html
Camden New Journal ~ 06 ~ 2012 ~ FORUM: ‘Don’t play games with lives – disabled people won’t be silenced during the Olympics’ ~ https://www.camdennewjournal.com/forum-dont-play-games-lives-disabled-people-wont-be-silenced-during-olympics
New Statesman ~ 06 ~ 2012 ~ How many more disabled people will die … ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/186565/…
New Statesman ~ 06 ~ 2012 ~ Human cost of welfare reform ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/38773/
Morning Star ~ 06 ~ 2012 ~ MP reveals fight against depression ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/120230
Morning Star ~ 06 ~ 2012 ~ Tory brushes off suicide warning ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/120518

May 2012

New Statesman ~ 05 ~ 2012 ~ 500,000 could lose their disability benefits ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/185655/
This is Derbyshire ~ 05 ~ 2012 ~ Council’s cuts will have devastating impact on homeless, warns group ~ https://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Council-s-cuts-devastating-impact-homeless-warns/story-16236934-detail/story.html
Computer Weekly ~ 05 ~ 2012 ~ Department for Work and Pensions spent £24m with ATOS in 2011 ~ https://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240149963/DWP-spent-24m-with-Atos-last-year
Morning Star ~ 05 ~ 2012 ~ Living at the sharp end ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/layout/view/full/119588
Morning Star ~ 05 ~ 2012 ~ Media is fuelling hate against disabled benefit claimants ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/119655
Morning Star ~ 05 ~ 2012 ~ Paralympians join calls to stop cuts ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/119279

April 2012

Morning Star ~ 04 ~ 2012 ~ Disabled activists target Olympics
~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/117813
This is Derbyshire ~ 04 ~ 2012 ~ Half of those on incapacity in Derbyshire are deemed ‘fit for work’ ~ https://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Half-incapacity-Derbyshire-deemed-fit-work/story-15874524-detail/story.html
New Statesman ~ 04 ~ 2012 ~ Raising the pension age will just turn 69-year-olds … ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/184902/…

March 2012

New Statesman ~ 03 ~ 2012 ~ Cameron’s desperate offer to voters: nastiness in the national interest ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2012/03/work-party-benefits-cameron?page=2
Belfast Telegraph ~ 03 ~ 2012 ~ Cancer sufferer furious at being told she’s fit to work ~ https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/cancer-sufferer-furious-at-being-told-shes-fit-to-work-16135094.html
This is Derbyshire ~ 03 ~ 2012 ~ Parkinson’s patient faces having his benefit halved ~ https://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Parkinson-s-patient-faces-having-benefit-halved/story-15599461-detail/story.html
This is Derbyshire ~ 03 ~ 2012 ~ Robin Mitchell who sufferes from Parkinson’s faces fit-to-work test ~ https://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Family-s-anger-Parkinson-s-sufferer-faces-fit/story-15557891-detail/story.html
BBC News Northern Ireland ~ 03 ~ 2012 ~ Strabane cancer woman’s fury at benefit cut ~ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17480630
Telegraph ~ 03 ~ 2012 ~ Twice as many judges needed to handle benefits appeals ~ https://soc.li/MIRGOTB

February 2012

Morning Star ~ 02 ~ 2012 ~ ATOS protesters brave bitter chill to picket firm’s HQ ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/content/view/full/115001
BBC News UK ~ 02 ~ 2012 ~ Ministers admit to sickness benefits backlog ~ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16937742
New Statesman ~ 02 ~ 2012 ~ The revolt against workfare spreads ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2012/02/scheme-greggs-grayling

January 2012

Independent ~ 01 ~ 2012 ~ The big questions: Should ATOS be sponsoring the Paralympics? ~ https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/the-big-questions-should-atos-be-sponsoring-the-paralympics-is-a-wealth-tax-a-good-idea-8099839.html
Morning Star ~ 01 ~ 2012 ~ Trespass charges dropped ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/114186
New Statesman ~ 01 ~ 2012 ~ Why British journalists are taught to be dishonest ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/182282/

2011

Morning Star ~ 12 ~ 2011 ~ ‘Victorian picnic’ picket hits ATOS ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/113242
BBC News Scotland ~ 11 ~ 2011 ~ Disabled ‘suicidal’ over Welfare Reform Bill ~ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-15839685
Morning Star ~ 10 ~ 2011 ~ Hardest hit fight back against cuts
~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/111068
New Statesman ~ 10 ~ 2011 ~ How Osborne could squeeze benefits again ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/10/benefits-inflation-osborne
New Statesman ~ 10 ~ 2011 ~ Let’s help Dave get his facts straight ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/david-blanchflower/2011/10/sector-employment-yesterday
This is Hull and East Riding ~ 09 ~ 2011 ~ Bridlington soldier Aron Shelton, who lost leg in Afghanistan bomb blast, wins benefits battle ~ ttp://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Soldier-lost-leg-Afghanistan-wins-benefits-battle/story-13382683-detail/story.html
Morning Star ~ 09 ~ 2011 ~ CarerWatch forum up after ATOS libel threat ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/108925
Morning Star ~ 09 ~ 2011 ~ Claimants on streets over ATOS national protests ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/110193
This is Hull and East Riding ~ 09 ~ 2011 ~ Heartache of Bridlington soldier Aron Shelton, who lost leg in Afghanistan bomb blast, only to face benefits battle ~ https://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Heartache-soldier-lost-leg-bomb-blast-face/story-13387697-detail/story.html
Morning Star ~ 08 ~ 2011 ~ Activist sings the benefit blues
~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/108556
Sourcing Focus ~ 08 ~ 2011 ~ ATOS Healthcare Employees Investigated ~ https://www.sourcingfocus.com/site/newsitem/atos_healthcare_employees_investigated/
Morning Star ~ 08 ~ 2011 ~ Care firm silences its critics ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/108578
Morning Star ~ 08 ~ 2011 ~ Firm to negotiate over closure of disabled forum ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/108656
This is Derbyshire ~ 08 ~ 2011 ~ Why is Government using private firm for checks? ~ https://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Government-using-private-firm-checks/story-13083568-detail/story.html
Guardian ~ 07 ~ 2011 ~ A contract to terrify 1.5m people on incapacity benefit ~ https://gu.com/p/3vnqh/tw
Guardian ~ 07 ~ 2011 ~ Disability benefit reform: is the government hiding behind ATOS errors? ~ https://gu.com/p/3vyf9/tw
Camden New Journal ~ 07 ~ 2011 ~ Disabled protest over ‘fit for work’ tests at ATOS in Holloway ~ https://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2011/jul/disabled-protest-over-%E2%80%98fit-work%E2%80%99-tests-atos-holloway
Camden New Journal ~ 07 ~ 2011 ~ Ex-soldier who served in Afghanistan and Iraq is refused benefits under assessment system ~ https://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2011/jun/ex-soldier-who-served-afghanistan-and-iraq-refused-benefits-under-assessment-system
New Statesman ~ 06 ~ 2011 ~ Archbishop of Canterbury: “no one voted” for the coalition’s policies ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/06/rowan-williams-government?page=1
New Statesman ~ 06 ~ 2011 ~ Dignity in life, dignity in death ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/39049/
New Statesman ~ 06 ~ 2011 ~ How Labour got welfare wrong – and how it can put it right ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/06/welfare-system-labour-work
New Statesman ~ 06 ~ 2011 ~ The government needs to know how afraid people are ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2011/06/long-term-government-democracy
New Statesman ~ 06 ~ 2011 ~ The poorest deserve a change from our broken benefits system ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2011/06/benefits-system-work-support
Morning Star ~ 05 ~ 2011 ~ Disabled activists claim new testing system ignores advice of medical ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/news/content/view/full/104424
Channel 4 News ~ 05 ~ 2011 ~ Disabled people protest against cuts ~ https://www.channel4.com/news/disabled-people-protest-against-cuts
Camden New Journal ~ 05 ~ 2011 ~ MP Emily Thornberry intervenes to win benefits for ex-housing worker put through ‘humiliating’ assessment ~ https://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2011/may/mp-emily-thornberry-intervenes-win-benefits-ex-housing-worker-put-through-%E2%80%98humiliating
Camden New Journal ~ 04 ~ 2011 ~ ATOS Healthcare’s fit-to-work testing ‘demeans’ disabled ~ https://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2011/apr/atos-healthcares-fit-work-testing-%E2%80%98demeans%E2%80%99-disabled
Camden New Journal ~ 04 ~ 2011 ~ Claimants lose out ~ https://www.camdennewjournal.com/letters/2011/apr/claimants-lose-out
New Statesman ~ 04 ~ 2011 ~ The shame is all theirs ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/37583/
New Statesman ~ 04 ~ 2011 ~ The war on welfare scroungers, part 94 ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/37647/
This is Derbyshire ~ 02 ~ 2011 ~ PROTESTERS who gathered outside a city job centre to demonstrate against cuts in benefits have vowed to help people when they are made redundant. ~ https://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Protesters-benefit-cuts-nul-points/story-11603004-detail/story.html
New Statesman ~ 02 ~ 2011 ~ Tory welfare reforms are misguided ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/02/universal-credit-work-welfare
BBC News UK ~ 01 ~ 2011 ~ Campaigners warn over incapacity benefit changes ~ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13611298
New Statesman ~ 01 ~ 2011 ~ Tales from the front line: public-sector workers speak out ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/01/workers-speak-books-fears

2010

Sourcing Focus ~ 11 ~ 2010 ~ ATOS Origin’s healthcare division awarded £300 million contract extension ~ https://www.sourcingfocus.com/site/newsitem/atos_origins_healthcare_division_awarded_300_million_contract_extension/
New Statesman ~ 11 ~ 2010 ~ James Purnell: I could have been Iain Duncan Smith ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/11/universal-credit-purnell-brown
New Statesman ~ 10 ~ 2010 ~ 500,000 people could lose sick pay ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/2010/10/work-payments-benefit
New Statesman ~ 10 ~ 2010 ~ ATOS is “black and white” on fitness and disability ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/182441
This is Hull and East Riding ~ 10 ~ 2010 ~ East Riding councillors have backed injured ex-soldier Aron Shelton’s fight to keep his disability benefit. ~ https://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/East-Riding-councillors-unite-ex-soldier-s-fight-benefits/story-11976200-detail/story.html
New Statesman ~ 10 ~ 2010 ~ Judged fit to work? You could lose your benefits if you appeal ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/10/work-fit-appeal-ruling
Morning Star ~ 10 ~ 2010 ~ On the shoulders of the vulnerable ~ www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/97072
New Statesman ~ 10 ~ 2010 ~ The war on welfare scroungers, part 77 ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/179503/
New Statesman ~ 09 ~ 2010 ~ The cuts will destroy lives ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/177838/
New Statesman ~ 08 ~ 2010 ~ Cameron’s war on benefit fraud: the unanswered questions ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/08/40bn-lost-savings-avoidance
New Statesman ~ 08 ~ 2010 ~ Reducing the number on sickness benefits must be fair ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/08/work-benefits-number-system
New Statesman ~ 06 ~ 2010 ~ Pre-Budget briefings: huge cuts to welfare ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/public-accounts/2010/06/160-support-cameron-huge
New Statesman ~ 06 ~ 2010 ~ The mass unemployment Budget ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/174659/
This is Derbyshire ~ 05 ~ 2010 ~ Medical details sent in error ~ https://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Medical-details-sent-error/story-11628552-detail/story.html
This is Hull and East Riding ~ 05 ~ 2010 ~ Mum of Hull soldier killed on frontline praises resigning officer for taking a stand ~ https://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/Mum-Hull-soldier-killed-frontline-praises-resigning-officer-taking-stand/story-11955497-detail/story.html
New Statesman ~ 05 ~ 2010 ~ The truth about those cuts . . . ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/172995/
New Statesman ~ 01 ~ 2010 ~ The battle against benefit cuts and “poverty pimps” ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/node/36138/

Pre-2010

This is Derbyshire ~ 11 ~ 2008 ~ Centre approved ~ https://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Centre-approved/story-11596774-detail/story.html
This is Derbyshire ~ 10 ~ 2008 ~ Medics to move in at restaurant? ~ https://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/Medics-restaurant/story-11612528-detail/story.html
New Statesman ~ 05 ~ 2008 ~ Is Labour abolishing illness? ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2008/05/work-benefit-claimants-reform?page=1
New Statesman ~ 11 ~ 2007 ~ Labour and the sick note ~ https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2007/11/work-benefit-welfare-tories

Most recent articles to be added:

Further articles to be added:

Friday 31st August The Closing Atos Ceremony

Action, All Posts, Atos, Benefits, disability hate crime, Disability Rights, Independent Living, News, Welfare reforms 1 Response »

Aug 302012

Friday 31st August
Atos HQ,Triton Square, London
12:45pm
Don’t let Atos be a winner at the Paralympic Games – join us for The Closing Atos Ceremony, the grand finale to Disabled People Against Cuts’ week of Atos Games.
Atos are sponsoring the Paralympics, whilst wrecking disabled people’s lives. George Osborne has vowed to slash £18 billion from the welfare budget, regardless of peoples’ needs and ignoring the alternatives. To help them do their dirty work, the Government are paying Atos £100 million a year to ‘test’ sick and disabled people and decide whether they’re ‘fit for work’.
But Atos’ Work Capability Assessments are driving disabled people to suicide and over 1,000 people have died of their illnesses soon after being found ‘fit for work’.
The Government claim that the welfare system is being abused- this just isn’t true. Less than 0.4% of Incapacity benefit payments are fraudulent, but the government want to cut welfare spending by 20%. And instead of helping to get people into work; the government are closing workplaces for disabled people.
The Government and Atos don’t give a toss about disabled people. This is about making ordinary people pay for a crisis caused by the bankers. It’s about making disabled people pay, instead of super-rich tax dodgers who cost us over £25billion every year. This is an ideological attack on the welfare state; these cuts are a political choice. But we’re fighting back.

On Friday 31 August, UK Uncut and DPAC will be shutting down Atos’ London HQ for the Closing ATOS Ceremony. Meet in Triton Square at 12:45pm for direct action and creative protest, with plenty of surprises…
The nearest fully accessible underground station is Kings Cross. From there, catch Bus 30 towards Marble Arch or Bus 205 towards Paddington from stop R or A, and get off at Warren Street, bus stop V. BSL Interpretted event.

This action needs you! Join for the afternoon, or come on your lunch break. There will be lots of ways to take part – hand out leaflets hold banners, or get involved in creative and daring ways. If you’re not in London, check the DPAC website for details and other ways to get involved in The Atos Games.

Atos are making millions of pounds enforcing the government’s unnecessary cuts. It’s up to all of us to fight back, defend our welfare system, and demand the alternatives. Let’s show them that we do give a toss.

See you at Atos HQ!

_______________________________________________________________

a video by poor Mandeville you might enjoy

Action, All Posts, Atos, Benefits, News No Responses »

Aug 242012

https://vimeo.com/48134232

ATOS GAMES OPENING CEREMONY – Monday August 27th

Action, All Posts, Atos, Benefits, Welfare reforms No Responses »

Aug 232012

Details of accessible public transport for all of our events can be obtained from Transport for All www.transportforall.org.uk 0207-737 2339

MONDAY August 27^th ATOS GAMES OPENING CEREMONY and medal awards.

Meet 5.30pm at City Hall. There will be a short walk/ roll from here.

https://www.london.gov.uk/city-hall/visitor-information/location-map
START 6pm
ATOS GAMES OPENING SPEECH
TFA SPEECH
6.15
TORCH LIGHTING
SONG (IMAGINE – ATOS VERSION)
6.20
AWARDS CEREMONY
6.25
ASSESSMENT & CUTTING MEDALS
6.30
THANKS & END

WE ARE COMING AFTER YOU ATOS. IN PARLIAMENT, IN THE COURTS, ONLINE, AND ON THE STREETS….
ACTIVISTS & CAMPAIGNERS……..LET THE ATOS

GAMES BEGIN!!!

ATOS GAMES events August 27th and 29th, London

Action, All Posts, Atos, Benefits, Welfare reforms 3 Responses »

Aug 192012

Details of accessible public transport for all of our events can be obtained from Transport for All www.transportforall.org.uk 0207-737 2339

MONDAY August 27^th ATOS GAMES OPENING CEREMONY and medal awards.

Meet 5.30pm at City Hall. There will be a short walk/ roll from here.

WE ARE COMING AFTER YOU ATOS. IN PARLIAMENT, IN THE COURTS, ONLINE, AND ON THE STREETS….
ACTIVISTS & CAMPAIGNERS……..LET THE ATOS

GAMES BEGIN!!!

WEDNESDAY August 29^th DELIVERY of a COFFIN with your messages to ATOS and a memorial to their victims, many of whom have died.

Meet 3.30 pm near Starbucks/ Pret-a-Manger on Triton Square

https://www.londontown.com/LondonStreets/triton_square_b62.html/

Extra bedroom Housing Benefit withdrawal discriminates against disabled people: another win against Government

All Posts, Benefits, legal challenges, Welfare reforms 8 Responses »

Aug 032012

Appeal court extra room ruling helps disabled People

Burnip v Birmingham City Council & Anor [2012] EWCA Civ 629 (15 May 2012)

3 August 2012

In a unanimous ruling, the Court of Appeal has held that the size criteria in the housing benefit regulations discriminate against disabled people, because they do not allow for an additional room to be paid for where a disabled person has a carer, or where two children cannot share a room because of disability.

The decision concerned Ian Burnip and Lucy Trengove who needed 24 hour care, which required carers to work in shifts and Richard Gorry who has two disabled daughters who cannot share a room because of the nature of their disabilities.

Since the case began, the rules have been amended to cover the circumstances of Ian Burnip and Lucy Trengove, but not to cover the situation of Richard Gorry. This ruling is therefore most important where a room cannot be shared because of disability.

The issues in the case were

Whether the rules discriminate against the Appellant by comparison with a claimant in the social rented sector with two children who cannot share a room because of disability contrary to Article 14 taken together with Article 1P European Court of Human rights (ECHR). A tenant in the social rented sector would have all of his rent met by housing benefit, since housing benefit the social rented sector is not currently subject to restrictions under the size criteria (The government plans to change this under the Welfare Reform Bill with effect from April 2013).

Whether the rules discriminate on grounds of disability by comparison with a housing benefit claimant with two children of the same sex who were not disabled, whose HB met their full housing needs, contrary to Article 14 taken together with Article 1P ECHR.

Whether the rules discriminate on grounds of disability by failing to treat the claimant differently from a housing benefit claimant with two children who were not disabled, by not paying him an additional amount to cover a bedroom for each of them, contrary to Article 14 taken together with Article 1P ECHR.

The ruling states that there is a ‘prima facie’ case of discrimination for purposes of Article 14 of the ECHR, and that the Secretary of State had failed to establish objective and reasonable justification for the discriminatory effect of the statutory criteria.

You can view the decision on the bailii website.

You can find out more information in press releases produced by Child Poverty Action Group and Irwin Mitchell (solicitors) and Birmingham Law Centre blog.

Secretary of State’s response

The Secretary of State has applied for permission to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court on the grounds that the use of the size criteria in the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is either not discriminatory or else can be justified. Should the appeal succeed this would affect the decision in relation to Richard Gorry and his two disabled daughters. The DWP has issued guidance, HB/CTB A6/2012, which suggests that lookalike cases should be suspended pending the outcome of the appeal.

Our ATOS Games

Action, All Posts, Atos, Benefits, News, Welfare reforms 46 Responses »

Jul 312012

Join The Atos Games!

On your marks, get set…
for a week of Paralympic fun and games against Atos!

From Monday 27th to Friday 31st of August, join Disabled People Against Cuts for The Atos Games – five days of action against a company that’s sponsoring the Paralympics but wrecking disabled people’s lives.

We are calling on disabled people, disabled activists, families, colleagues, friends and supporters to come together and fight back against Atos’s attacks. Atos represents as dangerous an opponent as any government, law or barrier the disability movement has faced in its long history. It’s not just welfare, but our very identity and our place within society that is under attack.

And we are asking the whole of the anti-cuts movement to join us in our opposition to the company most responsible for driving through the government’s brutal cuts agenda. Let’s make it Games over for Atos!

We’re not against the Paralympics or the people taking part in it. We’re highlighting the hypocrisy of Atos, a company that soon may be taking disability benefits from the people winning medals for Team GB.

Ever since George Osborne announced he was slashing £18 billion from the welfare budget, the government has paid Atos £100 million a year to test 11,000sick and disabled people every week, then decide whether they’re ‘fit for work’.

Atos uses an inhumane computer programme to do the testing, and trains its staff to push people off benefits. The government has admitted the tests are flawed, and the British Medical Association wants them to end immediately.

But Atos continues to devastate people’s lives. Many have committed suicide because of its testing programme, and over 1,000 people have died of their illnesses soon after being found ‘fit for work’.

We won’t let them get away with murder, so join in The Atos Games however you can – online, on the phone, or on the streets!

· Monday 27th: We’ll hold a spoof Paralympic awards ceremony, hopefully with some very special guests…

· Tuesday 28th: Pay a visit to your local Atos office – and maybe even take your protest inside!

· Wednesday 29th: A coffin full of your messages about Atos will be delivered to its doorstep.

· Thursday 30th: Phone jam! Let’s flood Atos with calls, and generate a Twitter-storm they can’t ignore!

· Then on Friday 31st, join us in London where we’re teaming up with UK Uncut for the Grand Finale – an audacious, daring and disruptive action. Last time we shut down Oxford Circus, this time we will be performing miracles…!

Join us at 12.45pm in Triton Square, just off Euston Road, at ATOS head office.

Over the next few weeks we’ll give more details about each day of action. We’ll make sure that DPAC members and disabled people who can’t travel will be able to take part in different and accessible ways.

We’d really like YOU to make this week of action a great success! Let’s come together and show this monstrous company that we’re stronger than them. They’re the vulnerable ones and they know it.

Atos has offices in most towns across the country, so start organising an action for August 28th at your local Atos now!

Let the Atos Games begin!

If anyone wants to use any of these from Atos Stories then they have said you are free to do so

https://atosstories.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/its-not-over-yet.html

Responses to ILF consultation

Action, All Posts, Benefits, disability hate crime, Independent Living, Welfare reforms No Responses »

Jul 122012

we know that we can’t get copies of individual responses to consultations so would like people who do respond to this consultation to email a copy of what they say to us at mail@dpac.uk.net

We can then use this information to continue campaigning against the closure of ILF fund.

Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion against Atos deaths

Action, All Posts, Atos, Benefits, Politics, Welfare reforms 7 Responses »

Jul 082012

Labour MP John McDonnell –a great and significant supporter of DPAC has launched an attempt to get the House of Commons to debate the £100m-a-year contract awarded to Atos to carry out work capability assessments of people applying for Employment and Support Allowance – which he claims has led to the deaths of 1,100 claimants put in the category for compulsory work-related activity.

In an Early Day Motion tabled last Thursday, John McDonnell (Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington) also praised the British Medical Association whose Annual Representative Conference last week called for the work capability assessment to be scrapped immediately and to be replaced with a system that does not harm the most vulnerable people in society.

His motion also includes condemnation of the decision to allow Atos to sponsor the Paralympics which follow the London Olympic Games and, for good measure, Dow Chemical’s sponsorship of the Games themselves.

Dow took over the Union Carbide company whose plant at Bhopal, India, leaked methyl isocyanate gas in 1984 – leading to the deaths and injury of thousands of people in the vicinity. The event was one of the world’s worst industrial disasters.

Please check the list of those MPs that have signed. If your MP isn’t there then a list on twitter can be found at https://t.co/E4f8RO2h

Or check https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mps/

Remember front benchers cannot sign EDMs

With thanks to welfare Union for letting us repost: https://socialwelfareunion.org/

Acknowledgements also to: the meassociation, Respect for the Unemployed and Benefits Claimants

Early Day Motion 295

ATOS
Session 2012-13
Date tabled: 28.06.2012
Primary sponsor: McDonnell, John
Sponsors:
Text:

That this House deplores that thousands of sick and disabled constituents are experiencing immense hardship after being deprived of benefits following a work capability assessment carried out by Atos Healthcare under a 100 million a year contract; notes that 40 per cent of appeals are successful but people wait up to six months for them to be heard; deplores that last year 1,100 claimants died while under compulsory work-related activity for benefit and that a number of those found fit for work and left without income have committed or attempted suicide; condemns the International Paralympic Committee’s promotion of Atos as its top sponsor and the sponsorship of the Olympics by Dow Chemical and other corporations responsible for causing death and disability; welcomes the actions taken by disabled people, carers, bereaved relatives and organisations to end this brutality and uphold entitlement to benefits; and applauds the British Medical Association call for the work capability assessment to end immediately and to be replaced with a system that does not cause harm to some of the most vulnerable people in society.

South Wales Mobilises Against Cameron’s Crackpot Ideas July 30th – August 4th

Action, All Posts, Benefits, Events, News, Politics 1 Response »

Jul 042012

Youth Fight for Jobs condemns Cameron’s plan to abolish Housing Benefit for the under-25s.

Week of action called for 30th July – 4th August, with protests in Llanelli, Swansea, Cardiff, the South Wales valleys and Newport planned.

Contact Scott Jones, YFJ West Wales Organiser: 07812 406194. Scottfrankjones@hotmail.co.uk

Scott Jones (24), a shopworker and YFJ West Wales organiser, said, “These attacks would undoubtedly lead to homelessness and misery for an estimated 210,000 young people. If you’re young in Britain today, you are justified to feel a bit victimised by David Cameron’s government. After the trebling of tuition fees, the cuts to EMA and the Future Job Fund and cuts to youth services which had a hand in leading to last summers riots, now we have the proposed scrapping of housing benefit for anyone under-25!

“There will, correctly, be mass outrage at these attacks for a number of reasons. Firstly, many of the claimants are actually in work and need to claim housing benefit due to only having part time employment or being paid far less than a living wage. Secondly, most of the benefit claimed ends up in the bank accounts of private landlords to do with as they please. They charge extortionate rents because there is a lack of houses to go around and this is being exploited. Finally, the fundamental reason that Housing benefit expenditure has increased and the reason there is a lack of housing is down to the failure of both New Labour and the Tories governments to build social housing.

“These cuts are yet another attack in the name of austerity like public service cuts and slave labour workfare schemes which will be the primary target of a week of action by Youth Fight For Jobs across the towns and cities of Wales in the week beginning 30th July. Youth Fight For Jobs campaigns against any attack on the youth of this country and aim to put youth unemployment at the top of the political agenda. The week of action will climax with an Austerity Games, an alternative Olympics that will provide an opportunity to highlight and fight attacks of the living standards of the young and poor whilst big business and their friends in government have a tax payer funded party.”

Scott Jones, YFJ West Wales Organiser: 07812 406194. Scottfrankjones@hotmail.co.uk. Scott is 24 and is a shopworker. He lives in Llanelli.

Other YFJ contacts available for interview:

Jaime Davies, YFJ South East Wales Organiser: 07506 218523.

Olympic Torch comes to Birmingham

All Posts, Atos, Benefits, disability hate crime, Disability Rights, Events, News, Welfare reforms 13 Responses »

Jun 292012

As the Olympic torch arrives in Birmingham tomorrow, June 30th, we were asked to write a short piece about ATOS sponsorship of the Olympics. Here is what we wrote.

One might be forgiven for wondering just why and how ATOS ( ‘Licensed to Kill Disabled People’ by the Condems) and the corporate butchers of Bhopal Dow are two of the most prominent Olympic sponsors. How can such odious corporations be given worldwide publicity and credibility?

In exchange for lucrative payments from the government ATOS happily continue to hound and harass disabled people into even further poverty and to drive many to suicide.

Over 1 million disabled people, many too ill to work face losing their benefits or have already lost them. If you become ill or disabled in the future this could happen to you, even if you’ve worked and paid National Insurance contributions most of your life.

People with life-threatening illnesses, some with terminal cancer, and mental health conditions live in fear of their forthcoming ATOS assessments acknowledged as totally flawed by CAB, McMillan Cancer charity and a host of others. The tick-box computer assessment system takes no account of real life problems people face or the complexity of many long-term illnesses and disabilities. Yet within minutes this process which violates the fundamental medical principle of ‘first do no harm’ can strip disabled people of essential benefits and rob them of their lives.

Real-life horror stories of assessments and outcomes now abound and can be read in papers on an almost daily basis yet still the government refuse to halt or change these vicious tests. Some of the reports are little short of torture. A woman forced to try to walk to prove she couldn’t who fell onto the ground and had to be helped up again crying by her mother. Another woman forced to try to walk down a long corridor also to prove she couldn’t walk. People waiting for major heart surgery or those who have had numerous heart attacks killed by the stress of the assessments and being told they are fit to work.

A Grimsby Fisherman suffering from horrendous blood clots and open ulcers and struggles to walk who has been told by specialists at two hospitals he would be risking his life if he went back to work lost his disability benefits.

A more recent case is that of aDundeeman found fit to work who is deaf, blind and tube-fed and who needs 24 hour care. How could anyone with such profound impairments be found fit to work?

Yet this is how ATOS treats disabled people.

The BMA Local Medical Committee Conference recently voted unanimously for an end to these notorious Work Capability Assessments as Scottish GPs did earlier this year. Dr Stephen Carty has likened the UK Government’s welfare reform crackdown on disabled people to the “barbarism” of the Nazis.

The cost of these sometimes murderous assessments to the taxpayer are enormous as appeals rocket costing a predicted £50 million in tribunal costs in 2012 alone. The backlog of cases has reached epidemic proportions with tribunals sitting even on Sundays to try to reduce the 10 month backlog of cases. Yet even if a claimant wins their appeal against their assessment, and most do, the treadmill experience of being retested can start again immediately for no justifiable reasons.

As the blood of disabled people continues to drip steadily from the hands of our Olympic sponsors they should hang their heads in shame at the terror they are causing to those who deserve support not victimisation from our welfare state.

If you would like to join us in expressing your disgust at ATOS and its sponsorship of our Olympics then please email their CEO at Thiery Breton at thierry.breton@atos.net (https://www.ceoemail.com/se.php?id=10159)

Housing Benefit Protest- House of Commons July 4th

Action, All Posts, Benefits, Events, News 1 Response »

Jun 282012

So far it’s only a suggestion from Camermoron but before his idea becomes any more of a reality if you can get to this protest at short notice please come and support it.

A few days ago, an official Olympics volunteer spoke for millions when he

told David Cameron at a media event for the games – “you’re crippling the
poor”.

At the start of the week, Cameron proposed the abolition of housing
benefits for the under-25s. Already there are more than a million young
people out of work, this vicious toff wants to see young people sleeping
on the streets as well.

For more see here…

https://righttowork.org.uk/2012/06/cardboard-city-never-again-protest-tory-homelessness-plans/

Right To Work have called a protest against Cameron’s proposals:

Cardboard City – Never Again
Wednesday 4 July
Assemble 11am – Opposite Downing Street, City of Westminster, London SW1A

Bring sleeping bags, cardboard boxes and your best slogans.

Disabled People Are Mobilising Government Warned – Opposition Day Debate on Disability Benefits and Social Care forces Government to respond to accusations of failing disabled people

Benefits, DLA, News, Politics, Social Model, Welfare reforms 4 Responses »

Jun 252012

Disability Support and Benefits was the subject of an Opposition Day Debate introduced by Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liam Byrne on 21^st June 2012. The Debate put the issue of the closure of Remploy factories announced by Government into the context of wider benefit and support cuts and highlighted the disproportionate level of cuts targeted at disabled people: over the course of this Parliament £3.5 billion is being cut from disability benefit yet only £2.5 billion net is being taken from Britain’s bankers. Opposition MP’s called on Iain Duncan Smith to apologise or resign over disparaging remarks he made about Remploy workers but it was mainly Maria Miller, Minister for Disabled People, who responded on behalf of the Government rather than the Secretary of State as the Government continued its misappropriation of the language of the social model to justify its oppressive policies. In the same week the Guardian published a leaked memo from Jobcentre Plus to operational staff warning about the risks of disabled claimants attempting suicide as a result of benefit losses. Although Labour lost the vote, the Condems were warned by John McDonnell MP that the issue and disabled people are not going to go away.

Labour’s motion for the Opposition Day Debate stated a belief that “cuts to support for disabled people and carers pose a potential risk to their dignity and independence and will have wider social and economic costs”. He accused the Department for Work and Pensions of dropping the aim of achieving disability equality and expressed concern that taking the DLA from 500,000 disabled people and contributory employment and support allowance from 280,000 former workers will take vital financial support from families under pressure. In both the letter and the motion for the debate he cited the mismanaged closure of Remploy factories and noted the pressing need for continuing reform to the work capability assessment (WCA) to reduce the human cost of wrong decisions. Finally Byrne stated agreement “with the eight Carers’ Week charities on the importance of recognising the huge contribution made by the UK’s 6.4 million carers and the need to support carers to prevent caring responsibilities pushing them into ill-health, poverty and isolation”.

In the motion that Labour lost by 236 votes to 298 the Opposition called on Government to:

– ensure welfare reform promotes work, independence, quality of life and opportunities for disabled people and their families;

– restore the commitment to disability equality in the Department for Work and Pensions’ business plan;

– conduct a full impact assessment of the combined effects of benefit and social care cuts on disabled people and carers;

– to reform WCA descriptors as suggested by charities for mental health, fluctuating conditions and sensory impairment; and

– re-run the consultation on the future of Remploy factories.

Liam Byrne opened the debate, giving figures to evidence how disabled people are being unfairly and disproportionately impacted by government policy. In n the debate he cited research showing how over the course of this Parliament disabled people in our country will pay more than Britain’s bankers, with disabled people in the final year of the Parliament paying 40% more than the banks. He went on to explain how Universal Credit will hit disabled people 30% harder than other people. He pointed to the unfairness of the arbitrary decision to cut Disability Living Allowance by 20% with an assessment designed to achieve that target rather than a fairer system of assessment first, and savings calculated after. Atos and the notorious Work Capability Assessments were criticised citing the figure of £50 million a year of tax-payers money being spent on an inefficient system where 40% of decisions are over-turned on appeal. He stated that 1 billion has been cut from local budgets for social care since this Government came into power, meanwhile 1,000,000 unpaid carers have given up work or had to reduce their hours and four out of ten have fallen into debt.

Opposition MPs supported the motion expressing concerns about Atos in particular and citing examples from their own constituencies of the devastating impact of benefit losses and cuts on individual disabled people. Tom Greatrex referred to his difficulties in finding out information about the government’s contract with Atos which he has been told cannot be disclosed for commercial reasons. Sheila Gilmore MP gave examples of cases where individual disabled people currently in receipt of DLA would not be eligible for PIP and the impact this would have on them. Karen Buck MP described the situation in Westminster where her constituency is based, where one quarter of the 52 million savings the local authority are looking to make is coming from adult and social care. She said that any gains disabled people would make from having their Council tax frozen is more than outweighed by the amount they must now spend on travel after cuts to taxi-card. Geraint Davies MP described government policy on disability as “asset stripping of the most vulnerable people in our society”; he said “it stinks”.

The Opposition took up the issue of the announced closure of 36 out of 54 Remploy factories following recommendations in the Sayce Review. Remploy workers are currently on a 90 day notice consultation period which ends on 25^th June. Opposition MPs railed against what they described as a shambolic consultation on an impossible timetable where the rules had changed halfway through, where disabled workers had been bamboozled and where the whole process had been set against giving Remploy staff the chance to move onto creating new social enterprises. They called for a re-run of the whole consultation. The Condems attempted to use the segregation argument to support their current policy with the disabled Conservative MP Paul Maynard describing Remploy factories as “apartheid for the disabled”. He asked “Are the disabled community not full members of society too?” Opposition MPs in constituencies with Remploy factories were able to describe the skilled work that goes on in the factories and to challenge the perception of the factories as segregated workplaces. They were also able to point to the higher than average unemployment figures in those areas.

Byrne said “disabled people have the same right to a job as everyone else but at present the choice of where to work is being taken from many of them” and cited how the Government’s Work Programme is failing to meet its target for disabled people by 60%. He called on Government to:

– honour the Sayce report for example in setting up independent panels to evaluate the expressions of interest

– restart the 90 day consultation process

– draw together extra work that could be available for the factories, for example under Article 19 of European regulations on procurement

– a more flexible approach to how each and every factory is dealt with

– a review of the subsidy available to the workers

In response to reports of Iain Duncan Smith’s comments that Remploy workers are “not doing any work at all. They are just making cups of coffee”, Byrne invited Smith to join him and the Sunday Express for a day working in one of the factories.

No acceptance to the invitation or apology to the workers was forthcoming from the Secretary of State. Miller defended the Government’s position explaining how the £320 specialist support budget is protected and that any money coming from Remploy will be reinvested in it. No one challenged how ineffectively this money will be spent under current Government plans, whereas at least through the Remploy factories disabled workers receive a wage. More could also have been made about the £25,000 given in the Sayce Review and widely cited by Condem MPs in the debate as the amount that it costs the State per worker employed in a Remploy factory as opposed to the average figure of £2,900 per person supported through Access to Work: this figure would be much lower if the inefficiencies and top heavy management structures of the current Remploy set up were reformed. The increasing restrictions on what Access to Work will fund, and its consequential irrelevance to being able to support many disabled people into work were also not raised.

John McDonnell MP concluded his contribution by warning the government about the consequences of continuing their current course. He said:

“Finally, the Government should not think that this issue or these people are going to go away because they are not: these people are mobilising. We now have a disability movement in this country of which we have not seen the equal before. Black Triangle occupied Atos offices in Scotland; members of DPAC—Disabled People Against Cuts—chained themselves in Trafalgar square. These people are not going to go away. They will be in our face—and rightly so. I will support them, including if Remploy workers opt to buy their factories.”

Nevertheless the vote was lost and none of the Opposition Day Debate demands will be implemented. George Hollingbery MP described the motion as “not so much something to be debated but a press release in search of an audience”. The timing conveniently coincided with the publication on the Guardian website of a memo from Paul Archer, head of Jobcentre Plus contact centres supporting ESA customers, sent to all staff in operations and stating that “The consequences of getting this wrong can have profound results” following the attempted suicide of one unsuccessful claimant. Just last week DPAC told a Labour Representation Committee meeting that disabled people have not forgotten that it was New Labour who introduced ESA, Work Capability Assessments, Atos and even Lord Freud. It is very easy to say what people want to hear when you are in Opposition but it will take more than words to eclipse the memory of how disabled people argued for years against the use of bio-psycho-social model approaches underpinning employment assessments without being heard by New Labour when they were in power.

Housing Emergency news and action round-up

Action, Benefits, Welfare reforms 3 Responses »

Jun 242012

The Prime Minister is proposing denying under-25s any housing benefit after the next election.

The National Private Tenants Organisation warn: ‘This could lead to poverty, hardship and homelessness and a generation of
young people trapped at home. This would hit those struggling on a minimum wage in areas of inflated rents and where there is competition for accommodation, particularly hard. Estimates put the number of people under 25 claiming housing benefit at around 380,000.’

Following our meeting with the Housing Minister’s office, they are asking for evidence on how landlords are consulting about the Localism Bill. They want examples of council and housing association landlords failing to consult tenants fully on any proposed changes in tenancy strategies – eg use of fixed term tenancies and up to 80% market rents; changes to who can go on the waiting list and rehousing for homeless etc. They also want evidence that 2-year minimum tenancies are being proposed or used other than ‘exceptionally’. Send any evidence to Housing Emergency: mitchellav@parliament.uk or by post: Austin Mitchell MP, House of Commons London SW1A 0AA

Can you help?

Tue 26th June at Brighton Conference Centre Leafletting Unite union conference – call Eileen 07432 098440 to help

Wed 27th lobby National Landlords Association in London Meet 8.30am Vauxhall tube email housingforthe99@gmail.com to confirm

Sat 30th Defend Council Housing national meeting 12-4pm Trades and Labour Club 200 Duke St Sheffield – all welcome

And let us know if you are organising meetings, protests or lobbies

Eileen Short

for Housing Emergency

Unemployed and Disabled in Tory Britain: Government Black Box Approach Horror

All Posts, Benefits, Disability Rights, Welfare reforms 9 Responses »

Jun 242012

What follows is a personal account of the experience of one person and what it is like to be unemployed and disabled in Tory Britain. It shows the contempt that people are treated with by some so-called work program providers engaged by their Tory friends and paid for by the taxpayer.

This example shows quite clearly what we all knew: that people are not being supported under this Tory regime, rather they are being belittled humiliated and having legal rights under the Equality Act ignored. At the same time they are being driven towards new or further mental health issues resulting in suicidal tendencies for some.

The fact that this example features the A4e Company run by disgraced multimillionaire Tory darling Emma Harrison speaks volumes. Ministers ended the A4e contract for the Welfare to Work scheme in May this year under the shadow of a range of accusations, arrests and resignations within the company.

Karen wrote to DPAC so that her story could be shared –we believe this inhuman treatment and worse is happening to many people under this Tory regime. She says:

Background

I finished University in 2002 and was sent toQueenAlexandraCollege. I signed on in 2004, before that I had long term problems with health and eyesight. I had specialist help from Action for Blind People who were instrumental in getting me a voluntary placement at aBirminghamCollege. Although it was two years before I got a paid contract there. I was supported in furthering my skills and gaining more qualifications as well as experience. In 2009 government cuts meant I was unemployed again. Action for Blind People got me some courses under the advisors discretionary fund. However, I was summoned to the jobcentre and informed I was to be put on flexible new deal with A4e in 2010. I was stopped from seeing Action for Blind People and the placement they were arranging fell through as a result.

A4E and the constant threat of sanctions

I informed A4e that I needed large print documents, but they continued to send out small print documents which were illegible to me. The first contact given for at A4e was not contactable so I went to my job centre and asked for someone else. A4e said they’d send someone out but I had already arranged a lift to their offices. When I got in the office they presented me with a form to fill in, in small print. I told them I couldn’t see it and asked them to photocopy it, but they didn’t enlarge it. I was then taken to a very public area where there were other clients and I was asked humiliating personal questions. For example: are you a drug user? What medication do you take? and so on, at no time was I informed that I didn’t need to answer these questions.

I was then called over to see a woman, let’s call her Ms Harris. The first thing she said was:

If I were you I’d go on the sick.

This would have meant that I was off their books. I told her I wanted to work, at which point she became very rude and then refused to reimburse my travel costs. I explained that I needed large print documents, Ms Harris and her manager barked at me that they didn’t need to provide me with anything! Then they amazingly proceeded to threaten me with sanctions.

Three months passed. I decided that if they couldn’t provide reasonable alterations, equipment etc. I wasn’t going to sign it or do it. They threatened me with their sanctions again and put me through a psychometric test. Once again, no attempt was made to provide for my reasonable alterations. In the end I showed the A4e worker how she could enlarge the screen this for others that might need it, after I’d worked it out for myself-they didn’t have a clue nor care. I think I skewed the results so badly that they didn’t bother me for a while, until I received a call from Ms Harris, she informed me about a teaching job. However, when I told her that I didn’t have a teaching qualification, she got aggressive. I later learned that she had immediately got in touch with the benefits office in an attempt to impose sanctions again. To be fair they did provide training in CV writing-that was great as they told me to leave my degree off the CV! In the end they submitted the CV I had done while at Action for Blind People and claimed credit for it.

More months passed and I was transferred to Beacon Centre for the Blind. It was not taken into account how I would get there, I got lifts mostly, but trying to get travel costs reimbursed was still made as difficult as possible. At this time my mental health issues had been worsened by the treatment at A4e. I told A4e I couldn’t use buses (I had had some training before going to A4e but it was a bad experience and really didn’t work). A4e thought this was an opportunity to belittle me and humiliate me, telling me I was missing out. By the next meeting they made their contempt even clearer:

Look you’ve been sent here, you’re better off than others: stop complaining!.

If you don’t like it, don’t sign on-nobody is forcing you to claim JSA are they!

I was then sent to the Job Centre. They told me to sign for the work program, if I didn’t …then – you guessed it: I would be sanctioned.

I am now with Action for Blind People again, the people I have had a ten year relationship with, they saw the mess I was in and helped me loads. I am also now seeing a specialist mental health nurse and psychiatrists for the suicidal feelings. I avoid signing anything and am terrified of going to the job centre now, after my experience. In fact, I am starting to be scared of going out at all. Sometimes, I’ll pretend to be sick so I don’t have to go out of the house. For example I live with my parents and they often go to see my nephew-I just can’t face leaving the house. It’s the same when I have the chance to go to my brothers.

Complaint

I put a formal complaint in to the Independent case examiner. They believed that it was acceptable for A4e NOT to provide large print documents, despite the Equality Act. The job centre still doesn’t provide large print documents. I have to ask each time and explain again and again. I’m close to the end of my tether with it all. I finally got my travel expenses 12 months after that first meeting with A4e, after my formal complaint. They were paid on the 1^st April.

Fury over £1m bonus for chief exec of controversial Sickness benefit test company

All Posts, Atos, Benefits, News, Welfare reforms No Responses »

Jun 192012

THE private firm behind controversial sickness benefit tests have been slammed for awarding their chief executive almost £1million in bonus payments.

International company Atos are contracted to reassess people claiming sickness and disability benefits.

Heart attack and lung-disease victims are among those the firm have assessed as being well enough to look for jobs.

According to Atos’ annual report, chairman and chief executive Thierry Breton received £1.95million in 2011.

Half the amount was his salary and the other half was a bonus. He received £1.83million the previous year.

Rutherglen and Hamilton West Labour MP Tom Greatrex said: “People will find it hard to believe that the boss of Atos sees fit to reward himself with millions in bonuses, while thousands of sick and disabled people in Scotland suffer.

“It will sicken those who have been through the Atos process to hear the company crow about their expertise in healthcare.

“Thousands of people have suffered because, time and again, incorrect decisions have been made on the back ofAtos assessments.”

Atos declined to comment on Breton’s bonus.

Story – The Daily Record

With thanks to Atos Vicitms Group News for letting us repost: see https://atosvictimsgroup.co.uk/2012/06/17/fury-over-1m-bonus-for-chief-exec-of-controversial-sickness-benefit-test-company/

For more

Round up of up-coming campaigns from boycott-workfare

Action, Benefits, Disability Rights, Politics, Welfare reforms No Responses »

Jun 052012

JUBILEE: It has been exposed that the Queen’s Jubilee was staffed by
security and stewarding staff on workfare in the worst imaginable
conditions: https://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=1039

You might like to write to the CEO of the security firm involved and
circulate the email address here: molly@close-protectionuk.com

ARGOS: We’ve also heard from someone made to work at Argos without pay
that his store was taking workfare on a massive scale. Read his story
here: https://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=1049

And join the people giving Argos a really hard time on their Facebook
page: https://www.facebook.com/argos

IT WORKS! Last week we exposed Body Shop as profiting from workfare and by
the end of the week they had pulled out!
https://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=1025

Help uncover more workfare exploiters on your high street! Top tips here:
https://www.boycottworkfare.org/?p=1017

GROWING A UK-WIDE NETWORK: On Saturday 26th May, Brighton Benefits
Campaign hosted a meeting to bring together all those actively fighting
workfare. Lots of action plans came out of the day including:

A regular online forum for groups and individuals to share ideas and
co-ordinate. The first meeting is this Thursday 7th June at 7.30pm on
Skype. Download instructions for how to take part here:
https://www.boycottworkfare.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Setting-up-a-Skype-account.doc

A week of action on 7-14 July kicking off with a day of action against
Holland & Barrett. More to follow as plans develop but put the date in
your diary!

ALSO COMING UP THIS WEEK:

* Combat Workfare action in Liverpool this Saturday 9th June, 12.30pm:
https://www.facebook.com/events/241340275974402/

* Come along to the London Boycott Workfare meeting on Wednesday, 7pm, 11
Goodwin St, Finsbury Park, N4 3HQ.

Our campaign is growing and gaining support – congratulations everyone!

Boycott Workfare

P.S. Don’t forget you’re welcome to take part in the UK-wide skype
discussion this Thursday evening. It’s easy to set up skype if you don’t
already have it. Details here:
https://www.boycottworkfare.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Setting-up-a-Skype-account.doc

Great British Street party round up of views

Action, All Posts, Benefits, News No Responses »

May 272012

report from

https://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/uk-uncut-make-it-personal/

UKUncut Make It Personal

The NHS and Welfare State are being destroyed and the people doing it have names and addresses. One of those people is Nick Clegg, who lives in Parkfields, a leafy street in Putney, SW13 (no 2, if his ‘terrified’ neighbours are anything to go by, many of whom were all too ready to grass the slimy lying wanker up and reveal his address to protesters).

Yesterday’s street party outside Nick Clegg’s house was one of several actions around the country staged by UK Uncut. Clegg’s constituency office inSheffield was also a target. The protests were billed as ‘Great British Street Parties’ a reference to the fawning display of deference set to sweep the country over next weekend’s jubilee.

Despite Clegg’s claim that his neighbour’s children were scared by the protest, many in the community actively joined in the party with a couple of local kids even producing an impromptu anti-cuts banner. It’s clear Nick Clegg is as unpopular in his own neighbourhood as he is in the rest of theUK.

I have to admit to feeling a little underwhelmed on arriving at the protest. Despite a good attendance of around 200 people, and a heroic action from Disabled People Against Cuts, who chained wheelchairs together in order to block the road and secure the space,it was about as un-threatening as you could get. One person described it as a very fluffy picnic. Reclaim the Streets it was not.

But whether it was down to the sun or the beer I changed my mind. All in all it was a fun day out, and with bunting, cake, music and dancing it was exactly what it said on the tin. UK Uncut were right to pick a target that was both achievable and well directed. By all measures it was a huge success for the direct action group and lays the foundation for bigger and more ambitious action in the future.

The over the top reaction from the Tory twitter trolls was just the icing on the cake. Grinning idiot Louise Mensch sounded like she was back on the charlie as she frantically denounced the protest and furiously retweeted anyone who agreed with her bizarre view that targeting a politician’s home is unacceptable.

Thousands of people are currently losing their homes due to Clegg and Cameron’s cuts. For those made homeless, this Government’s assault on the very poorest is as personal as it gets. And their children genuinely go to bed frightened by the actions of Nick Clegg and his millionaire chums in the cabinet.

Why should Nick Clegg rest easy in his sleep when by his actions he is condemning swathes of the country to poverty and homelessness? UK Uncut’s street party was a well aimed tactic to hold millionaire Clegg accountable for his actions. If they come for our homes, then we should come for theirs.

https://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/may/26/nick-clegg-house-uk-uncut

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18219101

https://www.metro.co.uk/news/900287-anti-cuts-protesters-stage-street-party-outside-nick-cleggs-home

https://www.klfm967.co.uk/news/uk-news/687800/cleggs-home-targeted-by-anti-cuts-protesters/

https://www.channel4.com/news/anti-cuts-protest-at-cleggs-london-home

Older Entries Newer Entries

Other links

Advice Guide

Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB)

Law Centres Federation

Legal Adviser Finder

Join The Atos Games!

On your marks, get set… for a week of Paralympic fun and games against Atos!

report from

UKUncut Make It Personal

On your marks, get set…
for a week of Paralympic fun and games against Atos!