Shock? Horror? No, not really. A government department is misleading people, including an official committee and doctors. No surprise there, as far as I am concerned, the UK government’s Department for Work and Pensions has a hit and miss attitude to honesty. It may not ‘lie’ but is certainly happy to ‘mislead’. Again and again, … Continue reading Benefits department accused of deliberately misleading select committee and GPs
assessments
Government intends to record PIP assessments
This is wonderful news …. or is it? I suppose it depends on your view of the honesty of the government and its department responsible for disability benefits. The UK’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) intends to record the controversial Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment as “a standard part of the process”. At least, … Continue reading Government intends to record PIP assessments
Disability benefit decisions continue to use unlawful criteria
It is almost unbelievable, but it seems to be true. The people running the government department responsible for disability welfare benefits appear to have confirmed that they are either stupid, irresponsible, incapable, or all three. As if all the mess with disability benefit claims, notably Personal Independence Payment (PIP), has not been enough – it … Continue reading Disability benefit decisions continue to use unlawful criteria
Have benefits assessors intimidated claimants? Tell your story
Questions are being asked about the behaviour of private sector assessors, following an allegation of intimidation. The suggestion is that a claimant was scared into giving positive feedback after a face-to-face assessment. And, if there was one, how likely is it that there are more? This casts doubt on the honesty of statistics presented to … Continue reading Have benefits assessors intimidated claimants? Tell your story
Disabilities: Official papers reveal failings of assessment contractors
Devastating papers, reluctantly released by the government under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI), reveal frightful failures of a key disability benefit. In particular, the papers show the shortcomings of outsourcing contractors hired to carry out assessments of applications. That means that critics of personal independence payment (PIP), and the way it has been introduced, … Continue reading Disabilities: Official papers reveal failings of assessment contractors
Drugs, risks, spending cuts, deaths, new drugs, and so much more
As we reach the start of another year, it seems a good time for me to review the last 12 months, as seen through the eyes of 50shadesofsun.com. January The year began by focusing on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Dr Denis Fedorenko of the HSCT centre in Moscow published a guide to the procedure. … Continue reading Drugs, risks, spending cuts, deaths, new drugs, and so much more
Treasury minister blames disabled people who work for fall in productivity
Government policies relating to people with disabilities appear to be in even more disarray than usual. Once again, those with disabilities resulting from diseases such as multiple sclerosis, or any other cause, are under attack. The department for work and pensions’ assessment system for disability benefits is 'encouraging' disabled people to find work. But chancellor … Continue reading Treasury minister blames disabled people who work for fall in productivity
New government figures reveal a third of new applicants with MS are refused key disability benefit
One-third of people with MS are turned down when they first apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a key disability benefit, the government has admitted. The MS Society discovered the facts by questioning the UK government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The department told the society that, in the four years since PIP started, … Continue reading New government figures reveal a third of new applicants with MS are refused key disability benefit
Assessments for disability benefits cause ‘terrifying insecurity’
A pressure group has warned that the government’s disability benefit assessments are the cause of “terrifying insecurity”. What’s more, it says assessments are driving disabled women to destitution, and even “hastening their deaths”. The warning was given by WinVisible, a group for women with disabilities, of all backgrounds, ages, and situations. It came when the … Continue reading Assessments for disability benefits cause ‘terrifying insecurity’
Assessment complaints for disability benefit up nearly 900% in a year
Complaints about assessments for a key government disability benefit have rocketed by 880% in 12 months, according to official figures. It is a benefit paid to people with diseases like multiple sclerosis and those with other disabilities. Yes, claimants’ complaints about assessments for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), that totalled 142 in 2015-16, rose to 1,391 … Continue reading Assessment complaints for disability benefit up nearly 900% in a year
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