Government inefficient or dismissive – maybe both

Ian Franks says five month delay in care guidance during pandemic is inexcusable.

Government department’s “no information” claim is just a feeble cover-up

A government department responsible for disability benefits has effectively admitted that vital documents were not shown to an expert hired to conduct a review. The papers link its controversial ‘fitness to work’ test with deaths of benefit claimants. The UK’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) claims it has no information about whether the reviewer …

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Junior minister suggests world ‘realities’ mean government attacks on rights are likely to continue

Any cherished hope that the government could embrace the opportunity of doing something positive for disabled people seems misplaced. This came to light when a justice minister effectively dismissed calls for government action. That is, action to do more to protect the social and economic rights of disabled people and others. The hard truth was …

Officials must report their success or failure to prevent tribunal awards

Government officials who attend benefit appeal tribunals seem to be judged by how well they do. Success is when they prevent high-level awards to disabled people. This affects appeals for both personal independence payment (PIP) and employment and support allowance (ESA). These are benefits claimed by many with disabilities such as those caused, as in …

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, …

Government contractor must pay £5,000 over dishonest assessment, court decides

A court has ruled that a woman with a disability be paid £5,000 compensation by a government contractor. The was because one of its assessors made a dishonest report that led to her being given insufficient benefits. The contractor, Atos, is one of the companies that conduct assessments for the UK’s department for work and …

Atos tries to escape its past though superficial rebranding

There is a new company providing assessments of people claiming government disability benefits in the UK. Well, no, there isn't. You see, the new name, Independent Assessment Services, is just a rebranding exercise. True, the name is new but it is the same bad old company.  It is still Atos Healthcare but now in disguise. …

ESA New Compulsory ‘Conversation’ brings more Sanctions, and a Dispute over Co-design Claim

We can tell when politicians are lying because it happens whenever their lips move and words come out. We don’t like it but we know it’s true; it’s the same as a politician’s promise – worthless. But it is now spreading beyond those who are elected, and I find that extremely concerning. This time we …

More flock to accuse disability assessors of lying

Isn’t it amazing how the number of people who choose to speak out about injustices multiply once the first reports are published Many more disabled people have come forward to describe how the healthcare professionals who assessed them for the UK government’s disability benefits lied in the reports they compiled. The benefits are paid to …

Shameful that charities ‘sell out’ people with disabilites

Several leading disability charities are being criticized, by a user-led disability group, for flirting with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and  seeking to gain UK government contracts. The Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) said that the charities are 'selling out' and that there is no way that the charities could speak out strongly …