News

Details of upcoming protests, events and meetings will be posted on this page. We will also provide links to online actions, reports and other useful information.

Myth busting: facts and figures (Update from previous myth buster).

A lot of myths, untruths and exaggerations are being peddled on the issue of disability benefits, particularly Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

Here we set the record straight on some of the most regularly used myths for targeting cuts at disabled people support, some of which have been most recently given an airing by the Prime Minister himself:

“The fact is that we are not cutting the money that is going into disability benefits. The question is how best to reform those disability benefits so that disabled people actually get access to the benefits that they require. The reform has been led by many of the disability groups, which want to see something that is much more related to people’s disability and faster to access, too.” David Cameron, 12 September 2012

DBC report shows how Atos and Capita will deliver PIP assessment

A new report published today by the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) raises concerns about the delivery of the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment. People can make new claims for PIP in a few pilot areas from next week and, once fully rolled-out, the benefit will replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

The assessments for PIP will be delivered by different companies in different areas, with the contracts split between Atos Healthcare, who already deliver the controversial Work Capability Assessments (WCAs), and Capita.

The DBC presented both providers with a list of ten pledges for a fair and effective assessment, based on the concerns voiced by those they represent. Both companies have detailed how they will try to meet each pledge, revealing stark differences between providers. For example, Capita will try to ensure applicants with certain conditions will be matched with assessors who have specific expertise in that area, which the DBC believes will lead to fairer outcomes, whereas Atos will randomly assign assessors.

Disability benefit reforms: ‘It’s about more than the cuts, and more than the Paralympics’

The disability movement is at a crossroads as a raft of controversial new benefit reforms is introduced. The Guardian newspaper recently asked charities, campaigners and social media activists what happens next. A range of influential figures responded including Steve Winyard, co-chair of the Hardest Hit coalition.

The lack of obvious leaders is a big concern for disability politics – we need disabled people themselves in those visible positions. It would be great if “bedactivists” such as Sue Marsh and Kaliya Franklin could be among those leaders.

The idea of Hardest Hit is that if there’s genuinely going to be a disability movement, charities and disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) have to work together with a united voice. I don’t think we impact on the government significantly in smaller groups, but there’s an enormous tendency to fragment, mainly because the charities aren’t run by disabled people.

Although charities are changing – the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) is now a DPO – it’s still hard for some DPOs to accept these changes have taken place. In campaigning, we need to focus very strongly on government and parliament, and get politicians from all parties to understand the devastating impact the work capability assessment (WCA) and the Welfare Reform Act are having on people’s lives.

We plan to have a much stronger presence at the party conferences this year. More charities will cover costs for disabled people to attend, to ensure that MPs and other delegates hear their voices.

Steve Winyard
Head of policy and campaigns, RNIB and co-chair, Hardest Hit coalition

Read all responses published as part of this Guardian feature.

Details about Bedroom Tax protests on 16 March

On the 16 March, Labour Left has initiated 40 Bedroom Tax Demonstrations throughout the UK. Find out more about the venues and times of the Bedroom Tax protests on principal organiser Dr Éoin Clarke’s website. The protests call for the Bedroom Tax to be scrapped, and anyone who supports this policy position is welcome to attend.

Take action – stop the bedroom tax hurting disabled people

Help us stop the bedroom tax hurting disabled people

In a matter of weeks disabled adults and families with disabled children face a stark choice- pay more to stay in your home or leave.

From April, people living in housing association and council housing will be hit by the ‘bedroom tax’. Families judged to have spare rooms will lose on average £728 a year from their housing benefit, unless they can move somewhere smaller.