Join us on Thursday to discuss the role played by social enterprises in increasing disabled employment Many social enterprises employ disabled workers. This is part of the social value they generate and can also give them a unique selling point in their chosen market place
Employment support allowance offers me a shred of dignity. And tomorrow ministers take it away from me CutsTomorrow marks the end of an era for the disability benefits paid to people like me
Ten of the UK’s biggest private outsourcing companies have been shortlisted to deliver controversial Personal Independence Payment health assessments – with one notable exception Who will deliver a 20% cut to the disability living allowance benefits bill? We now know the contracts will be shared among 10 private companies, including the controversial French firm Atos Origin, which has come under fire over its handling of incapacity benefit tests , known as the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). The shortlisted companies are effectively in the frame to compete for at least four regional contracts to assess people’s eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) – a new benefit which will replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in April 2013
According to charities, public abuse of disabled people is on the rise . Four readers tell their stories Isobel Glenelg, posts as IsobelGlenelg Having no visible signs of disability (unless you count an almost permanent pain-induced grimace) has its drawbacks. In the early days of my blue badge ownership, I was often glared at disapprovingly.
Failure to address the flaws of the Atos assessment has hurt the needy, and undermined the principle of helping people work In the 21 months since I was elected an MP, one issue is consistently raised by constituents: employment and support allowance (ESA) and the work capability assessment (WCA) that underpins eligibility for it. The principle of assessing those claiming sickness benefit is one with which I agree. As do, surprisingly, many of the people who have contacted me about problems with WCA .
After seven defeats in the Lords, the government’s controversial welfare reform proposals return to the Commons for further discussion 12.15pm: Some excellent comments coming in below the line . My colleague Laura Oliver asked for your thoughts on the government’s proposed concessions. Wishface responds : • Families affected by the £26,000 welfare cap will be given at least nine months “grace period” to adapt to the loss of benefits, by fiinding a job or moving house
The reform process has been amateurish and high-handed: a review is the only way to rebuild confidence in government policy Last week’s hat-trick of government defeats in the House of Lords debate on the welfare reform bill has stoked public interest in changes to disability benefits. On Tuesday the debate will move from
A hatrick of defeats on welfare benefits for the government in the Lords – so what happens next?
Lords prepare for critical debate on welfare benefit payments to cancer patients 12.28pm: The Macmillan Cancer charity has warned that cancer patients face more financial difficulties if the welfare reform bill proposals to limit Employment and Support (ESA) allowance to one year go through today. Mike Hobday , the charity’s director of policy and research, said: While we recognise the benefits system is in need of reform, if the Welfare Reform Bill goes through unamended it will have a devastating effect on cancer patients who are already struggling. We know many Lords oppose these proposals and hope they will show their support for cancer patients when it comes to a vote in Parliament
Millions of us are living in terror of brown envelopes arriving from the Department for Work and Pensions I’m a disability campaigner.
