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What's new page contentsDisability Rights UK
Project work Other News feeds and social networks Subscribe to our rss news feed Follow Disability Alliance on facebook This website places cookies on your computer to gather statistics. See our privacy policy for more information. Latest site additionsdwp structural reform plan monthly implementation update - Latest (January) update. Link to DWP website. Posted 6 February 2012. recent tax credits manual updates - Amendments that were published on 30 January 2012. Link to HMRC website. Posted 1 February 2012. welfare refom debate in commons - View regular updates on the Guardian Politics blog. Posted 1 February 2012. dbc briefing on lords welfare reform amendments - This briefing explains Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) support for amendments to Clauses 51 and 52 passed in the House of Lords and urges MPs to accept these amendments on contributory Employment and Support Allowance (cESA). Posted 30 January 2012. £500 million social care shortfall - Age UK’s new Care in Crisis 2012 report shows that spending on older people’s social care in England has fallen by £500 million compared to funding before the Coalition came to power. Posted 30 January 2012. budget cuts worse in deprived areas - This Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) report explores how budget cuts affect the capacity of English local government to meet the needs of more deprived households and communities. Posted 27 January 2012. why iain duncan smith is heading for a date with disaster - The idea that universal credit will be ready by 2013 is 'pie in the sky’, say Whitehall insiders. Link to Telegraph article. Posted 26 January 2012. health committee review of health and social care spending - This Health Committee report favours the integration of healthcare and social care to improve efficiency and notes the tendency within social care to cut costs, particularly by restricting eligibility. Posted 25 January 2012. over half esa claimants placed in the support group - The latest statistics for employment and support allowance (ESA) claims show that over half those who were assessed as being entitled to ESA from March to May 2011 were placed in the support group. Posted 25 January 2012. new work programme over optimistic - This National Audit Office (NAO) report suggests that 26% of the largest group of job seekers in the Programme will get jobs, compared to the Department’s estimate of 40%. Posted 24 January 2012. benefit cap defeat will be reversed, says clegg - The Government will seek to overturn a Lords defeat for plans to cap benefits for households at £26,000, when the bill returns to the Commons. Link to BBC website. Posted 24 January 2012 latest decision summaries - Posted 23 January 2012. benefits cap affects 67,000 households - In advance of the Lord's debate on the proposed benefits cap the DWP has published an impact assessment. Posted 23 January 2012. get set for university life - This summer school is for young people 17 - 25 years old, with physical disabilities who are studying or resident in the south of England, and who plan to start a higher education course in 2013. The summer school is also open to students who have an offer of a place at the University of Winchester for 2012. Posted 20 January 2012, pip factsheet update - This factsheet has been updated with a timetable for the introduction of PIP. Posted 16 January 2012. lords' scrutiny of welfare reform continues on 23 january - Members of the House are expected to discuss the cap on benefits a household of working age adults can receive and the introduction of a new additional payment called the 'self-care premium'. Link to Parliament site. Posted 20 January 2012. claimants to get wca disallowance reasons - From 23 January 2012 both IB Reassessment and ESA claimants found to have no Limited Capability for Work will be sent the Decision Maker’s reasons for the disallowance decision. Posted 20 January 2012. disability rights uk lords briefing - Briefing on Welfare Reform Bill: Part 4 – DLA and PIP. Posted 17 January 2012. lord freud responds to spartacus report - Lord Freud has written to peers with a response to the Responsible Reform (Spartacus) report. Posted 17 January 2012. localisation issues in welfare reform - The Communities and Local Government Committee held a short inquiry looking at the implications of localisation being applied to aspects of the welfare system. The Government has now responded to this inquiry. Posted 16 January 2012. govt may halve personal independence payment (pip) waiting time - Currently the Goverment proposes claimants will need to satisfy the PIP daily living and/or mobility activities test for 6 months prior to claiming and be likely to continue to satisfy this test for a period of at least 6 months after claiming. This rule may be amended to 3 months prior to claiming with a likely continuance of 9 months. Link to BBC website. Posted 16 January 2012. govt suggests to sun that 500,000 disabled people will lose dla in welfare ‘reform - Link to Sun article. Posted 16 January 2012. welfare reform bill - Fourth marshalled list of amendments to be moved on report in the House of Lords. Link to Parliament website. Posted 16 January 2012. sign macmillan’s petition on welfare reform - Time is running out to make sure that people with cancer don’t lose benefits. Help Macmillan campaign by signing their petition. Posted 9 January 2012. Active Consultationspip assessment thresholds and consultation - This consultation is intended to seek views on the second draft of the assessment criteria for personal independence payment (PIP) and in particular on the changes that have been made since the first draft, the proposed descriptor weightings and entitlement thresholds and the draft regulations. The closing date for responses is 30 April 2012. Posted 16 January 2012. consultation on wca and cancer - This Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) consultation seeks to gather evidence and views about proposed improvements to the way the Work Capability Assessment assesses individuals who are suffering from cancer. The closing date for responses is 9 March 2012. Posted 19 December 2011. bereavement benefit consultation - This Department for Work and Pension consultation seeks views on proposals to change the bereavement benefits system. The closing date for responses is 5 March 2012. Posted 13 December 2011. govt proposes putting a charge on disabled people's property - A new call for evidence sets out the Government’s ideas on simplifying the help provided towards mortgage interest payments for working age and pensioner home owners. It proposes putting a charge on disabled people's property in return for long-term payment of support for mortgage interest. The closing date for responses is 27 February 2012. Posted 8 December 2011. fulfilling potential: working together to empower disabled people - This Office for Disability Issues (ODI) consultation invites disabled people and their organisations to help shape future policy and develop a new cohesive cross-government disability strategy. The closing date for responses is 5pm, 9 March 2012. Posted 1 December 2011. |
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Trustees wanted for Disability Rights UK6 February 2012 Disability Rights UK has just been formed through a historic merger between Disability Alliance, National Centre for Independent Living and RADAR. Our vision is a society where disabled people can participate equally as full citizens. We will be the largest UK pan-disability organisation led by disabled people. These are exciting times as we build the new organisation to develop a strong voice, impact and sustainability. We are seeking six Trustees to govern and support the development of Disability Rights UK. They will join three founding Trustees. The closing date for applications is 20 February 2012. Disability Rights UK eventsNetworking and Empowerment EventsWe are holding a series of regional events to introduce the new organisation to disabled people and their organisations across the country. This is an opportunity for you and / or your organisation to find out about Disability Rights UK, to ask questions, and crucially, to get involved. Disability Rights UK aims to be a user-led organisation, so we need you to be part of it. Find out more. Posted 7 February 2012. Join our our London Leadership Programme
Are you living with ill health, injury or a disability? Are you someone who wants to become a Leader in your community, but feels like they need more support? Then the London Leadership Development Day is for you! Posted 20 January 2012.
Disability Rights UK membershipBecome a member of Disability Rights UK
Disability Rights UK’s vision is of a society where everyone with lived experience of disability or health conditions can participate equally as full citizens. By being part of Disability Rights UK you will be helping realise this vision. Membership is open to organisations and individuals. Find out more. Posted 2 February 2012. Disability Rights UK press and media[Out of hours media contact - 07590 929 441. Link to previous press releases.] Welfare reform discussion on the Voice of Russia6 February 2012 Scott Craig, of Voice of Russia radio, interviewed Richard Wellings, Olly Parker and Ian Greaves (editor of the Disability Rights Handbook) on the British government's controversial plans for welfare reform. Listen to discussion: Government rejects Welfare amendments and ignores consequences of cuts2 February 2012 Disability Rights UK is a membership organisation representing over 500 organisations across the country. We supported the amendments made to the Welfare Reform Bill in the House of Lords, overturned by the Government in the Commons today. Neil Coyle, Disability Rights UK Director of Policy and Campaigns, says:
Coalition should think again about cuts to disability benefitsWe are calling on the government to pause the welfare reform bill and carefully consider its reform of the DLA. The bill is now in the final stages, but the details of how the reform would affect disabled people has not been fully investigated. Last week the Responsible Reform report showed worrying evidence that the decision to reduce DLA expenditure by 20% may have been based on incomplete or misleading data about the reasons for growth in DLA. It has now been revealed that the proposed changes will lead to 500,000 disabled people no longer being eligible for this benefit. Letter to the Guardian published 16 January 2012 Welfare reform 'being rushed through'17 January 2012 Lord Colin Low, president of the Disability Alliance, told the Today programme's James Naughtie that the Welfare Reform Bill was being "rushed through to meet Treasury targets". He went on to say that reforms are a "work in progress" and disabled people "don't have confidence" that the government will provide a fair support assessment system. Link to BBC Today website. Call for 'pause' over Welfare Reform Bill17 January 2012 A coalition of major charities is calling on the government to pause the Welfare Reform Bill and carefully consider its proposed changes to disability living allowance. Neil Coyle, director of policy and campaigns at Disability Rights UK, outlines his concerns. Link to BBC today website. Disability Rights UK campaignsJustice for All Survey
Justice for All has produced a very short survey to help them measure the changes the advice sector is undergoing. It is to be filled in by managers or frontline advisors within not-for-profit advice agencies and will help shape Justice for All's influencing of the Cabinet Office's Advice Review. All responses are anonymous. You can find the survey here. Find out more about the Justice for All campaign here. Posted 2 February 2012. Anti cuts e-petitionStop and review the cuts to benefits and services which are falling disproportionately on disabled people, their carers and families Thousands of people have called on the government to stop and review the cuts to benefits which are hitting disabled people hard. Show your support and help us reach 100,000 signatures. Sign Pat’s Petition now. Posted 27 January 2012. Hardest Hit campaign latestYour campaigning inspired Lords to reject key government proposals on employment and support allowance (ESA) and force important concessions on the introduction of the new benefit set to replace disability living allowance (DLA). Use our site to email your MP and ask them to fight for fair benefits. Posted 25 January 2012. Lobby to end the care crisisIn April 2012 the Government are due to publish a white paper on social care reform and a progress report on social care funding. The Care and Support Alliance have agreed a campaign plan, including a lobby of Parliament, to put pressure on Parliamentarians and influence the white paper before it’s publication. The lobby will take place on Tuesday 6th March 2012 in Westminster, between 10.00 am and 17.30pm. Find out more. Posted 12 January 2012. Disability Rights UK Publications and productsNational Key Scheme App now released for the iPhoneWe now have an iPhone app – the Radar National Key Scheme app to provide up-to-date information on 9,000 accessible toilet facilities in the UK, as part of a wider project to take the National Key Scheme (NKS) mobile. Find out more. Posted 2 February 2012. Into higher education 2012The higher education guide for people with disabilities
Into Higher Education is a free downloadable guide for disabled students thinking about studying in higher education. It deals with common questions such as whether the college or university will be accessible, how to choose a course and what support will be available. Crucially this edition also covers the new information on tuition fees, repayment methods and the support that will be in place for 2012 entry. Find out more. Posted 1 December 2011. Skill for disabled studentsThe Skill Disabled Students Helpline can give you advice on education, training and employment. The opening hours are: Tuesday 11.30am-1.30pm Tel: 0800 328 5050 Email: skill4disabledstudents@disabilityalliance.org Find out more. Updated 27 October 2011. Tribunal Support UnitThe Tribunal Support Unit (TSU) is a free service for advisers dealing with social security benefits and tax credits. It offers help with complex benefit questions through all stages of the decision-making and appeals systems. Find out more. Updated 8 August 2011. Disability Rights UK knows that many people trying to make the move from benefits to work worry about how their benefits will be affected and may not know what other support could be available. We have teamed up with Remploy to provide an independent advice service called Benefits of Working. This is for people using Remploy's services who are thinking about starting or returning to work. Unity Law - legal advice and support
Disability Alliance is pleased to announce the formal partnership with the specialist law firm for disability discrimination, Unity Law, to provide legal advice and support to anyone who is being discriminated against because of disability. The partnership is very timely, coming amid potential breaches of community care law as Councils increase charges for essential homecare support. Disability Alliance and Unity Law are both focused on ensuring that disabled people get fair access to support. Link to press release. Updated 30 November 2011. |
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