DWP

It's just another way of saying that mental illness isn't a 'real' illness.

It's ironic, isn't it?

I don't know the details of these cuts to PIP, but it's a really dangerous precedent if a government is allowed to overrule a legal decision. That's what happened a few years ago, when IDS changed the rules on the work programme retrospectively.

From the LibDem Voice.

www.libdemvoice.org/lib-dem-lords-aim-to-kill-new-tory-restrictions-on-disability-benefits-53391.html

The Lords are trying to stop the government, though, vampirequeen.

kittysjones.wordpress.com/2017/02/25/lords-table-motion-to-kill-new-tory-restrictions-on-pip/

Never thought I would be grateful to the upper house, but I am now.

The media won't report because it doesn't suit the plans of their owners.

The only way for the rich to stay in power is to make sure that the poor don't realise who is to blame for their suffering. This time they have chosen benefit claimants esp. the sick and disabled to be the scapegoats.

The rich stay in power whilst the poor blame the even poorer.

www.welfareweekly.com/welfare-reform-is-killing-people-but-the-tory-press-doesnt-want-you-to-know/

This has taken a long time to get started.

www.24housing.co.uk/news/committee-launches-double-benefits-inquiry/

Strange how they need to do another enquiry into it, rather than just accept the other enquiries. By the time it finishes, there'll be another government.

This is a response by psychologists to the green paper on Improving Lives to say that benefit sanctions undermine mental health and must stop.

www.bps.org.uk/system/files/consultationpapers/responses/final%20joint%20Green%20Paper%20response%20BPS%20BACP%20UKCP%20BPC%20BABCP.pdf

The number of sanctions by the DWP exceeds the number of court fines.

www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/resources/benefit-sanctions-britains-secret-penal-system

This was a report two years ago. I doubt it has changed.

theconversation.com/we-showed-i-daniel-blake-to-people-living-with-the-benefits-system-heres-how-they-reacted-73153

It does happen quite often that people are sanctioned, and lose money. They then have to appeal which can take months.
A yellow card system must be better for those involved. Except, of course, the government can save money without it.

From that article : "A trial of a ‘yellow card’ early warning system helped hundreds avoid a loss of benefits – but the Government has not agreed to extending it across the country"

They say they need more evidence. What more evidence do they need? Extend it across the country and monitor how it goes!

Even if someone "deserves" to lose benefit, it's only reasonable to warn them that it is going to happen, not just snatch it away unexpectedly.

Under the current system, even people who have never been sanctioned, and who have complied with everything asked of them by the DWP, must be terrified that it could happen to them, completely without warning.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/benefit-sanctions-food-banks-frank-field-department-of-work-and-pensions-yellow-card-promise-a7587356.html

The Tory plan.

There is a crowdfunding campaign to get an inquest into the death of David Clapson, whose sanctions meant he had no money for food or for electricity to run his fridge to keep his diabetes medication at the right temperature.

The Hertfordshire coroner decided not to hold an inquest into his death, and rejected an appeal on the decision, and so taking the case to the High Court is the last resort.

www.crowdjustice.org/case/david-clapson/

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/kidney-transplant-dad-disability-benefits-12598096

The system is designed to reduce the welfare budget. It doesn't care if that is by people finding work or dying. The important thing is to save money.

I have just read that a survey of landlords responsible for 3000 households on Universal Credit found that 8 out of 10 tenants were in arrears.
There must be something wrong with a system where that happens.

www.thecanary.co/2017/02/10/bbc-host-just-tried-bully-ken-loach-accepting-austerity-lived-regret-video/

I never saw this yesterday, but I'm going to watch it over the weekend.

www.disabilitynewsservice.com/mother-of-fit-for-work-victim-calls-for-ministers-to-face-criminal-charges/

Someone being hopeful. but if you don't try, you don't get.

www.disabilitynewsservice.com/green-party-calls-on-government-to-launch-benefit-deaths-inquiry/

A terrible situation to be in. It's all very well being told that claims will be backdated but you have to live in the meantime.

Was he in rented accommodation? How did he manage?

A friend of my SiL has finally had his claim settled after 10 months with (back payment). In the meantime he has had to go into a voluntary debt repayment agreement (IVA?). The back payment will clear much of the debt but doesn't cover the stress and the wrecked credit rating.

It terrible isn't it. I dread the day they decide it's time to change me from ESA et al to Universal Credit.

www.theguardian.com/society/2017/feb/07/universal-credit-flaws-pushing-claimants-towards-debt-and-eviction-warning