In times of crisis the rights of disabled people are the first to be slashed, despite us being amongst the categories most in need of particular support in the coronavirus pandemic. The UK government’s emergency Coronavirus Act, according to Disability Rights UK, amounts to a suspension of the Care Act 2014 and of parts of…Read moreRead more
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Disabled People & Social Care
Workers Sacked Due to Coronavirus
Workers sacked due to coronavirus denied benefits by Universal Credit chaos – Fight Back! Newly sacked workers are experiencing a kick in the face as they try to claim benefits through the chaotic Universal Credit system. New claimants told the TV news on 25 March they were on the phone for hours without getting any reply. Universal Credit’s…Read moreRead more
Stop the persecution of disabled claimants
Anne is disabled with serious health conditions. She has serious heart problems, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, personality disorder, OCD, asthma, depression, emphysema, anaemia, deafness of right ear, IBS, prolapsed womb. Now she faces prosecution for “benefit fraud”….. Anne obtained support from a welfare rights organisation to apply for Personal Independence Payment and received an award. But then…Read moreRead more
Poverty in Edinburgh
The Poverty Alliance briefing for the Edinburgh Poverty Commission. If you know anything about poverty in Edinburgh – or anywhere else in Britain – this report won’t come as a surprise. Whether the local council here in Edinburgh or any other authorities will take more than token steps to address the points raised is another…Read moreRead more
Up Against the DWP
Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty organises 3 or 4 advocacy stalls every month outside Jobcentres to give solidarity to claimants. Recently we have met several claimants who were ill and had been through the benefits medical examinations. One man could barely mount the steps to the jobcentre. He was in significant distress from severe breathlessness caused…Read moreRead more