New ESA Form Guides, Forced Labour Victory, PIP Mobility Con

PIP TRAINING
With 3 months FREE professional membership for non-members and price discounts for current members, our personal independence payment training for professionals and support workers is proving very popular.
Wednesday 24 April, BIRMINGHAM;  Thursday, 23rd April BRISTOL;  Tuesday, 23 April, LEEDS; Thursday, 25 April, LONDON.
More training details here

Dear rob,
It may be one of the shortest lived legal victories by claimants on record.
The Court of Appeal today ruled that most of the DWP’s forced labour schemes were unlawful and that anyone who had been sanctioned under them should have their lost benefits repaid.   Within hours the government had set about trying to enact new regulations with immediate effect to reinstate the work for your benefits schemes.  They have also vowed not to repay any sanctioned benefits, despite the judges’ ruling.

DLA and ESA claimants under attack

Attacks on DLA and ESA claimants

Dear rob,

Two days after our December newsletter went out, the DWP dropped a bombshell on disabled claimants.  They suddenly revealed, after all the consultations were over,  that people wanting to qualify for the higher rate of the personal independence payment (PIP) mobility component will have to show they that they are unable to walk more than 20 metres, rather than the 50 metres generally used for disability living allowance (DLA).  The DWP now estimate that over half a million people will miss out on higher rate mobility under PIP compared to DLA.

We’ve published several articles on this issue, including:

PIP higher rate mobility down to 20 metres

Government silent on ‘draconian’ PIP mobility plans (members only)

DWP lies to cover tracks on mobility cuts (members only)


There’s also a report on the changes:  Emergency Stop from We Are Spartacus.

Plus the Hardest Hit are running a campaign to get people to contact their MPs about the change, which is likely to see many thousands of disabled claimants lose their independence.

Forced Labour, Lie Detectors, DWP Lawbreaking And 900 Page DLA Pack

Don’t Miss Out On Our PIP Training – It’s Filling Fast!
With 3 months FREE professional membership for non-members and price discounts for current members, our personal independence payment training for professionals and support workers is proving very popular.

The February training day in Bristol is already full, the London February date has just one place left and the March date just six.  So, if you want to get your preferred date and location, don’t leave booking too long.

Wednesday 6th March, BIRMINGHAM;  Thursday 14th March BRISTOL;  Friday 15th March, LEEDS; Tuesday 19 February and Tuesday 19th March, LONDON.

More training details here.

Dear rob,

In this edition we have news that ESA work-related activity group (WRAG) claimants can now be forced to undertake mandatory work for the good of the community, without time limits. There’s also the hard-faced decision by the coalition to limit ESA uprating to 1% per annum for the next three years.

Plus we learn that the DWP received legal advice two years ago that all medicals should be recorded on demand, not just ESA ones.

We have good news from Carer Watch:  Pat’s Petition for a debate on welfare reform has succeeded by an unexpected route and they are now asking for your support.  In addition, we have a magnificent 900+ page collection of DLA and AA case law digests for all of those of you who are in the process of appealing.

No More Wasting Time Waiting For Your Medical, Start Work Preparation Immediately

Personal Independence Payment Training
Tuesday 19th February, LONDON. 
Wednesday, 20th February, BRISTOL . NOW FULLY BOOKED

NEW DATES
Wednesday 6th March, BIRMINGHAM;  Thursday 14th March BRISTOL;  Friday 15th March, LEEDS.

Includes 3 months FREE professional membership for non-members, price discount for current members.  No previous benefits knowledge required. Suitable both for advice workers and for support workers who need to understand the possible effects on their clients of the DLA to PIP transfer process.

More details here.
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/personal-independence-payment-pip/pip-training

No more wasting time waiting for your medical – start work preparation immediately,  says Freud

G4S gets in on the act.

I think tesco in fishguard attracts these numptys.
This prat parked there even though there were half a dozen other spots he could have used.

A Disabled bottle bank ?

Apart from being next to the doctors, I don't know what to say about this one.

 

Even the bloody cabbys are at it now.

If there's one thing that's guaranteed to piss me off it's arseholes that park in disabled parking spots just so they can be 20 yards closer to the shops door.
Poor things, my heart bleeds.
I've had a blue badge for nine years now and I really hate the arrogant idiots that think it's ok to take a disabled spot as they "only want a pack of fags".
And for those of you that think it's just as easy for people like me to walk that few yards extra, no it fucking well isn't.