Tag Archives: disability
Benefits changes: Universal Credit system warning
Seventy organisations involved in the benefits system have raised concerns about a government overhaul.
9 September 2012 Last updated at 09:06
The Universal Credit aims to make the system simpler by replacing five work-based benefits with one benefit.
The groups are worried about moving to monthly payments, access to an online system and whether a new IT system will be ready by an October 2013 deadline.
The government says managing the system online will save money, and that the new benefit is set to come in on time.
Ministers have said they are determined to reform the system, so it pays people to work rather than claim benefits.
Written evidence, seen by BBC Radio 4’s The World This Weekend, was submitted to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee by organisations representing councils, charities, trades unions, business groups and housing organisations.
Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People says the poorest are being unfairly targeted in the government’s “austerity war”
Disabled people are being unfairly and disproportionately targeted in the government’s “austerity war”, according to a new report commissioned by a Norfolk campaign group.
By CHRIS HILL, Rural affairs correspondent Saturday, September 8, 2012
7:00 AM
Disability protestors in Norwich. Photo: Bill Smith
Despite the government’s austerity mantra of “we’re all in it together”, the notion of collective responsibility for resolving the country’s financial crisis has been scorned by sceptics.
But one group in particular is claiming that the burden of the cuts to public services is being unfairly shouldered by some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
The Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People (NCODP) has commissioned a report which says the poorest 20pc of the 2.7 million households receiving disability benefits will lose 16pc of their cash income, plus benefits-in-kind, during the four years up to 2015.
It estimates the percentage loss for the poorest fifth is four times larger than the loss for the richest fifth.
Royal Mail staff given access to confidential medical details
Benefits application forms are routinely opened and sorted by postal workers
Nina Lakhani
Saturday 08 September 2012
Confidential medical information from sick and disabled people applying for welfare benefits is opened and sorted by Royal Mail staff on behalf of the Government without the claimant’s knowledge or consent, The Independent can reveal.
Medical experts reacted angrily to the potential for breaches in confidentiality after it emerged that the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) routinely uses Royal Mail to process the thousands of benefits claims, including health data, it receives every day.
The revelations have prompted fresh concerns about the fact that the handling of sensitive personal information can be legally outsourced without the subject’s consent.
