A local authority has admitted discriminating against a disabled couple who were left with a significant new council tax bill after they were forced to move onto universal credit. #UniversalCredit #CouncilTax #DWP www.disabilitynewsservice.com/council-admi...

Disabled campaigners are backing demands for major rights-based changes to the government’s railways bill that would target the poor state of accessibility across the network. #RailwaysBill #AccessibleTransport www.disabilitynewsservice.com/letter-from-...

A disabled peer has raised fears that people with learning difficulties could be “collateral damage” if a controversial assisted suicide bill becomes law. #AssistedSuicide #AssistedDying www.disabilitynewsservice.com/people-with-...

Activists say the government’s decision to slash disabled people’s out-of-work benefits is a “recipe for greater hardship” and will risk claimants’ lives, as ministers this week pushed through cuts agreed last summer by MPs. #DWP #UniversalCredit www.disabilitynewsservice.com/cuts-to-disa...

Transport for London has secured the right to close more than half the ticket offices along the new Elizabeth line cross-capital rail system, a new document has confirmed, in a move that would discriminate against many disabled rail passengers. www.disabilitynewsservice.com/transport-fo...

One in five staff employed by contractors who carry out disability benefit assessments on the government’s behalf have not had vital safeguarding training, MPs have been told, despite years of deaths and serious harm linked to the tests. www.disabilitynewsservice.com/one-in-five-...

Council admits discrimination after DWP ‘migration’ left disabled couple with £1,500 tax bill #DWP #CouncilTax #UniversalCredit @dis-ppl-protest.bsky.social www.disabilitynewsservice.com/council-admi...

Letter from MP and activists demands rights and accessibility improvements to railways bill #RailwaysBill #AccessibleTransport @abcommuters.bsky.social @dis-ppl-protest.bsky.social www.disabilitynewsservice.com/letter-from-...

People with learning difficulties ‘could be collateral damage’ if assisted dying bill becomes law #AssistedDying #AssistedSuicide www.disabilitynewsservice.com/people-with-...

Transport for London finally admits it included contract option to close half Elizabeth line ticket offices #AccessibleTransport #TicketOffices #ElizabethLine @inclusionlondon.bsky.social @transportforall.org.uk www.disabilitynewsservice.com/transport-fo...

One in five assessors have not had vital safeguarding training, despite years of DWP deaths #DWP #Safeguarding #DeathsByWelfare #Maximus #Serco #Ingeus #Capita #Atos www.disabilitynewsservice.com/one-in-five-...

Cuts to disability benefits for those who cannot work ‘is recipe for greater hardship’ and ‘will put lives at risk’ #BenefitCuts #UniversalCredit @dis-ppl-protest.bsky.social @disrightsuk.bsky.social www.disabilitynewsservice.com/cuts-to-disa...

Activists have told an inquiry they fear the government is focusing its attention on “punishing” young disabled people for their needs and challenges, rather than ensuring they receive the support they need. #DPACCymru #AlanMilburn #NEETs www.disabilitynewsservice.com/governments-...

Disabled young people still face barriers that stop them taking part in school, college and university on an equal basis with non-disabled people, despite ongoing international calls for inclusive education, according to new government-funded research. www.disabilitynewsservice.com/disabled-stu...

The business leader heading the government’s efforts to keep ill and disabled people in work has suggested to MPs that he does not believe stricter enforcement of the Equality Act is the way to address disability discrimination in the workplace. #DWP www.disabilitynewsservice.com/government-a...

The Department for Work and Pensions has disputed claims made by its own disability minister which explained why widespread cuts were made to disabled people’s Access to Work support packages after Labour came to power in July 2024. #AccessToWork #DWP www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dwp-disputes...

Government adviser on health, disability and work warns against Equality Act crackdown on employers #CharlieMayfield #DWP #EqualityAct @rushanaraalibgs.bsky.social @debbieabrahamsmp.bsky.social www.disabilitynewsservice.com/government-a...

John's journalistic work is excellent and important and it's great to hear that the future of DNS seems bright. As good a time as any for me to once again recommend John's excellent and heart-rending book The Department, which outlines with deep humanity the cruelty of the DWP.

Government’s focus is on ‘punishing’ young disabled people rather than supporting them, activists fear @dis-ppl-protest.bsky.social @dpac-cymru.bsky.social #AlanMilburn #DWP #NEETs #PIPReview #DPACCymru www.disabilitynewsservice.com/governments-...

Disabled students still face barriers, research finds, just as ministers prepare to publish #SEND white paper www.disabilitynewsservice.com/disabled-stu...

Government adviser on health, disability and work warns against Equality Act crackdown on employers #CharlieMayfield #DWP #EqualityAct @rushanaraalibgs.bsky.social @debbieabrahamsmp.bsky.social www.disabilitynewsservice.com/government-a...

DWP disputes Access to Work claim made by its own disability minister #AccessToWork #DWP #FoIA www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dwp-disputes...

Two bits of news from me, firstly about the future of Disability News Service, and secondly an explanation for the lack of news stories from DNS over the last few weeks: www.linkedin.com/posts/john-p...

A new consultation on outdated laws covering the use of powered mobility devices on public roads and pavements could lead to greater independence for disabled people across Britain and an end to legal confusion, say campaigners. www.disabilitynewsservice.com/consultation...

Controversial government legislation that has now become law provides no solution to the culture of abuse, neglect and exclusion within the mental health system, or its continued structural racism, say disabled campaigners. #MentalHealthAct www.disabilitynewsservice.com/new-mental-h...

Disabled people across the country have backed the chief executive of a disability organisation after she turned down an MBE because of how successive governments have “demonised, dehumanised and scapegoated” disabled people. #NewYearHonours www.disabilitynewsservice.com/support-from...

The Department for Work and Pensions is refusing to explain which disabled people it expects to lose out from nearly £2 billion in new cuts to disability benefits, six weeks after the “savings” were quietly revealed in budget documents. #DWP #PIP #WCA www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dwp-refuses-...

Consultation on electric wheelchairs, scooters and powered attachments could see end to legal confusion @wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk www.disabilitynewsservice.com/consultation...

New Mental Health Act ‘offers no solution’ to abuse, exclusion and racism in mental health system #MentalHealthAct www.disabilitynewsservice.com/new-mental-h...

Support from across UK for disabled CEO who turned down #MBE over government ‘demonisation’ of disabled people www.disabilitynewsservice.com/support-from...

DWP refuses to say who will lose out in £2 billion cuts to disability benefits, six weeks after budget #DWP #Budget2025 #DisabilityBenefits www.disabilitynewsservice.com/dwp-refuses-...

Minister rejects pleas from disabled peers for national wheelchair and equipment strategy www.disabilitynewsservice.com/minister-rej... @johnpring.bsky.social

Welsh government publishes 10-year plan for disability rights… but fails to include any long-term policies www.disabilitynewsservice.com/welsh-govern... @johnpring.bsky.social

Labour ministers considered means-testing PIP, but later ruled it out, watchdog’s report shows www.disabilitynewsservice.com/labour-minis... @johnpring.bsky.social

Sadly DWP are likely to come up with a different exemption to refuse John's RFI. That's it go-to behaviour. Watchdog dismisses DWP’s description of DNS editor as ‘vengeful’ and ‘vexatious’ for asking to see deaths email www.disabilitynewsservice.com/watchdog-dis... @johnpring.bsky.social

Labour accused of ‘horrifying’ betrayal of disabled people after slashing Tory accessible housing target www.disabilitynewsservice.com/labour-accus... @johnpring.bsky.social

Starmer’s war on regulation just also happened to junk standards for accessible housing. But you can tell them your thoughts - www.gov.uk/government/c...

Labour accused of ‘horrifying’ betrayal of disabled people after slashing Tory accessible housing target - @johnpring.bsky.social www.disabilitynewsservice.com/labour-accus...

“It is not the role of a journalist to cast a positive light on information obtained under FOIA.” Watchdog dismisses DWP’s description of DNS editor as ‘vengeful’ & ‘vexatious’ for asking to see deaths email - @johnpring.bsky.social www.disabilitynewsservice.com/watchdog-dis...

The information commissioner has dismissed attempts by the Department for Work and Pensions to describe a disabled journalist as “vengeful” and “vexatious” after he tried to obtain information about its years of safeguarding failings buff.ly/5WQaBiE @marisharay.bsky.social @johnpring.bsky.social

Information Commissioner dismisses DWP’s description of investigative journalist as ‘vengeful’ and ‘vexatious’ @johnpring.bsky.social www.rightsnet.org.uk/now/post/69399

Still can't quite get over being called 'vengeful' and 'vexatious' by #DWP for asking for an unredacted email that could reveal details re the department's links with hundreds, and probably thousands, of deaths over the last 15 years. #DeathsByWelfare www.disabilitynewsservice.com/watchdog-dis...

If anyone had any lingering doubts about the need for a dedicated minister for disabled people - based outside the #DWP - this DNS story from last month surely banishes them for good: www.disabilitynewsservice.com/labour-accus...

Still can't quite get over being called 'vengeful' and 'vexatious' by #DWP for asking for an unredacted email that could reveal details re the department's links with hundreds, and probably thousands, of deaths over the last 15 years. #DeathsByWelfare www.disabilitynewsservice.com/watchdog-dis...

If anyone had any lingering doubts about the need for a dedicated minister for disabled people - based outside the #DWP - this DNS story from last month surely banishes them for good: www.disabilitynewsservice.com/labour-accus...

The government has dismissed pleas by disabled peers for ministers to introduce a national strategy to address the “untenable” state of wheelchair and community equipment services. www.disabilitynewsservice.com/minister-rej...

Disabled campaigners have dismissed a watchdog’s “misleading” new league table that claims to show the best performers in assisting disabled rail passengers. www.disabilitynewsservice.com/watchdogs-le...

The government’s housing and regeneration agency has failed to explain why its new five-year strategy fails to mention disabled people, or the need to address the accessible housing crisis. www.disabilitynewsservice.com/governments-...

The Labour peer trying to steer the assisted suicide bill through the Lords has rejected attempts to remove eligibility from disabled people who are homeless, in prison or pregnant, and from many young disabled people. #AssistedDying #AssistedSuicide www.disabilitynewsservice.com/falconer-dis...

The much-anticipated disability rights plan for Wales has left it to the next Welsh government to come up with a strategy to tackle the long-term barriers disabled people face in their daily lives. www.disabilitynewsservice.com/welsh-govern...