{"id":1429,"date":"2012-10-03T11:39:55","date_gmt":"2012-10-03T10:39:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/?p=1429"},"modified":"2012-10-03T11:39:55","modified_gmt":"2012-10-03T10:39:55","slug":"benefits-and-work-community-october-2nd-news-letter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/2012\/10\/03\/benefits-and-work-community-october-2nd-news-letter\/","title":{"rendered":"Benefits and Work community October 2nd news letter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n
\n

2 October Newsletter<\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
Benefits May Stop For Claimants Who Appeal Plus New 3 Year Sanctions<\/p>\n

In this edition we have confirmation that the DWP is actively considering axeing employment and support allowance (ESA) payments for claimants who challenge a decision that they are fit for work.\u00c2\u00a0 Instead, claimants will have to try to sign on for jobseeker\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s allowance, where they will face a harsh new regime which, from later this month, will include potential benefit sanctions of up to three years.<\/p>\n

Plus, we learn how many ESA claimants who get found fit for work are left with no income at all and discover the outrage amongst disability charities at a secret deal done between Disabilty Rights UK and the DWP.<\/p>\n

We also have leaked confirmation that Atos will be paid millions in bonuses for getting disability living allowance (DLA) to personal independence payment (PIP) transfer medicals done in a tearing hurry rather than getting them right \u00e2\u20ac\u201c and how this may also affect not just DLA but also ESA claimants.<\/p>\n

And finally, as well as the money off offer below we also have a free screensaver of stunning images from A Way of Seeing to say thank you for over 5,000 Facebook likes of our Benefits and Work page.
\n
\nMONEY OFF ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION – ENDS MIDNIGHT THURSDAY<\/strong>
\nIf you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not already a member, join the Benefits and Work community<\/a> (open access) before midnight on Thursday and you can get 3.50 off the cost of your annual subscription.\u00c2\u00a0 Just type the following code into the coupon box when you pay via PayPal:<\/p>\n

20547<\/p>\n

to get an annual subscription for 15.95, down from 19.45.<\/p>\n

ESA MAY BE STOPPED FOR CLAIMANTS WHO TRY TO APPEAL<\/strong>
\nThe DWP has now released their response to the \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcconsultation\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 on a mandatory revision before appeal system.\u00c2\u00a0 Under the new system, claimants who wish to challenge most benefits decision will be prevented from lodging an appeal with the Tribunals Service until the DWP have had another look at the decision.\u00c2\u00a0 There is no time limit for how long the DWP can spend on this mandatory reconsideration.<\/p>\n

This is particularly important for ESA claimants who are found fit for work, as they are legally prevented from continuing to receive the assessment rate of ESA until they have lodged an appeal.<\/p>\n

After months of refusing to answer the question, the DWP have now revealed in their response document that they are still undecided as to whether claimants will be allowed to continue to receive ESA during the reconsideration phase.\u00c2\u00a0 Worryingly the document does state that \u00e2\u20ac\u0153other benefits may be available to claimants where ESA has been disallowed\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n

Benefits and Work members can read more and comment here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can download the response document<\/a> from the DWP website<\/p>\n

EXTRAORDINARILY HARSH JSA SANCTIONS<\/strong>
\nESA claimants who end up on JSA face an extraordinarily harsh new sanctions from 22 October, when decision makers will have the power to ban claimants from JSA for up to three years for repeated offences of:<\/p>\n

leaving a job voluntarily;
\nlosing a job through misconduct;
\nrefusal\/failure to apply for, or\u00c2\u00a0 accept if offered a suitable job;
\nrefusal\/failure to participate in mandatory work activity.<\/p>\n

If you can show you had good cause for your actions, then there will, be no sanction.\u00c2\u00a0 But with legal aid ending for welfare benefits next year, help to show good cause will be harder to come by.<\/p>\n

Claimants may lose out on JSA where decision makers refuse to accept that the they are too ill to undertake mandatory work, for example. Or if an unscrupulous employer unlawfully sacks them because they are disabled, but alleges that dismissal was for misconduct, then they may also face sanctions.<\/p>\n

Again, with the ending of legal aid for employment law and the introduction of hefty fees for taking a case to tribunal, it will be much harder for claimants to show they were not at fault.<\/p>\n

The three year sanction will apply for a third offence within 52 weeks. The current maximum sanction is 26 weeks.\u00c2\u00a0 Claimants may be eligible for hardship payments during the sanction period.<\/p>\n

Further details of the new sanctions regime<\/a> can be found on the DWP website.<\/p>\n

ESA LOSERS LEFT WITHOUT INCOME<\/strong>
\nThe DWP has been forced to reveal what really becomes of ESA claimants who are found fit for work.<\/p>\n

The Daily Record reports that, according to a DWP survey carried out in 2009 but only recently uncovered by a Freedom of Information request, 55% of claimants found fit for work were left unemployed and without any income.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 A further 30% were in receipt of benefits and only 15% had found employment.<\/p>\n

Given the current economic climate, today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s figures may be even more dismal.<\/p>\n

You can read the Daily record article here<\/a> and Benefits and Work members can comment here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ANGER OVER SECRET DWP CHARITY DEAL<\/strong>
\nThere is outrage amongst disability charities at the news that the DWP has set up a new quango, the Disability Action Alliance, to produce disability policies and then secretly appointed Disability Rights UK (DRUK) to run it.<\/p>\n

News came out only after the deal was done and some angry charities are now trying to get questions asked in the House of Commons about what went on behind closed doors.<\/p>\n

The new organisation is supposed to help ensure that government policy gets the best possible outcome for disabled people.\u00c2\u00a0 But the Alliance is made up of private companies, who may be more concerned about making profits than supporting disabled people,\u00c2\u00a0 public sector organisations, who may be more concerned about saving money,\u00c2\u00a0 and by charities like DRUK which are heavily and increasingly dependent on government cash to stay afloat.<\/p>\n

There is particular disquiet from disability charities such as RNIB and the UK Disabled People\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Council that DRUK was chosen to lead the new body without any consultation or appointment process that would have allowed others to take part.<\/p>\n

The appointment includes a fee for DRUK, whose head Liz Sayce wrote a report recommending the closure of Remploy factories which the government is now putting into action.<\/p>\n

Benefits and Work members can read more and comment here <\/a>and also here<\/a>
\n
\nPIP MEDICALS BONANZA<\/strong>
\nA botched Freedom of Information response has revealed that Atos\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 contract for carrying out DLA to PIP transfer medicals includes a very hefty profit of \u00c2\u00a340 million if the company manages to put 15% more people through medicals than expected in Scotland and Northern England.\u00c2\u00a0 The \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Atos Risk Management Plan\u00e2\u20ac\u009d shows that they will make more than \u00c2\u00a328 million even if they only examine the expected number of claimants.<\/p>\n

There is no evidence of a penalty for getting it wrong\u00c2\u00a0 in tens of thousands of cases as they currently do with ESA, however.<\/p>\n

It is clear that at the moment there is a wide margin of uncertainty about how many current DLA claimants will take part in the PIP transfer and that the DWP and Atos have worked out what the cost and profitability of the contract is likely to be depending on the final number of people assessed.\u00c2\u00a0 What this may mean is that, for Atos, there will be a real financial incentive to rush through medicals as quickly as possible without worrying whether they are collecting detailed and accurate evidence.\u00c2\u00a0 The profits will be for volume not for accuracy.<\/p>\n

This could have a knock on effect for ESA claimants too. It is likely that some of the same staff and same centres that are used for ESA examination will also be used for PIP.\u00c2\u00a0 The faster\u00c2\u00a0 the current incapacity benefit to ESA transfer can be completed, the sooner staff can be freed up to work on the PIP contract.\u00c2\u00a0 Yet more incentive to get things done fast rather than well.<\/p>\n

Details of the contract, which the DWP had meant to keep secret, were accidentally disclosed in a\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Freedom of Information response.<\/p>\n

More details from the Daily Record<\/a>.<\/p>\n

FREE SCREENSAVER SLIDESHOW <\/strong>
\nThe Benefits and Work Facebook page now has over 5,000 likes.<\/p>\n

To say thank you for your support , A way of Seeing – who do graphic work for us as well as running our Facebook page \u00e2\u20ac\u201c are giving away a free screensaver slideshow of stunning images from their “On The Water Front” collection.<\/p>\n

Not only do A Way of Seeing do a fantastic job on our Facebook page, they also run free photography workshops in schools as well.\u00c2\u00a0 They are great supporters and friends of the Benefits and Work community, so please support their work in turn by visiting the A Way of Seeing Facebook page<\/a>, and clicking on \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcLike\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 before downloading the screensaver.<\/p>\n

MORE NEWS<\/strong>
\nAs always, there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s much more news in the members area<\/a> than we have room for in this newsletter. Many thanks to everyone who has sent in news stories over the last fortnight, including: Beverley Hymers, John Pring, originaldave, bro58,\u00c2\u00a0 Jim Allison, papasmurf, Crazydiamond.<\/p>\n

GOOD NEWS FROM THE FORUM \u00e2\u20ac\u201c OPEN ACCESS LINKS<\/strong>
\nFinally, after all the gloom, a few cheery posts from the forum to end on:<\/p>\n

ESA decision reconsidered, placed in Support Group until 2015<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153thanks for all the advice on your site\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

High rate mobility and high rate care DLA awarded indefinitely after third attempt <\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Thanks again this will make a huge impact to my life\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

ESA decision reconsidered after lodging appeal, moved from WRAG to Support Group<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I am very thankful to this site – for the guides, advice and support that I have received from members and mods alike.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

Decision revised and placed in ESA Support Group after being migrated from IB to ESA WRAG<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Many thanks for the B&W guides, they are invaluable.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

Successful ESA appeal, moved from WRAG to Support Group<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Best wishes to all.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em>
\n
\nESA decision reconsidered after request for appeal, moved from WRAG to Support Group<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153would just like to thank this site for their help\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

Placed in ESA Support Group without medical<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Many thanks to all on here & to the people who run the site for the guides.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

Transferred from IB to ESA Support Group for 3 years without having medical assessment<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153I wish to thank B & W so very much.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

Placed in ESA Support Group<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153thanks B&W for your very informative Guides they, in my opinion made all the difference to my claim\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em><\/p>\n

Placed in ESA Support Group without medical assessment<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u0153the info on here is very helpful and has been invaluable so thank you.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

Placed in ESA Support Group after request for review of initial decision to award 0 points<\/a><\/p>\n

Join the Benefits and Work community now<\/strong><\/a> and discover what a difference we can make.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You are welcome to reproduce this newsletter on your blog, website, forum or newsletter provided it is properly attributed to www.benefitsandwork.co.uk<\/p>\n

You can also read this newsletter online<\/a> (open access).<\/p>\n

Good luck,<\/p>\n

Steve Donnison<\/p>\n

Benefits and Work Publishing Ltd
\nCompany registration No.\u00c2\u00a0 5962666<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

2 October Newsletter Benefits May Stop For Claimants Who Appeal Plus New 3 Year Sanctions In this edition we have confirmation that the DWP is actively considering axeing employment and support allowance (ESA) payments for claimants who challenge a decision that they are fit for work.\u00c2\u00a0 Instead, claimants will have to try to sign on … Continue reading Benefits and Work community October 2nd news letter<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-disabilty-and-health-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6NRDR-n3","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5673,"url":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/2014\/09\/09\/david-clapsons-awful-death-was-the-result-of-grotesque-government-policies\/","url_meta":{"origin":1429,"position":0},"title":"David Clapson\u2019s awful death was the result of grotesque government policies","author":"diana Stone","date":"September 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The DWP brags about ending the \u2018something for nothing\u2019 culture, but benefit sanctions punish the unemployed, disabled and poor in ways that are utterly inhumane","rel":"","context":"In "Musings"","block_context":{"text":"Musings","link":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/category\/musings\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Powered by Guardian.co.uk","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/image.guardian.co.uk\/sys-images\/Guardian\/Pix\/pictures\/2010\/03\/01\/poweredbyguardianBLACK.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1372,"url":"https:\/\/glass-cage.com\/dianas_blog\/2012\/06\/13\/how-it-is-in-the-uk-right-now\/","url_meta":{"origin":1429,"position":1},"title":"How it is in the UK right now","author":"diana Stone","date":"June 13, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I am republishing here the newsletter from the benefits and work community to help give it a wider airing. 12 June Newsletter \u00c2\u00a33.50 OFF AN ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION - 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