These are the welfare-related links we’ve been looking at between September 6th and October 27th:
- Police raid activist’s home for ‘criminal’ posts on Facebook. China? No – Wales | Pride’s Purge – If the police wanted to talk to her, why did the officers choose to enter her home at midnight on a Friday? Why didn’t they inform her in writing or interview her at a police station so she could arrange for a lawyer to be present? At best this is unprofessional behaviour on the part of South Wales Police, at worst it is political harassment of an individual worthy of a dictatorial state such as China or North Korea.
- Nottingham City Council LOLs: No Jobseekers, No Sickies, No Dogs. Economic Cleansing at Stonebridge? – On the other hand, all those on Incapacity Benefit or its replacement Employment Support Allowance are UNABLE to work, that is a key defining condition of the benefit and a great deal of them will be defined as disabled under the Equality Act. I think what I’m saying here is that NCC is about to face a number of disability discrimination claims if the policy remains in this state.
- Atos scandal: Benefits bosses admit over half of people ruled fit to work ended up destitute – Daily Record – The Department for Work and Pensions, who hired the French IT firm to help them slash the benefits bill, have admitted finding out in a survey that 55 per cent of people who lost benefits in the crackdown had failed to find work. Only 15 per cent were in jobs, with 30 per cent on other benefits. The DWP claimed people left high and dry were given “tailored support” to find jobs.
- It’s social housing – so why are the needy locked out? – Home News – UK – The Independent – The exclusions – which have been unveiled in a series of freedom of information requests – are a departure from the usual points-based allocation process, which aims to let social housing to “those who are in the greatest housing need”. Mental health problems and homelessness would usually increase an applicant’s points total and position on the housing register. The King’s Cross Central homes will be let through Camden’s allocation scheme, but anybody who does not meet the special criteria will not be able to bid.
- Record of Westminster Hall debate on Atos ‘Healthcare’ secured by Tom Greatrex MP ~ Tuesday 4th September 2012 | Black Triangle Campaign – Despite the Harrington recommendations for improvements, the test bears no relationship to the real-world challenges that people with disabilities face. There is no recognition of fluctuating conditions, as has been said—particularly in connection with mental health. The procedure largely ignores the assessments and advice of applicants’ own GPs.