Dear All
This should be of interest:
Best wishes
Colin (Barnes).
-----Original Message-----
From: john rogers [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 02 October 2005 22:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Incapacity Benefit conference
Dear CDS,
As you may know, the government is planning to make major changes in
welfare provision, particularly that of disability benefits and
specifically Incapacity Benefit (IB).
These are changes which are of real concern to most disabled people, and
which we fear will plunge many into poverty and despair.
New IB claimants will be divided into two groups - those who are
required to attend "work-focussed interviews" (i.e. start moving towards
a return to work), and those who do not. It will be junior Jobcentre
Plus staff who decide which group a claimant is in. If they decide that
you should be in the first group, but you feel unable to attend these
interviews due to disability or illness, you will lose over 30% of
current IB entitlement.
This places a huge amount of power in hands of junior Dept. for Work and
Pensions (DWP) officials, and we know from experience that they are very
poorly-placed to be making such decisions on behalf of individual
disabled people.
We believe that claimants themselves are best-placed to decide whether
they are ready to think about a return to work.
Sheffield Welfare Action Network (SWAN) is a non party-political group,
led by people with disabilities. It was formed in response to the
proposed changes. We are seeking allies from NGO's, health support
groups, disability groups, faith Groups, the Labour movement, Student
Unions and individuals, to create a national campaign network opposed to
punitive welfare changes, and for dignity for claimants. We would like
to invite you to our national conference on Saturday 15th October in
Sheffield. We would be grateful if you could also help to publicise !
this event.
Contacts
To find out more or if you have any questions, do not
hesitate to contact our secretary Chris Taylor on
07903453006 or email us at [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Regards,
SWAN
Resources/links
Ministers plan biggest shake-up of the welfare state
for 60 years
By Andrew Grice, Political Editor
Published: 12 September 2005
The Government is to embark on the biggest shake-up of
the state benefits system for 60 years, according to
David Blunkett, the Work and Pensions Secretary.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article311919.ece
New genuinely disabled test to cut DLA & AA awards
07.09.03
Doctors carrying out DLA and AA medical!
s are
being
trained in a new method of assessing claimants which
claims to discover if they are "genuinely living the
life of a disabled person".
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=639
Specialist plan to help GPs end sick note ethic
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1546783,00.html
Incapacity Benefit to be
replaced in 2008
http://www.disabilityalliance.org/ibchange.htm
Incapacity benefit overhaul at heart of welfare reform
http://society.guardian.co.uk/futureforpublicservices/story/0,,1485865,0
0.html
Blunkett faces battle over welfare reform plans
http://society.guardian.co.uk/socialexclusion/story/0,,1486726,00.html
Blunkett faces battle over welfare reform plans
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1486309,00.html
Information
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/
10.30am to 4:30pm - 15th October 2005
Sheffield Hallam University Union of Students (former
National Centre for Popular Music)
Paternoster Row, Sheffield
No charge (donation) Full disabled access
Near train station Food/refreshments available
Organised by Sheffield Welfare Action Network
Please call Chris on 07903 453006 for details or email
[log in to unmask]
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