Latest editorial
Scope chairman Andrew McDonald
DISABILITY charity Scope is calling for an overhaul of Personal Independence Payments (PIP) after its chairman Andrew McDonald had his benefits cut despite being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and incurable prostate cancer.
PIP is currently distributed to nearly two million people in Britain and the points-based benefit pays claimants between £57.30 for applicants with eight points and £85.60 for 12 or more towards daily living each week.
Mr McDonald said the daily living element of his PIP was withdrawn entirely after an assessment reduced his points from 11 to two because of “informal observations” by the assessor.
DYLAN MURPHY reports that far from helping people back into work, the sanctions regime is inflicting unnecessary trauma on working-class families
Labour will find increases in the state pension age are unacceptable, just as cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance, personal independence payments and universal credit are — it needs to change direction immediately, writes PCS general secretary FRAN HEATHCOTE
A new report from the Citizens Advice destroys the government narrative about disabled people ‘choosing’ not to work, showing the £3,000 annual cuts will create a two-tiered system based on claim dates rather than needs, writes DYLAN MURPHY
