Disability Rights UK E-Newsletter 5 February 2018

Our free newsletter keeps you up to date with the work we do and the work of our members.

“This review highlights the ongoing and persistent failures of the assessment process, which is badly designed and implemented. Huge amounts of tax payer’s money is being wasted on poor quality assessments which deny disabled people benefits that they qualify for – that’s one of the reasons the success rate at appeal is so high.

We urge all disabled people who are turned down for benefits they believe they should get to use the independent appeals process.”

Read more

Tell us about your care: Disability Rights UK is involved in the ‘Tell Us About Your Care’ partnership with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Through this initiative disabled people have the opportunity to tell the regulator about their experiences of the health and social care services they use.

Increased funding for supported internships: DR UK welcomes funding announcement to increase the number of supported internships. See also our good practice toolkit on supporting disabled learners

Our Leadership Academy Programme – so different: The Leadership Academy programme (LAP), is a career development programme, designed for the progression of employees with lived experience of disability and/or long term health conditions. We often get asked what makes our programme different to others? Find out why

“(the) training was really great, I think everyone who attended got a much better idea of means vs non-means tested benefits and a good overview of ESA and PIP. “

• Our next Benefits Overview course is 9.30am-4.30pm 21st February 2018
• Our next Disability Confident course is 10.00am to 4.00pm 28^th February 2018

To learn more about training offered by Disability Rights UK please contact jason.jaspal@disabilityrightsuk.org

Free guides factsheets and other information: These provide basic information about benefits, tax credits, social care and other disability related issues for claimants and advisers. See our full range

• Our PIP Guide has now been updated to include changes to regulations following the High Court decision RF v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, related to psychological distress.
• Our Into Further Education Guide aims to answer common questions such as whether colleges will be accessible to disabled students, how to choose a course and what support will be available.

We stock the Genuine Radar Key: We sell the Genuine Radar NKS Key to people who require the use of toilet facilities due to their disability or health condition. You can buy it VAT free if the key is for your own domestic or personal use. Visit our shop

DR UK are looking for a sales volunteer: This is a fantastic opportunity to support our work to improve the independence of disabled people. In the past, our volunteers have developed good office / clerical experience and used this volunteering opportunity as a platform from which to move into paid employment. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people. Find out more

CQC consults on plans to evolve regulation of independent healthcare services in England: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is inviting people to give their views on plans to evolve its approach to regulating independent healthcare services in England to ensure a more targeted, responsive and collaborative approach. Closes Friday 23 March 2018. Find out more

No homes for nurses from land sell-off, says economic think tank: A report from think tank, the New Economics Foundation, casts doubt on the government’s stated plan to use the sale of public land to fund the building of affordable homes.

Sustainability and transformation in the NHS: According to a report from the National Audit Office, additional funding, aimed to help the NHS get on a financially sustainable footing, has instead been spent on coping with existing pressures. Read more

PIP and DLA Mandatory Reconsideration Letter Tools: Advicenow has two tools to help you ask for a reconsideration of your PIP or DLA decision. Read more

Government responds to Gluten free prescription consultation: Following its consultation on the availability of gluten-free foods on NHS prescription, the government has decided to restrict gluten-free prescribing to bread and mixes only. The Department of Health and Social Care say the majority of consultation responses were in favour of this. Read more

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