DWP says there’s ‘more learning to do’ as every MP given book on deaths of disabled benefit claimants

Disability activists are set to deliver 650 copies of a book on the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to the House of Commons – a copy for every MP.

The Department by John Pring is described as an “exposé of the bureaucratic violence and hostility of the DWP over the last 30 years”.

It argues that DWP actions have led to “the deaths of hundreds, if not thousands, of disabled people“.

• Elderly people’s lives in danger without winter fuel payment, Labour warned: ‘This is a mistake’
• Single mum with disabled children told to pay DWP back £17,000 in benefit overpayments

A crowdfunder was set up by disabled activists and originally aimed to raise enough money to deliver a copy to every Labour MP, but its success means they will now deliver a copy to 650 MPs on Monday (2 September).

The activists, including Coronation Street actor Cherylee Houston and former Eastenders actor Lisa Hammond, will be joined by relatives of people who have died or have taken their own lives following “traumatic” experiences at the hands of the benefits system. The group will be dressed in black.

Ellen Clifford, from the UK Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations’ Coalition, who has helped lead the project, said:“The success of the crowdfunder shows how important it is to people outside the Westminster bubble that our elected politicians finally address the grave injustice of DWP attacks on deaf and disabled people.

“Across the UK, there is growing concern about the impact of yet more cuts. It is apparent that lessons from the past are being deliberately ignored.”

The Big Issue has reported extensively on the disability benefits system – which some say is so difficult to navigate it causes “psychological trauma to the point of being suicidal”. Hundreds of readers have written to the Big Issue to share their own experiences of the DWP.

Disability activists have also written a letter to MPs, which will accompany the books, reminding them that the UK government was found guilty of “grave” and “systemic” violations of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as previously reported by The Big Issue.

It comes amid uncertainty over disability benefit reforms – the Conservative government announced a series of proposals including cuts to disability benefits, tougher sanctions for people out of work and regular PIP payments being replaced with one-off grants.

A consultation into the proposals for PIP ended in July and the government is currently reviewing the responses. Stephen Timms, the minister for social security in the DWP, said that the government will consider its “own approach to social security in due course” – but Labour is yet to confirm whether it will drop the Conservative proposals.

Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, has repeatedly raised concern about the record numbers of people out of work due to long-term sickness and a soaring welfare bill. She has said she wants to transform the DWP from a “department for welfare” into a “department for work”, while also pledging to eradicate the “blame culture” within the DWP.

John McArdle, co-founder of Black Triangle Campaign, whose idea it was to launch the crowdfunder, said: “The Department provides a casebook of how not to run a social security system. The current disability benefit assessment system is making people even sicker.

“Pushing disabled people into work that medical experts say we cannot do won’t address labour shortages and more disability benefit cuts are not a common-sense strategy for ‘fixing the foundations’.

“Long term-costs to the economy increase exponentially by failing to provide a stitch in time and save lives. There are alternative fiscal policies that could be adopted which won’t lead to more DWP created avoidable harm and death.

“Instead, deaf and disabled people and our organisations call upon the government to sit down with us to co-produce a safe and efficient disability benefit system that provides a genuine safety net to those who need it.”

A spokesperson for the DWP said: “We are committed to assuring our interactions with the millions of customers we support every year are not only compassionate, but appropriate for those who are vulnerable.

“As part of this, all DWP staff are trained to help support the most vulnerable customers to ensure they are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

“We are always learning but we recognise there is more to do, which is why we have introduced systems where we can consistently act on feedback and make improvements when customers’ experiences have fallen below expectations.”

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. Big Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.