• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Tuesday, May 20, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

The DWP is under the microscope. Here’s how to have your say.

Steve Topple by Steve Topple
1 March 2020
in Analysis, UK
Reading Time: 4 mins read
163 9
A A
0
Home UK Analysis
319
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is the subject of an official government probe. The body in charge of it wants sick and disabled claimants to submit evidence about how the DWP interacts with them. And the timing couldn’t be better, because it comes as the government prepares its “National Disability Strategy”.

The DWP: under the microscope

The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) is a government body. Its role is to review what the DWP does and give it advice. Previously the SSAC looked into Universal Credit. But now, it’s probing how the DWP operates more broadly.

To be clear: the SSAC research is about how the DWP interacts with disabled people. It is not about benefits. The SSAC says it is:

conducting research into how the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) engage with disabled people in formulating policies and processes which affect them.

It notes that:

DWP regularly consults disabled people, or organisations representing them, in developing policies and implementing services affecting them. However, the extent, consistency and effectiveness of that engagement is not clear.

So, the SSAC’s:

research aims to build a better understanding of that, and consider what scope exists to improve DWP’s current approach, drawing on relevant best practice that exists elsewhere.

What the SSAC wants

It wants to hear from people about what it’s like to give feedback to the DWP. While the SSAC wants disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) to give evidence, it also wants to hear from individuals.

This may not apply to everyone. But it would be worthwhile for people to get involved who have:

  • Made a complaint to the DWP.
  • Completed a claimants survey.
  • Been part of DWP research.
  • Had any other engagement with the DWP, when it’s asked for their opinions.

Also, sick and disabled people who have not had any interactions with the DWP about how it operates, but feel their opinions should be heard, should also consider contacting the SSAC.

The way the DWP interacts with sick and disabled people is problematic. This was highlighted in a report by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. For example, it noted how the DWP and government did not involve sick and disabled people’s groups in the monitoring of how the UN convention for disabled people was implemented across the country. Also, many of the UN’s recommendations advised the government to involve sick and disabled people more.

The timing of this review is apt. Because the government is supposed to be releasing a National Disability Strategy this year.

A national strategy?

As the Queen’s speech in December 2019 noted, the government said:

We want to transform the lives of disabled people, ensuring they have access to opportunities and are able to achieve their potential. We will publish a National Strategy for Disabled People in 2020 to ensure disabled people can lead a life of opportunity and fulfilment. Our strategy will be ambitious, supporting disabled people in all aspects and phases of their life.

The strategy will set out practical proposals on the issues that matter most to disabled people and we will use all the levers of Government to support disabled people to achieve their potential.

The strategy, to be developed with disabled people, disability organisations and charities, will include housing, education & transport.

But so far, the government has not published any more details. So, no one knows who the government and DWP are consulting about this. That is, if they’re consulting anyone at all.

Get involved. Now.

So the more feedback the SSAC gets, the better. Because if the DWP and the government are publishing a strategy, but not involving sick and disabled people, it will just be more lip service. The SSAC’s remit will at least give people a platform to try and affect positive change in the department. Anyone who has experience with the DWP knows it often feels like it doesn’t listen. As a minimum, at least with the SSAC review, someone will.

Featured image via cjohnson – Wikimedia and Wikimedia 

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Refugees stranded at borders as fighting between Syria and Turkey escalates

Next Post

More ‘bombshells’ from Assange lawyers. Extradition case exposed as seriously flawed.

Next Post
Julian Assange

More 'bombshells' from Assange lawyers. Extradition case exposed as seriously flawed.

Abattoir worker walking on the backs of sheep

The Countryside Alliance's call to tighten laws around covert filming defends the indefensible

Boris Johnson and The Telegraph logo

The Telegraph's latest nincompoopery sums up the state of the UK media

New film to mark 35th anniversary of the end of the year long miners’ strike

New film to mark 35th anniversary of the end of the year long miners’ strike

Above-average temperatures ‘likely in many parts of the world in coming months’

Please login to join discussion
DWP open source banking
Analysis

The DWP is quietly trying to get a private company to connect it to disabled people’s bank accounts

by Steve Topple
20 May 2025
gideon's chariots Gaza
Analysis

Gideon’s Chariots: leaked plan shows Israel intentionally pushing Gaza to famine and forced displacement

by Alaa Shamali
20 May 2025
Gideon's Chariots Gaza
Analysis

“عربات جدعون.. مخطط إسرائيلي يقود غزة نحو مجاعة مُمنهجة وتهجير قسري

by Alaa Shamali
20 May 2025
Our friends at Pauzeradio have got the perfect Reggae clothing line for this summer
Lifestyle

Our friends at Pauzeradio have got the perfect Reggae clothing line for this summer

by Steve Topple
20 May 2025
trade unions protest
News

Trade unions urged “to take the lead in forming a new working-class party”

by Ed Sykes
20 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

DWP open source banking
Analysis
Steve Topple

The DWP is quietly trying to get a private company to connect it to disabled people’s bank accounts

gideon's chariots Gaza
Analysis
Alaa Shamali

Gideon’s Chariots: leaked plan shows Israel intentionally pushing Gaza to famine and forced displacement

Gideon's Chariots Gaza
Analysis
Alaa Shamali

“عربات جدعون.. مخطط إسرائيلي يقود غزة نحو مجاعة مُمنهجة وتهجير قسري

Lifestyle
Steve Topple

Our friends at Pauzeradio have got the perfect Reggae clothing line for this summer

ADVERTISEMENT
Analysis
Nathan Spears

Vote for the Press Photograph of the Year 2024

Image by Burkard Meyendriesch from Pixabay
Feature
Nathan Spears

Why Santiago Ways is the Leading Choice for Walking the Camino de Santiago

Environment
Nathan Spears

EU elections point to growing public desire for new policymaking approach in Brussels