Blog: Benefits

Benefit errors trigger £5,000 refunds

19 October 2018

Source BBC: Assessors wrongly calculated the income of thousands of people during the process that resulted in people moving from incapacity benefit and severe disability allowance onto ESA.

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Former watchdog chief labels disabled benefits process a 'hostile environment'

10 October 2018

Pippa Vincent-Cooke

Source The Guardian: Andrew McDonald, who chaired Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, says the system is ‘Kafka-esque’

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Government to end unnecessary PIP reviews for people with most severe health conditions

19 June 2018

Pippa Vincent-Cooke

Source Gov.UK: People with the most severe, life-long conditions will no longer have to attend regular reviews for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) .

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Having MS is enough. It shouldn't be made harder by a welfare system that doesn't make sense.

19 June 2018

Pippa Vincent-Cooke

Source MS Society: Welfare support is vital for many people with MS. It helps us manage the extra costs of the condition, stay in work for longer and participate fully in society.

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PIPs: What next for benefit claimants?

31 January 2018

Pippa Vincent-Cooke

Source BBC:

BMSTC Member Sue Doughty is mentioned in the article - "Sue Doughty lives in Twyford, Berkshire. She has multiple sclerosis. She faced homelessness and had to rely on help from her daughter.

Following a year spent in appeal, the Court of Tribunal awarded Sue PIP ongoing for life."

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Veterinary Nurse with MS loses case for more help

3 January 2018

Pippa Vincent-Cooke

Source ITV Meridian News:

Multiple Sclerosis is a condition that affects more than 1100,000 people in the UK but the MS Society claims that it's becoming more difficult for sufferers to claim disability benefit.

The charity is highlighting the case of a trainee veterinary nurse from Dorset who's been turned down for extra cash under the new Personal Independence payment system. Richard Slee also talked to Genevieve Edwards of the MS Society....

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Need Financial Assistance@

5 October 2017

Pippa Vincent-Cooke

Source MS Society:

Need Financial Assistance? Who can help?

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End to ESA reassessments comes into effect

4 October 2017

Pippa Vincent-Cooke

Source MS Society:

From the 29th September, some people with MS won't have to be re-tested for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) after their next reassessment.

Last October the Government announced it would stop ESA reassessments for people with severe conditions who can't work.

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed this change will start from today. They’ve also provided more detail about who it will apply to....