The Independent Living Fund (ILF)

Employment and Support Allowance

UK Benefit Rates for 2011/12

Personal Health Budgets
taken from the BenefitsNow 12th newsletter 22/02/2009

Welfare reform and workfare
taken from the BenefitsNow 12th newsletter 22/02/2009

Fairness and Freedom: The Final Report of the Equalities Review
Even in the most tolerant of societies, some things should always remain intolerable. Each of us could make a list of the features which we think should have no place in a fair, free and just society

The Equality Bill and people with disabilities.

The Equality Bill is currently making its way through Parliament so this seems a good time to consider what it says and how things may be improved for disabled people in the future. It may be argued that the Disability Discrimination Act has made some progress in this area but I don't think anyone would argue with the view that it doesn't go far enough..

Carers' Allowance and complexity.
At the end of last week, the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee published "Supporting Carers to Care" which looks at the way in which Carers' Allowance (CA) is administered and delivered to those that need it. The Committee have followed up on a report published by the National Audit office this year. It is obviously a reasonable thing to do to reward those that perform caring duties that would otherwise by the state. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) spends £2 billion on CA whereas it is estimated that carers do work that would otherwise cost the state £23 billion. It is also estimated (although we don't actually know) that only 30% of those eligible actually receive it.

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/
Petitions have long been sent to the Prime Minister by post or delivered to the Number 10 door in person. You can now both create and sign petitions on this website too, giving you the opportunity to reach a potentially wider audience and to deliver your petition directly to Downing Street.