4 h. ago Families, pensioners and disabled people due up to £305 in extra payments this year

More than half a million children and families in Scotland received cash help for heating bills last year.

Economics

4 d. ago Accessible toilet change as people told they're 'not disabled enough'

Some disabled people say they are confronted at least once a month thanks to a 'common misunderstanding'

Politics

4 d. ago How does the right tear down progressive societies? It starts with a joke | George Monbiot

Whether it’s bloodshed at Glastonbury or starving people on benefits, their ‘irony poisoning’ seeps obscene ideas into the range of the possibleImagine the furore if a Guardian columnist suggested bombing, say, the Conservative party conference and the Tory stronghold of Arundel in Sussex. It would dominate public discussion for weeks. Despite protesting they were “only joking”, that person would never work in journalism again. Their editor would certainly be sacked. The police would probably come knocking. But when the Spectator columnist Rod Liddle speculates about bombing Glastonbury festival and Brighton, complaints are met with, “Calm down dear, can’t you take a joke?” The journalist keeps his job, as does his editor, the former justice secretary Michael Gove. There’s one rule for the left and another for the right.The same applies to the recent comments on GB News by its regular guest Lewis Schaffer. He proposed that, to reduce the number of disabled people claiming benefits, ...

Politics

5 d. ago Families 'heartbroken' over closure of popular sensory play centre

The place has been a lifeline for disabled children and young people

Politics

6 d. ago ‘Fashion has a duty to represent’: The designer on a mission to make style accessible for everyone

Nearly 1 in 4 people in the UK are disabled, yet most retailers treat adaptive and accessible fashion as a niche.

Events

1 week ago New DWP plans to help people with a disability or health condition find and stay in work

The Labour Government has outlined new measures to help more people with health issues into work.

Politics

1 week ago Disabled people being left in limbo following 'chaotic' Commons vote on welfare reforms claims Lanarkshire MSP

The Bill initially proposed to slash eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP

Politics

1 week ago The Guardian view on Labour’s welfare rebellion: Starmer must learn from his mistakes | Editorial

A poorly devised cuts policy was mis-sold as reform and MPs were dismissed when they pointed out the problemA clash between the government and Labour MPs over disability benefits was foreseeable long before this week’s Commons rebellion. That doesn’t mean a crisis was inevitable. Compromise might have been reached before the 11th-hour climbdown that averted a defeat in parliament.The conflagration that burned a lot of Sir Keir Starmer’s authority was all the greater because trust had broken down. The twin causes were failure of political judgment in Downing Street and bad policy. The prime minister underestimated the potency of MPs’ objections to the withdrawal of personal independence payment (Pip) from disabled people, and overestimated the capacity of his whips to bully and cajole his party into accepting the changes.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to...

Politics

1 week ago New Motability Scheme update for people on PIP, ADP and other disability benefits

Around 815,000 people across the UK are now leasing a vehicle or equipment through the Motability Scheme.

Politics

1 week ago Labour MP who led welfare revolt calls for wealth tax to meet £5bn cost of U

Rachael Maskell blamed the chancellor for the scale of rebellion, saying the Treasury had chosen to ‘find savings on the backs of disabled people’

Economics

1 week ago Welfare cuts vote 'deeply distressing' and 'risking the lives of disabled people for the sake of accounting gimmicks'

Disability charities have called the welfare reforms vote a "chaotic and upsetting process that could have been avoided," suggesting the bill should never have been voted on by MPs

Politics

1 week ago No 10 considers further concessions on welfare bill just hours before vote – UK politics live

Guardian deputy political editor Jessica Elgot says another concession to rebels MPs is possible Compass, the leftwing group urging Labour to be more pluralistic, has put out a statement condemning the UC and Pip bill. Its director, Neal Lawson, said:If your own friends are telling you to put the brakes on, then something has clearly gone wrong. Despite the government’s line, this legislation does not advance Labour values. It is fundamentally at odds with them, and with the views of the mainstream of the party and civil society.”MPs from across the House, and especially the Labour side, must back Rachael Maskell’s reasoned amendment. This bill’s creation of a three-tiered social security system would condemn thousands to poverty and could lose Labour the next election.A bill of this magnitude should have been co-produced with disabled people and our organisations from the very start.Now, ministers scramble to promise ‘consultation’ as one small part of the process. That is too litt...

Politics

1 week ago Labour rebel criticises ‘Dickensian’ welfare cuts as MPs debate bill ahead of vote – UK politics live

MPs are debating the universal credit and Pip bill as Lindsay Hoyle says he has selected amendment tabled by Rachael MaskellCompass, the leftwing group urging Labour to be more pluralistic, has put out a statement condemning the UC and Pip bill. Its director, Neal Lawson, said:If your own friends are telling you to put the brakes on, then something has clearly gone wrong. Despite the government’s line, this legislation does not advance Labour values. It is fundamentally at odds with them, and with the views of the mainstream of the party and civil society.”MPs from across the House, and especially the Labour side, must back Rachael Maskell’s reasoned amendment. This bill’s creation of a three-tiered social security system would condemn thousands to poverty and could lose Labour the next election.A bill of this magnitude should have been co-produced with disabled people and our organisations from the very start.Now, ministers scramble to promise ‘consultation’ as one small part of th...

Politics

2 w. ago Disabled people ‘could face extra costs of £15k a year by end of the decade’ as welfare vote looms

Government ‘must change course’ on ‘catastrophic’ welfare cuts, disability charity urges

Economics

2 w. ago MPs on fence ahead of crunch welfare vote as 'costs facing disabled people soar'

Dozens of Labour MPs are still said to be on the fence about whether to support plans to reform the welfare system in a crunch vote on Tuesday, despite major concessions

Politics

2 w. ago Disabled people ‘could face extra annual costs of £15,000 by end of the decade’

The annual disability price tag report comes just a day before MPs are expected to debate and vote on the Government’s welfare reform Bill.

Economics

2 w. ago ‘Trying to claim PIP was awful – Labour still wants to make it harder’

More than half of disabled people who attend a health benefit assessment say they feel humiliated by the process

Politics

2 w. ago ‘You have to fight tooth and nail’: PIP claimants tell of struggle to get awarded as Labour accused of making it harder

More than half of disabled people who attend a health benefit assessment say they feel humiliated by the process

Events

2 w. ago UC and PIP concessions will force the Government to lose £3 billion on welfare reform

In a bid to protect disabled people and win over Labour rebels, the government is forfeiting £3billion of the planned £5.5billion savings in the welfare reform

Economics

2 w. ago Labour government must protect disabled people's incomes if they want second term

"Starmer needs a rethink and ensure savings are made from targeting people who can work, but who are currently out of the jobs market."

Politics