Disability News Round Up By John Pring - Week Ending 24/02/2012

2/28/2012 11:19:00 am BenefitScroungingScum 0 Comments

• The sister of a disabled man who died in what she believes were suspicious circumstances more than four years ago says her family are still waiting for answers about his death from their local council.
• A disabled MP has defended his decision to vote with the coalition government on controversial measures in the welfare reform bill that will see cuts to disabled people’s benefits.
• The government has again succeeded in overturning an amendment to the welfare reform bill that would have protected some disabled people from cuts to their benefits.
• A leading user-led organisation has been criticised for asking the minister for disabled people to help launch new guidance on disability hate crime, while failing to invite the media.
• The decision of the head of the care and health watchdog to announce her resignation has been welcomed by a leading disabled people’s organisation.
• Thousands of disabled people across Scotland could face “destitution” because of the programme to reassess all claimants of incapacity benefit (IB), a new report has warned.
• At least two major disability charities are investigating their involvement in a controversial government programme that has been described by critics as “slave labour”.
• Disabled people could soon be forced to work for their benefits for an unlimited period of time, campaigners fear.
• The European Union must act to halt the “blatant discrimination” that prevents disabled people working, studying or travelling in other countries, according to a major new report by Europe’s leading disabled people’s organisation.   
• The government must do more to ease the anxiety of disabled people over its disability living allowance reforms, according to a committee of MPs.