Latest news with #NationalDisabilityStrategy
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
‘She was fearless' – Tributes to Kerry woman and disabilities advocate
Described as a committed and dedicated campaigner, Ms Browne referred to herself as a thalidomide survivor rather than a victim, having sought acknowledgement and statutory redress from the state. In the 1950s, Thalidomide was a drug to treat morning sickness that was withdrawn in 1961 after it was linked to birth defects. During childhood, hospitalisations and surgeries were common for Jacqui. This helped shape her independent outlook in activism from an early age and gave her the impetus to make inclusion and support a priority. She returned to education while working and received her BA from UCD Jacqui was a valued member of the Disabled Persons Organisations Network and played a key role in contributing to many disability policies and initiatives for almost 40 years. Her role includes input in the forthcoming National Disability Strategy that is symbolic of Jacqui's passion for establishing strategic change for disabled people. Minister Foley said there is a deep sense of loss in the Department of Children, Disability and Equality as many staff knew Jacqui personally and worked with her and learned from her over many years. "I would like to extend my sincere sympathy to the Browne family on the passing of their much-treasured Jacqui,' said Minister Foley. "It was a personal privilege to know Jacqui as a proud Kerry woman full of warmth, wit and welcome for everyone. She was full of passion, compassion and energy in abundance. Jacqui was an eloquent and powerful advocate for people with disabilities and shone a vibrant and necessary light on disability issues,' she added. The Minister said during Jacqui's lifetime she achieved a tremendous amount and that some of her work might be unfinished but she remains an impetus and inspiration to 'all of us' to complete it. "We are without doubt the lesser for Jacqui's passing but greater for having had the privilege of knowing her," Minister Foley said. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more In a statement from Independent Living Movement Ireland, Jacqui is described as a person who never sought the limelight, and her involvement in policy work established advancements in disabled people's rights. 'She was a powerful public speaker and much sought after for her ability to connect policy to practice. Whilst Jacqui took on leadership roles, she was a genuine mentor to many Disabled People and saw part of her role to support other Disabled People to take on key roles,' said a spokesperson. 'She was passionate about the collective empowerment of Disabled People and gave her time generously in online workshops to ensure she shared her knowledge and expertise. Those of us who were fortunate enough to know Jacqui as a person knew someone with a passion for life. She had a wicked sense of humour, a passion for conversation. She was a wonderful host to anyone who visited her in Kerry or Dublin, kind and generous.' The Disability Federation of Ireland also paid tribute to Jacqui saying its members are 'deeply saddened' at her passing. 'Jacqui Browne was a fearless disability advocate who devoted over 35 years to promoting equality and justice for people with disabilities,' said a spokesperson. 'We extend our heartfelt condolences to Jacqui's family, friends, and everyone who knew and worked with her. Her commitment to disability equality changed lives and will continue to shape the movement for generations.'
Daily Record
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Calls to ‘abandon' new DWP benefit reforms and create a National Disability Strategy nears milestone
Thousands of people have signed an online petition calling for DWP reforms due to start next year to be scrapped. Nearly 9,500 people have signed an online petition urging the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to 'abandon' proposed welfare reforms to health and disability benefits, outlined in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper. Petition creator Rick Burgess, is calling for the UK Government to scrap the plans due to start from next November and instead work with disability charities and organisations across the country to create a 'National Disability Strategy'. The campaigner argues that the plans will see 'devastating cuts to disability benefits ' and puts forward proposals to 'protect the income of disabled people from further shocks'. The 'Abandon DWP Pathways to Work Green Paper and create National Disability Strategy' petition has been posted on the official UK Government's Petitions-Parliament website. It states: 'The DWP Green Paper Pathways to Work proposes what we think are devastating cuts to disability benefits. We think the Government must drop these proposals and instead begin a process of co-production with disabled peoples representative organisations to create a whole government disability strategy.' The proposals include: Abandon the DWP Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper. Establish and resource a disability strategy co-production infrastructure working with Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations (Organisations run by and for disabled people) to create a National Disability Strategy to inform Labour market, Employment rights and Social Security reform that provides an adequate standard of living in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Protect the income of disabled people from further shocks. At 10,000 signatures, the petition would be entitled to a written response from the UK Government, most-likely from the DWP. At 100,000, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament. You can view it in full here. Last month, the DWP rejected proposals in another online petition calling for the welfare reforms to be scrapped. More than 27,400 people have signed in support of the petition, posted by disability activist Abigail Broomfield who argues that instead of reducing benefits, the DWP should be providing 'support, not hardship and deprivation, for those who cannot work.' However, the DWP response in April highlighted how the 'UK Government must urgently tackle the spiralling welfare bill, restore trust and fairness in the system, and protect disabled people. Social security reforms will therefore continue as planned.' The welfare reform proposals centre on changes to both the eligibility criteria for and the reduced payment rates of benefits and include plans to abolish the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), meaning the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment would determine eligibility for PIP and the health element of Universal Credit. Responding to the 'Protect disabled people who cannot work from planned cuts to benefits' petition - also posted on the official UK Government petitions website, DWP said: 'Our welfare system is broken, costing almost a third as much as it does to run the NHS in England while leaving people for years on benefits with no offer of support, no hope of a future in work and no opportunity to improve their standard of living. 'Working-age adults who are in work are three times less likely to be in poverty than those out of work. We need to act to end the inequality that sees disabled people and people with health conditions trapped out of jobs, despite many wanting to work, and ensure our welfare system is there for people who need it, now and long into the future. 'As part of our Plan for Change we're introducing the most far-reaching reforms in a generation, with £1 billion a year being invested to give people the best possible chance with tailored support that can be adapted to meet their changing circumstances - including their changing health.' DWP went on to list the changes being made to the system to 'support sick and disabled people - many of whom want to work - into jobs, while protecting those with the most severe conditions who can never work'. Commenting on the DWP's response, Ms Broomfield told the Daily Record: 'They've not addressed how they're going to protect disabled people who can't work and have just repeated points from the Green Paper. 'In fact they've doubled down on how by claiming that getting disabled people into work is going to protect disabled people.' The disability campaigner added: 'A Freedom of Information request revealed that nearly 90 per cent of disabled people or 1.3 million people who only get standard rates or PIP are going to be losing money.' Ms Broomfield will continue her campaign to get the petition to 100,000 signatures of support where it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament. You can read the full petition and DWP response on the Petitions Parliament website here. Online consultation The 12-week consultation on reforms to health and disability support officially launched on April 7 on with publication of all accessible versions of the Pathways to Work Green Paper. The consultation is open until 11.59pm on Monday June 30, 2025. The proposed reforms aim to support people into work, protect people who can never work and put the welfare system on a sustainable footing so that it can continue to support those in need now and into the future. DWP said: 'One in three of us faces a long-term health condition, so we all need a system that can support us to stay in work or get back into work.' The measures are the latest step in the UK Government's drive to build a modern welfare system that helps people get jobs rather than creating unnecessary barriers, with ministers' proposed plans set to: Provide more tailored employment support for those who can work, breaking down barriers to opportunity Simplify the system and reduce unnecessary assessments, cutting bureaucracy and making it easier to navigate Improve the way financial support is assessed and delivered, ensuring it reaches those who need it most and that people using the system have a better experience and are treated with dignity and respect Build a more flexible approach that recognises the diverse needs of disabled people and those with long-term health conditions DWP said that without changes, it is forecast that the system could cost as much as £70 billion a year by the end of the decade and risk not being there for people when they need it in future. Issues open for consultation include: Supporting people to thrive with the new support offer Supporting employers and making work more accessible Reforming the structure of the health and disability benefits system DWP said: "These are part of the wider reforms that also include reintroducing reassessments for people on incapacity benefits who have the capability to work to ensure they have the right support and aren't indefinitely written off, targeting Personal Independence Payments for those with higher needs, and rebalancing payment levels in Universal Credit."
Daily Record
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
New call to scrap DWP benefit reforms and create a National Disability Strategy
Thousands of people have signed an online petition calling for DWP reforms due to start next year to be scrapped. Nearly 8,000 people have signed an online petition urging the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to 'abandon' proposed welfare reforms to health and disability benefits, outlined in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper. Petition creator Rick Burgess, is calling for the UK Government to scrap the plans due to start from next November and instead work with disability charities and organisations across the country to create a 'National Disability Strategy'. The campaigner argues that the plans will see 'devastating cuts to disability benefits ' and puts forward proposals to 'protect the income of disabled people from further shocks'. The 'Abandon DWP Pathways to Work Green Paper and create National Disability Strategy' petition has been posted on the official UK Government's Petitions-Parliament website. It states: 'The DWP Green Paper Pathways to Work proposes what we think are devastating cuts to disability benefits. We think the Government must drop these proposals and instead begin a process of co-production with disabled peoples representative organisations to create a whole government disability strategy.' The proposals include: Abandon the DWP Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper. Establish and resource a disability strategy co-production infrastructure working with Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations (Organisations run by and for disabled people) to create a National Disability Strategy to inform Labour market, Employment rights and Social Security reform that provides an adequate standard of living in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Protect the income of disabled people from further shocks. At 10,000 signatures, the petition would be entitled to a written response from the UK Government, at 100,000, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament. You can view it in full here. Last month, the DWP rejected proposals in another online petition calling for the welfare reforms to be scrapped. More than 24,100 people have signed in support of the petition, posted by disability activist Abigail Broomfield who argues that instead of reducing benefits, the DWP should be providing 'support, not hardship and deprivation, for those who cannot work.' However, the DWP response on April 29 highlighted how the 'UK Government must urgently tackle the spiralling welfare bill, restore trust and fairness in the system, and protect disabled people. Social security reforms will therefore continue as planned.' The welfare reform proposals centre on changes to both the eligibility criteria for and the reduced payment rates of benefits and include plans to abolish the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), meaning the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment would determine eligibility for PIP and the health element of Universal Credit. Responding to the 'Protect disabled people who cannot work from planned cuts to benefits' petition - also posted on the official UK Government petitions website, DWP said: 'Our welfare system is broken, costing almost a third as much as it does to run the NHS in England while leaving people for years on benefits with no offer of support, no hope of a future in work and no opportunity to improve their standard of living. 'Working-age adults who are in work are three times less likely to be in poverty than those out of work. We need to act to end the inequality that sees disabled people and people with health conditions trapped out of jobs, despite many wanting to work, and ensure our welfare system is there for people who need it, now and long into the future. 'As part of our Plan for Change we're introducing the most far-reaching reforms in a generation, with £1 billion a year being invested to give people the best possible chance with tailored support that can be adapted to meet their changing circumstances - including their changing health.' DWP went on to list the changes being made to the system to 'support sick and disabled people - many of whom want to work - into jobs, while protecting those with the most severe conditions who can never work'. Commenting on the DWP's response, Ms Broomfield told the Daily Record: 'They've not addressed how they're going to protect disabled people who can't work and have just repeated points from the Green Paper. 'In fact they've doubled down on how by claiming that getting disabled people into work is going to protect disabled people.' The disability campaigner added: 'A Freedom of Information request revealed that nearly 90 per cent of disabled people or 1.3 million people who only get standard rates or PIP are going to be losing money.' Ms Broomfield will continue her campaign to get the petition to 100,000 signatures of support where it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament. You can read the full petition and DWP response on the Petitions Parliament website here. Online consultation The 12-week consultation on reforms to health and disability support officially launched on April 7 on with publication of all accessible versions of the Pathways to Work Green Paper. The consultation is open until June 30, 2025. The proposed reforms aim to support people into work, protect people who can never work and put the welfare system on a sustainable footing so that it can continue to support those in need now and into the future. DWP said: 'One in three of us faces a long-term health condition, so we all need a system that can support us to stay in work or get back into work.' The measures are the latest step in the UK Government's drive to build a modern welfare system that helps people get jobs rather than creating unnecessary barriers, with ministers' proposed plans set to: Provide more tailored employment support for those who can work, breaking down barriers to opportunity Simplify the system and reduce unnecessary assessments, cutting bureaucracy and making it easier to navigate Improve the way financial support is assessed and delivered, ensuring it reaches those who need it most and that people using the system have a better experience and are treated with dignity and respect Build a more flexible approach that recognises the diverse needs of disabled people and those with long-term health conditions DWP said that without changes, it is forecast that the system could cost as much as £70 billion a year by the end of the decade and risk not being there for people when they need it in future. Issues open for consultation include: Supporting people to thrive with the new support offer Supporting employers and making work more accessible Reforming the structure of the health and disability benefits system DWP said: "These are part of the wider reforms that also include reintroducing reassessments for people on incapacity benefits who have the capability to work to ensure they have the right support and aren't indefinitely written off, targeting Personal Independence Payments for those with higher needs, and rebalancing payment levels in Universal Credit."
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
New call to ‘abandon' DWP benefit reforms and create a National Disability Strategy
An online petition argues the welfare reforms will see 'devastating cuts to disability benefits'. A new online petition is urging the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to 'abandon' proposed welfare reforms to health and disability benefits, outlined in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper. Petition creator Rick Burgess, is calling for the UK Government to ditch the plans due to start from next November and instead work with disability charities and organisations across the country to create a National Disability Strategy. The campaigner argues that the plans will see 'devastating cuts to disability benefits ' and puts forward proposals to 'protect the income of disabled people from further shocks'. The 'Abandon DWP Pathways to Work Green Paper and create National Disability Strategy' petition has been posted on the official UK Government's Petitions-Parliament website. It states: 'The DWP Green Paper Pathways to Work proposes what we think are devastating cuts to disability benefits. We think the Government must drop these proposals and instead begin a process of co-production with disabled peoples representative organisations to create a whole government disability strategy.' The proposals include: Abandon the DWP Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper. Establish and resource a disability strategy co-production infrastructure working with Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations (Organisations run by and for disabled people) to create a National Disability Strategy to inform Labour market, Employment rights and Social Security reform that provides an adequate standard of living in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Protect the income of disabled people from further shocks. At 10,000 signatures, the petition would be entitled to a written response from the UK Government, at 100,000, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament. You can view it in full here. Earlier this week, the DWP rejected proposals in another online petition calling for the welfare reforms to be scrapped. More than 18,000 people have signed in support of the petition, posted by disability activist Abigail Broomfield who argues that instead of reducing benefits, the DWP should be providing 'support, not hardship and deprivation, for those who cannot work.' However, the DWP response on April 29 highlighted how the 'UK Government must urgently tackle the spiralling welfare bill, restore trust and fairness in the system, and protect disabled people. Social security reforms will therefore continue as planned.' The welfare reform proposals centre on changes to both the eligibility criteria for and the reduced payment rates of benefits and include plans to abolish the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), meaning the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment would determine eligibility for PIP and the health element of Universal Credit. Responding to the 'Protect disabled people who cannot work from planned cuts to benefits' petition - also posted on the official UK Government petitions website, DWP said: 'Our welfare system is broken, costing almost a third as much as it does to run the NHS in England while leaving people for years on benefits with no offer of support, no hope of a future in work and no opportunity to improve their standard of living. 'Working-age adults who are in work are three times less likely to be in poverty than those out of work. We need to act to end the inequality that sees disabled people and people with health conditions trapped out of jobs, despite many wanting to work, and ensure our welfare system is there for people who need it, now and long into the future. 'As part of our Plan for Change we're introducing the most far-reaching reforms in a generation, with £1 billion a year being invested to give people the best possible chance with tailored support that can be adapted to meet their changing circumstances - including their changing health.' DWP went on to list the changes being made to the system to 'support sick and disabled people - many of whom want to work - into jobs, while protecting those with the most severe conditions who can never work'. Commenting on the DWP's response, Ms Broomfield told the Daily Record: 'They've not addressed how they're going to protect disabled people who can't work and have just repeated points from the Green Paper. 'In fact they've doubled down on how by claiming that getting disabled people into work is going to protect disabled people.' The disability campaigner added: 'A Freedom of Information request revealed that nearly 90 per cent of disabled people or 1.3 million people who only get standard rates or PIP are going to be losing money.' Ms Broomfield will continue her campaign to get the petition to 100,000 signatures of support where it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament. You can read the full petition and DWP response on the Petitions Parliament website here. Online consultation The 12-week consultation on reforms to health and disability support officially launched on April 7 on with publication of all accessible versions of the Pathways to Work Green Paper. The consultation is open until June 30, 2025. The proposed reforms aim to support people into work, protect people who can never work and put the welfare system on a sustainable footing so that it can continue to support those in need now and into the future. DWP said: 'One in three of us faces a long-term health condition, so we all need a system that can support us to stay in work or get back into work.' The measures are the latest step in the UK Government's drive to build a modern welfare system that helps people get jobs rather than creating unnecessary barriers, with ministers' proposed plans set to: Provide more tailored employment support for those who can work, breaking down barriers to opportunity Simplify the system and reduce unnecessary assessments, cutting bureaucracy and making it easier to navigate Improve the way financial support is assessed and delivered, ensuring it reaches those who need it most and that people using the system have a better experience and are treated with dignity and respect Build a more flexible approach that recognises the diverse needs of disabled people and those with long-term health conditions DWP said that without changes, it is forecast that the system could cost as much as £70 billion a year by the end of the decade and risk not being there for people when they need it in future. Issues open for consultation include: Supporting people to thrive with the new support offer Supporting employers and making work more accessible Reforming the structure of the health and disability benefits system DWP said: "These are part of the wider reforms that also include reintroducing reassessments for people on incapacity benefits who have the capability to work to ensure they have the right support and aren't indefinitely written off, targeting Personal Independence Payments for those with higher needs, and rebalancing payment levels in Universal Credit."
