editorial – Disabled Life

Concern over ‘Fit4Jobs’ questionnaire that filters out DWP recruits with health conditions March 12, 2026
Ministers are facing questions over why the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is using a strict screening process to filter out potential recruits with health conditions, while repeatedly complaining that too many disabled and older people are not in jobs. DWP […]
John Pring
Prime minister has excluded disabled people from new civil society forum, evidence suggests March 12, 2026
The prime minister has excluded disabled people from a new forum he has set up to “bring civil society into the heart of government decision‑making”, evidence suggests. Downing Street released the names this week of 13 representatives from charities, community organisations and […]
John Pring
Peer warns of ‘backward slide to dependency’ after disabled woman’s forced move to nursing home March 12, 2026
A disabled peer has used a debate celebrating International Women’s Day to highlight how a disabled woman was placed in a nursing home against her will after treatment for pneumonia, rather than being returned to her own home. Baroness [Jane] Campbell told […]
John Pring
Motability changes are already restricting disabled people’s freedom to travel, minister is warned March 12, 2026
November’s changes to the Motability car scheme – including tax rises introduced by the government – are already restricting disabled people’s freedom to travel, according to a letter signed by 70 disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) and allies. The letter, co-ordinated by the […]
John Pring
Call for disabled people to join mass demonstration to unite against rise of far-right March 12, 2026
Disabled people and their organisations can push back against the rise of the far-right by joining a mass demonstration in London later this month – or by taking part in the protest online – say disability rights activists. The Together march on […]
John Pring
Peers back stronger hate crime laws, but disabled campaigners call for ‘total overhaul’ of legislation March 12, 2026
Peers have approved a government amendment that will strengthen disability hate crime laws, but disabled campaigners say there must still be a “total overhaul” of legislation. The amendment means standalone “aggravated offences” will apply to disability hate crime, as well as hate […]
John Pring
Research finds nearly all BSL-users prefer ‘authentic BSL content’ to in-vision interpreters March 12, 2026
New research commissioned by a Deaf-led charity has found that nearly all users of British Sign Language (BSL) would rather watch television programmes created in BSL rather than those featuring an interpreter in the corner of the screen. The research found that […]
John Pring
Scores of DWP failings linked to deaths were kept from MPs voting on benefit cuts, secret reports reveal March 5, 2026
Scores of failings that contributed to the deaths of disabled people who relied on the social security system were kept from MPs who were voting on cuts to disability benefits in the summer of 2025, new documents have revealed. The Department for […]
John Pring
DWP staff ignored rules on how to respond to claimants who report suicidal thoughts, secret reports reveal March 5, 2026
Staff working for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) repeatedly ignored crucial rules on how to respond when benefit claimants disclose that they intend to self-harm or take their own lives. New documents published quietly by DWP after a freedom of […]
John Pring
New official figures disprove claims that social security spending is ‘spiralling out of control’ March 5, 2026
New official figures published alongside this week’s spring statement have again disproved claims that spending on “welfare” is “spiralling out of control”. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) published its latest Economic and Fiscal Outlook report on Tuesday, and it showed the […]
John Pring