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DWP pilots Access to Work personal budgets
On Monday the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, announced a pilot of personal budgets for the Access to Work scheme. In a statement to Parliament he said: “We are trialling a new feature of the access to work scheme. From today we shall be testing the use of personal budgets, which […]
Read MoreDWP trials access by telephone for sign language users
People who use British Sign Language (BSL) can now contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) via telephone. DWP has begun a six month pilot of a service that allows people whose first or only language is BSL to contact DWP about Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance (65+), Disability Living Allowance (under 65) and […]
Read MoreDWP seeks evidence for market review
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is seeking evidence for a review of the communication and language support market. The Department today published the call for evidence. The deadline for submissions is 4 March 2016. The review is being led by DWP but covers the whole of the UK; all forms of support that […]
Read MoreDWP piloting online access to Access to Work
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is looking for new deaf and deafblind applicants to help it pilot its online application system for Access to Work DWP believes deaf and deafblind people will particularly benefit from the new online service. They will appreciate UK Council on Deafness members advising new deaf applicants to email ATW.DIGITALFIRSTCONTACT@DWP.GSI.GOV.UK saying they want to […]
Read MoreJim Fitzpatrick MP new chair of APPG on Deafness
Jim Fitzpatrick MP was today elected char of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness at an extraordinary general meeting. The vote became necessary after the previous chair, Lilian Greenwood MP, was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Transport. One of Jim’s first aims as chair is to secure a Westminster Hall debate on NHS […]
Read MoreSector celebrates passing of BSL (Scotland) Bill
British Sign Language (BSL) has been recognised as a language in law for the first time with the passing of the BSL (Scotland) Bill. The Bill requires the Scottish Ministers to “promote, and facilitate the promotion of, the use and understanding of the language known as British Sign Language”. The Bill, introduced by Mark Griffin […]
Read MoreLilian Greenwood MP to lead Parliamentary group on deafness
Lilian Greenwood, the Labour Member of Parliament for Nottingham South, has been elected chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness. Lilian said: “I’m delighted to have been elected to this role and look forward to leading the group in an ambitious programme of work. “Many government policies are having an impact on people […]
Read MoreUK Council on Deafness welcomes Access to Work research but remains concerned about cap on awards
The UK Council on Deafness welcomes the Department for Work and Pensions’ desire to establish the return on investment delivered by Access to Work. The need for research was identified in the equality analysis for the future of Access to Work. It said, “establishing the return on investment delivered by Access to Work will build […]
Read MoreAccess to Work to change guidance on ‘additionality’
Access to Work is to rewrite its guidance on ‘additionality’ that has led to some deaf people losing all financial support for sign language interpreting. The decision came after the UK Council on Deafness and others brought it to the attention of officials at the Department of Work and Pensions. Last week they released a […]
Read MoreDeaf sector pulls together ahead of general election
Organisations concerned with deafness and hearing loss will be working collectively to influence the next government following agreement of a statement of common purpose. Organisations are now from all sectors are now being asked to become founder signatories and promote the statement. A campaign will be launched after the general election to raise awareness of […]
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