Catherine Hale

This is a slightly edited version of notes for a presentation to the ESA roundtable meeting chaired by John McDonnell MP on 29th November 2018. The content is based on previous research work with Spartacus Network, independent research into ESA and the WRAG, research on Access to Work, as well as current research with the Chronic Illness Inclusion Project. The current benefits system was identified as the biggest source of social oppression faced by CIIP participants. We recently completed focus group on designing better social security for people with energy-limiting chronic illness. Introduction The first part of this presentation is four main principles for a new assessment framework. A set of tests that any new system must meet if it is to restore the Human Rights of disabled people. The second part covers points for further discussion. Highlighting areas of current debate and disagreement. Principles 1: Overturn the ideology behind the Hostile Environment, restore digni

I am the lucky owner of a fab new powered wheelchair. And my new trick is that I am an ambulatory wheelchair user. That means, sometimes you'll see me sitting in my wheelchair, and sometimes you'll see me walking. This causes a great deal of social awkwardness, consternation and even shock. People seem to think I'm leading a double life. So I'll explain how it works. Little Britain 's Andy and Lou sketch: making part-time wheelchair users into a laughing stock. If you see my in my chair, thank you for your concern, but I have not just had an accident or broken any bones. And, thankfully, my condition is no worse than it has been for the past few years. If you see me walking, I have not suddenly been graced by a miraculous recovery. I still have the same crappy chronic illness I've had for 30 years. Neither am I using my chair to get attention or to pretend to be more disabled than I am in order to get some kind of advantage over everyone else - lik

Briefing to John McDonnell MP, Margaret Greenwood MP and Marsha de Cordova MP on my research into disabled people's experiences of conditionality and sanctions With the introduction of ESA, disabled people in the “Work-Related Activity Group” (WRAG) were supposed to receive “personalised support” to move towards work. But research among 500 ESA WRAG claimants strongly indicates that there was nothing supportive about DWP and its contractors’ interaction with disabled people.  The design and operation of so-called “back to work” programmes blamed disabled people for their exclusion from the workplace and set us up for failure and punishment. It involved disability denial and routine breaches of DWP’s duties under the Equality Act. Not only did Jobcentre Plus and Work Programme interventions fail to address the real, structural barriers to work that disabled people face, but they resulted in deterioration in all aspects of health, social inclusion and wellbeing and were a