Welfare reform
GPs may lose fit for work decisions in Sickness Absence Review
The sickness absence review is expected to call for a government funded panel to judge people's ability to work, taking the responsibility away from doctors.
ESA appeals will not lose benefit
The Work and Pensions Secretary has vowed that employment and support allowance (ESA) claimants appealing their ineligibility decision will not have their benefit payments stopped.
Women increasingly claiming ESA
The number of women claiming sickness benefits is rising much faster than for men according to analysis of Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) statistics by Legal & General.
ESA appeals success rate falls
Fewer appeals against Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) decisions are being found in the claimants favour, according to government statistics.
Fewer disabled people qualifying for ESA
Fewer claimants are being found eligible for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) despite government claims that the benefits system is providing greater protection for disabled people.
Welfare reform could have 'catastrophic' effect on cancer patients - MacMillan
Cancer patients already severely struggling with financial difficulties because of their illness could be hit with "catastrophic" effects if welfare reform proceeds, MacMillan Cancer Support has warned.
SMEs fear cost of NHS and welfare reforms
More than half of SME employers fear the cost impact of the government's health and welfare reforms, according to Jelf Group.
Charities 'horror' at plans to cut ESA during appeals
Disability charities are horrified at government plans to cut employment and support allowance (ESA) during appeals.
GPs may be required to 'encourage' patients back to work - report
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is reportedly pushing for GPs to be required to encourage patients with long term medical conditions to go back to work.
'Myth buster' factsheet highlights tougher ESA rules
The Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) has produced a ‘myth buster' factsheet issuing a stark warning for potential future claimants about the realities of the impending welfare reforms.
Employer support helps people stay in work longer - DWP
Just one quarter of people in employment prior to successfully claiming Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) had returned to work 18 months later, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has found.
Life insurance income continues fall - ABI
Almost 30 million protection policies were in force last year with consumers receiving over £32m per day in benefits, according to the ABI.
Remove tax barriers on employee health schemes - Dame Black
Dame Carol Black will urge HM Treasury to remove tax barriers that stop businesses implementing staff absence management and wellbeing programs.
Lib Dem Conference 2011: Party throws weight behind Dilnot
The Liberal Democrats have passed a policy motion to urge the government to accept the recommendations in the Dilnot Report on long term care (LTC).
Anti-compulsion voices "defeatist" - PruProtect
PruProtect has called critics of its desire for protection to be made compulsory as being "defeatist" and argued that the need is "very clear".
ESA claimants most unhappy with Job Centre experience
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants are the most dissatisfied with their service from the Job Centre, according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Govt penalises thousands on ESA
More than 11,000 benefit sanctions were imposed on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants between June last year and the end of May.
LV= pays 93% of IP and CI claims
LV= paid 93% of its income protection (IP) and critical illness (CI) claims in the year to the end of June.
Charities attack government's 'dangerously misleading' benefit claims statistics
Fifty charities have hit out at the government for using ‘dangerously misleading' benefit claims statistics that are contributing to hatred towards disabled people.
Britons acknowledge benefits of work but unsure of employers' role
Britons recognise the benefits of being in work and support GPs in deciding when they should return to work, according to new research.
Disability charity slams benefits assessment after MPs report
Disability rights campaigners have hit out at a report by MPs which concluded the process used to decide claimants' eligibility for benefits is working well.
Only a quarter of ESA benefit claims granted
Only a quarter (24%) of people applying for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) are found sick or disabled enough to be awarded the benefit, according to latest government statistics.
Private sector welfare involvement will be second term issue - ABI
Any new legislation implementing private sector involvement in supporting the welfare state will not happen until a potential second term, according to the ABI.
Britons don't see need for protection from welfare reforms
More than half of Britons do not think they need to buy extra insurance because of the government's welfare reforms and big society agenda, new research has found.
