1942

William Beveridge published the Social Insurance and Allied Services report. Read More

1944-1946

The Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 and the NI (Industrial Injuries) Act 1946. Read More

1946

National Health Service Act (NHSA) and the National Insurance Act (NIA). Read More

1948

National Assistance Act (NAA). Read More

1950

One Nation Conservative Group challenges welfare state universalism. Read More

1951-1965

National Assistance Amendment Acts and Determination of Needs Regulations. Read More

1959

Mental Health Act. Read More

1965-1966

National Insurance (NI) Act 1965 and the Ministry of Social Security Act (MSSA) 1966. Read More

1965

National Insurance Act. Read More

1966

Supplementary Benefits Commission (SBC). Read More

1968

Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (OPCS). Read More

1970

The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act (CSDPA). Read More

August 1970

Department for Health and Social Security (DHSS) says needs are to be determined by resources. Read More

1 September 1971

Introduction of Invalidity Benefit for people who had to leave their trade or occupation after sustaining an injury or developing a long-term illness. Read More

1971-1972

Introduction of Attendance Allowance (AA) and lower rate. Read More

1976

The Union of Physically Impaired Against Segregation (UPIAS) Statement. Read More

31 March 1979

First figures showing number of people on Invalidity and Sickness Benefit. Read More

1980

The Social Security Act (SSA). Read More

28 November 1983

Invalidity Benefit regulations introduced requiring a doctor’s certificate. Read More

Late 1980s to 1990s

UK Conservative Government tries to minimise 1980s unemployment figures by misrepresenting statistics and also misleadingly encouraging the moving of unemployed people onto disability benefits. Read More

1 November 1991

National Employers Life Assurance Co. Ltd. (NEL) renames as Unum Limited. Read More

6 April 1992

Introduction of disability living allowance, enabling more disabled people able to claim support for some of their extra impairment-related costs. Read More

Autumn 1992

Peter Lilley (secretary of state for social security) talks about “closing down the something for nothing society” and tightening up on “scroungers” and “bogus asylum seekers”. Read More

10 June 1993

Leaked Whitehall documents reveal plans to cut Invalidity Benefit. Read More

15 June 1993

John Major says it “beggars belief that so many more people have suddenly become invalids”, laying the foundations for the upcoming Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Bill. Read More

1994

US insurance company Unum Provident advise the UK government on ‘welfare reform’ to reduce the number of claimants of long-term sickness benefits. Read More

20 January 1994

The Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Bill and research paper published, discussing role of GPs in determining access to benefits. Read More

5 July 1994

Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994 receives royal assent. Read More

13 April 1995

Key measures from the Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994 come into force, including replacing Invalidity Benefit with Incapacity Benefit, and introducing the points-based All Work Test, as well as regulation 27 – providing a ‘safety net’ for those who faced a ‘substantial risk’ of harm if they were found capable of work. Read More

July 1995

Professor Wikeley publishes paper highlighting the risks of The Social Security (Incapacity for Work) Act 1994, saying that it reaffirms idea of the ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’ poor, begins the move away from GP-led benefits assessments, and is designed to encourage people to take up private insurance, leaving marginalised groups with inadequate protection. Read More

August 1995

Paper (co-written by US insurance company UnumProvident Vice President) suggests removing GPs from assessing fitness to work. Read More

November 1995

Ministers in the John Major administration approve decision to outsource medical assessments for benefits. Read More

28 October 1996

The Department of Social Security tells the Social Security Advisory Committee that intended policy changes to remove the ‘substantial risk’ rules (which provide vital safeguarding) would have no detrimental effect. Read More

28 October 1996

Child Poverty Acton Group (CPAG) writes to the Social Security Advisory Committee. Read More

6 November 1996

Department of Social Security says removing ‘significant risk’ regulation is ‘neutral’ despite providing a ‘safety net’ for those facing a ‘significant risk’ of harm if found capable of work. This means the committee does not see a formal referral and the regulation is approved by parliament (the removal will later be found to be unlawful). Read More

6 November 1996

Clinicians appointed by the DSS removal of regulation 27, which provides vital safeguarding to those whose mental and/or physical health is ‘substantial risk’ if found fit to work. Read More

1997

Leaked document outlines plans for changes to sickness and disability related benefits based on budget savings Read More

6 January 1997

Regulation 27 ‘substantial risk’ – a key safety net for claimants at risk of serious harm if they are found fit for work – is removed from regulations. Read More

December 1997

Child Poverty Action group raises concerns over removal of “significant risk” clause – finding that the Social Security Advisory Committee had been ‘misled’ by the DSS. Read More

23 December 1997

Disabled activists protest over welfare cuts outside Downing Street. Read More

26 March 1998

Publication by the Blair ‘New Labour’ administration of new social security green paper “New Ambitions for our Country: A New Contract for Welfare”, setting out the principles of welfare reform based on the idea of “welfare dependency”. Read More

11 November 1999

The Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 receives Royal Assent. Read More

21 December 1999

‘Permanent Health Insurance’ Westminster Hall debate by Clive Efford MP debated the increasing wrongful denial of PHI claims. Read More

2000

The death of Timothy Finn. Read More

2000

The All Work Test is reformed and renamed the Personal Capability Assessment, and is outsourced to SEMA, which would be taken over by Atos. Read More

2001

Insurance company Unum launches lobbying group, including some disability charities,  to increase its influence. Read More

9 March 2001

National Audit Office report finds “serious problems” with medical assessment of Incapacity and disability benefits. Read More

November 2001

Woodstock conference on “malingering and illness deception”, partly funded by UnumProvident and DWP, will play a key role in justifying welfare reform. Read More

13 October 2002 and 17 November 2002

News programmes expose claims denial practices in the USA at Unum (who are currently advising the UK government on welfare reform). Read More

8 November 2002

The Court of Appeal finds (in the case Howker v Secretary of State) that the social security advisory committee had been misled by the DSS (now DWP) and that removing the “substantial risk” clause was unlawful. Read More

2003

UnumProvident acquires UK group insurance business – building its insurance presence in the UK while influencing welfare reform at governmental level. Read More

18 February 2003

Ministers try again to remove the “substantial risk” clause from regulation 27, reversing the effect of the Court of Appeal ruling. Read More

13 May 2003

The Social Security Advisory Committee recommends that no change be made to regulation 27, and then withdraws its proposal to remove the safety net. Read More

17 October 2003

National Audit Office report finds backlog of assessment cases and early signs of DWP’s failure to seek medical evidence early in the assessment process. Read More

10 December 2003

DWP’s chief medical adviser, Mansel Aylward, gives evidence to the Commons Public Accounts Committee over accusations that health care professionals, carrying out assessments on behalf of DWP, are treating claimants like “lumps of meat.” Read More

July 2004

UnumProvident opens new Centre for Psychosocial and Disability Research at Cardiff University, which has close links to DWP. Read More

November 2004

DWP-commissioned research finds Incapacity Benefit Personal Advisers are concerned about working with clients who are suicidal, and about a target driven sanctioning culture. Read More

18 November 2004

UnumProvident settles multi-state federal examination of claim handling practices in USA, identifying Unum’s use of in-house medical staff to deny benefits. Read More

2005

DWP publishes second research report on Incapacity Benefit reforms and Personal advisers, finding unmanageable workloads affect their ability to identify risk and provide support to people in distress. Read More

2005

US insurance giant UnumProvident says it is driving government policy on Incapacity Benefit reform. Read More

1 January 2005

Research published into how DWP and Atos secure further medical evidence from claimants. Read More

3 October 2005

California insurance regulators fine Unum $8 million, including for using wrong legal definition of disability to deny claims, requiring the company to reopen as many as 26,000 California cases. Read More

11 October 2005

DWP commission a report on ‘The Scientific and Conceptual Basis of Incapacity Benefits’, which lays the framework for the 2006 Welfare Reform Bill. Read More

1 January 2006

Publication of “Is Work Good for Health and Well-being?”, claims to provide evidence that work is good for health, which will be used by government to justify pressuring disabled people into work. Read More

January 2006

The New Labour government publishes “A New Deal for Welfare” green paper, introducing the new employment and support allowance, which will replace incapacity benefit and include conditionality for most claimants. Read More

25 January 2006

Tony Blair supports welfare shake-up, warning that unemployed people, single parents and those on incapacity benefit that they could no longer expect “a lifetime” on benefit. Read More

March 2006

Dr Alison Ravetz criticises government’s New Deal for Welfare warning of incalculable stress for those forced into work and predicting future harms. Read More

September 2006

DWP publishes progress report on developing the work capability assessment. Read More

2007

New Labour commission report from investment banker David Freud on “reducing dependency” in the welfare system. Read More

31 May 2007

Welfare Reform Act 2007 receives royal assent, introducing changes that will impact millions of disabled people, including the new employment and support allowance (ESA) and the work capability assessment (WCA). Read More

3 July 2007

“Doctor” is changed to “healthcare professional” in amendments to the social security regulations, related to medical opinion in determining fitness to work. Read More

November 2007

Labour’s work and pensions secretary Peter Hain vows to “rip up sicknote Britain.” Read More

9 November 2007

Labour announces the new work capability assessment for claiming employment and support allowance, with DWP claiming that “Fifty per cent of those who take the assessment will not pass it”. Read More

15 January 2008

Bid to regulate health care professionals carrying out work capability assessments fails. Read More

2 February 2008

David Freud suggests that less than a third of those claiming incapacity benefit are legitimate claimants. Read More

17 March 2008

Publication of DWP report on health, work and well-being emphasises cost to the British economy of health-related absence from work. Read More

1 April 2008

Work and pensions secretary (of the Blair administration) announces plans to get tough on “scroungers” by retesting everyone on Incapacity Benefit through the new Work Capability Assessment. Read More

27 October 2008

Introduction of Employment and Support Allowance and the Work Capability Assessment – key elements of Labour’s welfare reform which aims to use conditionality to cut spending on out-of-work benefits. Read More

10 December 2008

White Paper ‘Raising Expectations and Increasing Support: Reforming Welfare for the Future’, which claims that “everyone on incapacity benefit” will be moved to ESA, and supports use of conditionality and sanctions, is discussed in House of Lords. Read More

2009

Launch of Centre for Welfare Reform. Read More

14 October 2009

The Express publishes misleading and inaccurate benefit fraud story about incapacity benefit claimants “faking their illnesses”. Read More

October 2009

DWP publishes internal review of work capability assessment. Read More

2010

Formation of Black Activists Rising Against the Cuts (BARAC). Read More

1 January 2010

The death of Stephen Carré after finding that DWP had confirmed its decision to find him ineligible for ESA. Read More

30 March 2010

Prevention of future deaths (PFD) report finds that the rejection of his appeal that he was not fit for work was a ‘trigger’ in Stephen Carré’s death. Read More

4 May 2010

Coroner Tom Osborne receives initial response to the Stephen Carré PFD from DWP permanent secretary Sir Leigh Lewis. Read More

6 May 2010

Labour government voted out in general election, leading to formation of coalition between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Read More

12 May 2010

Coroner Tom Osborne replies to Sir Leigh Lewis, saying that DWP does not need to investigate the circumstances surrounding Stephen Carré’s death but does need to investigate use of medical evidence. Read More

Summer/Autumn 2010

Formation of Black Triangle Campaign to “galvanise opposition to the current vicious attack on the fundamental human rights of disabled people by the Government”, and in memory of Paul Reekie. Read More

Summer/Autumn 2010

Formation of The Mental Health Resistance Network set up “by people who live with mental distress in order to defend ourselves from the assault on us by a cruel government”. Read More

10 June 2010

The death of Paul Reekie. Read More

22 June 2010

Budget reveals plans to slash spending on disability living allowance through a new assessment process. Read More

28 June 2010

Iain Duncan Smith suggests disabled people are to blame for planned cuts to Disability Living Allowance. Read More

September 2010

DWP fails in its legal duty to respond to the Stephen Carré prevention of future deaths report. Read More

October 2010

Mad Pride protest against the coalition government’s “savage” welfare cuts. Read More

6 October 2010

Prime minister adds to “benefit scrounger” rhetoric aimed at claimants of incapacity benefit. Read More

6 October 2010

Coroner Tom Osborne writes to the father of Stephen Carré, saying he has received no “substantive response” to his prevention of future deaths report. Read More

23 November 2010

Professor Malcolm Harrington publishes his first independent review of the Work Capability Assessment, finding that the system is “impersonal” but not “broken” (later evidence would emerge that he had not been informed by DWP of the coroner’s report for Stephen Carré.) Read More

1 December 2010

The Sun publishes an interview with Iain Duncan Smith on “Benefits Britain.” Read More

2011

Calum’s List website is created as a memorial page to remember “welfare reform deaths.” Read More

January 2011

Daily Mail article wrongly claims that 400,000 disabled benefit claimants were “trying it on”, and that 94 per cent of new claimants are able to work. Read More

June 2011

Publication of “Getting In, Staying In and Getting On: Disability Employment Support Fit for the Future” recommending end to government subsidies for Remploy factories and producing disagreement within the disabled people’s movement. Read More

15 June 2011

David Cameron says the work capability assessment is necessary to stop “bad behaviour.” Read More

25 September 2011

Labour’s shadow secretary of state for Work and Pensions claims Labour lost the 2010 election because it was not seen as tough enough on welfare. Read More

October 2011

Insurance provider Unum denies it will profit from incapacity benefit reform. Read More

3 October 2011

Iain Duncan Smith tells Conservative party conference that incapacity benefit is abused and open to fraud. Read More

27 October 2011

BBC broadcasts The Future State of Welfare, which mirrors government rhetoric, and uses faulty data, about the work capability assessment system. Read More

October 2011

Research shows a ‘significant increase’ in the number of negative stories about disabled people in national newspapers over the last six years. Read More

October 2011

Pat’s Petition, asking the DWP to stop changes to benefits, is submitted on the UK Government’s website. Read More

November 2011

Evidence emerges of Unum’s influence on UK welfare reform. Read More

November 2011

Professor Harrington publishes his second review of the WCA. Read More

31 December 2011

The death of Ms DE (Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland later launches an investigation into her death). Read More

2012

Research report evidences “influence of politicians’ rhetoric” in increasing stigma against benefit claimants. Read More

9 January 2012

Report finds government misled parliament over opposition to disability living allowance reform, and Spartacus Network is launched. Read More

28 January 2012

Disabled activists and allies stage direct action protest at the government’s welfare reform bill. Read More

1 February 2012

DWP begins to collect peer reviews (the secret reports it carries out into the deaths of benefit claimants) centrally for the first time. Read More

1 February 2012

Commons invokes financial privilege to pass the Welfare Reform Act 2012, quashing Lords amendments to soften changes to the benefits system. Read More

8 February 2012

Welfare Reform Act, which introduces universal credit and introduces the “bedroom tax”, receives royal assent. Read More

1 March 2012

MPs and peers warn of cumulative impact of Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence payments (DLA/PIP) reforms on disabled people. Read More

23 March 2012

Disabled asylum seekers created a mural for their messages to be heard in the heart of Bristol. Read More

2 April 2012

Mind chief executive resigns from Work Capability Assessment (WCA) review scrutiny panel, arguing that the assessment process “isn’t working”. Read More

1 May 2012

Scottish GP tells Scottish parliament that the death of Paul Reekie was caused by the UK government’s welfare reforms. Read More

June 2012

Doctors vote to end the work capability assessment (WCA), thanks to lobbying from disabled activists. Read More

8 June 2012

The death of Karen Sherlock, 2 weeks after she was told she would be eligible once again to receive Employment support Allowance (ESA). Read More

20 June 2012

Email leaked from Jobcentre managers to staff after a claimant attempts suicide after being told his sickness benefit would be cut off. Read More

26 July 2012

High court grants permission for two disabled people (backed by the Mental Health Resistance Network) to bring a judicial review claim against the work and pensions secretary and related to the work capability assessment (WCA). Read More

30 July 2012

Two investigative documentaries about Atos and the work capability assessment (WCA) are broadcast on the same night, showing evidence of target driven assessment culture. Read More

August 2012

Disabled activists target Atos at London 2012 Paralympics, including delivering a coffin to Atos’s headquarters to represent those who have died after being found “fit to work”. Read More

August 2012

Survey finds negative press coverage of disabled people, supported by government in order to justify cuts, is increasing, contributing to disability hate crime. Read More

12 September 2012

MP raises concerns over the death of Colin Traynor, whose family say they “hold the Government…personally responsible”. Read More

25 September 2012

The death of Edward Jacques, a week after his Employment Support Allowance (ESA) was stopped, which his family say was a major “trigger”. The coroner raises issues with the assessment process, specifically the failure to get medical evidence. Read More

27 September 2012

The death of Brian McArdle, the day after he was deemed “fit to work” following a work capability assessment (WCA). Read More

8 October 2012

George Osborne refers to welfare claimants as “sleeping off a life on benefits” in speech to Conservative party conference. Read More

November 2012

WOW Petition Campaign, created by disabled people and building on Pat’s Petition, calls for a cumulative impact assessment of welfare reforms. Read More

15 November 2012

The Spartacus Network publishes the People’s Review of the Work Capability Assessment, documenting links between being found “fit for work” and people’s deaths. Read More

19 November 2012

DWP suggests that providing further medical evidence would be too heavy a burden on GPs. Read More

20 November 2012

Professor Harrington publishes his third review of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). Read More

22 November 2012

Iain Duncan Smith questioned over benefit-related deaths on BBC Question Time. Read More

26 November 2012

Joseph Rowntree Foundation publishes report on the impact of welfare reform on poverty and exclusion, criticising DWP for failing to assess the overall impact of its welfare reforms. Read More

30 November 2012

House of Commons Library sums up WCA concerns. Read More

2013

Linda Wootton dies nine days after DWP upholds its decision to declare her “fit for work.” Read More

17 January 2013

Commons debate on work capability assessment and Atos.   Read More

23 February 2013

Research by DPAC activist exposes how DWP under-estimated how many should be found not fit for work. Read More

April 2013

Thinktank Demos show that disabled people will be hit by up to 13 different cuts and risk losing a total of £28.3 billion in income support by 2018. Read More

April 2013

Launch of new personal independence payment (PIP) Read More

April 2013

DWP introduces mandatory reconsiderations – a new internal appeal stage for benefits.  Read More

April 2013

The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) comes into effect, introducing funding cuts to legal aid. Read More

6 April 2013

David Cameron tells The Sun that the welfare system has “lost its way” and become a “lifestyle choice for some” Read More

4 May 2013

The death of Stephanie Bottrill  – her suicide note blames the government’s “bedroom tax”. Read More

16 May 2013

Former Atos assessor blows the whistle on unfair practices, saying the DWP is the “real culprit”. Read More

22 May 2013

Judgement on work capability assessment court case brought by the Mental Health Resistance Network. Read More

20 July 2013

The death of David Clapson, three weeks after having his jobseeker’s allowance sanctioned. Read More

9 August 2013

The death of Mark Wood after being found ineligible for Employment Support Allowance (ESA). Read More

23 August 2013

The death of David Barr, a month after the confirmation of the decision to find him fit for work, which his Father says was the trigger leading to his suicide.  Read More

11 September 2013

“Shocking” bedroom tax should be axed, says UN investigator, who reported that the most vulnerable were being affected, with some talking about suicide. Read More

24 September 2013

The death of Michael O’Sullivan after being found fit for work. Read More

25 September 2013

The death of Tim Salter after being found fit for work. A coroner later ruled that a major factor in his death was the reduction in his benefits. Read More

28 September 2013

10,000 Cuts and Counting event in Parliament Square to remember the thousands of disabled people who have died shortly after a Work Capability Assessment (WCA). Read More

October 2013

Peter Lilley, security secretary in John Major’s government and one of the architects of the Work Capability Assessment, says he has “no regrets” and denies insurance industry influence. Read More

11 October 2013

DPAC co-founders persuade the UN disability committee to carry out an investigation into the UK under the optional protocol of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Read More

12 October 2013

Rachel Reeves, the new shadow secretary of state for work and pensions, says Labour would be tougher on welfare than the coalition. Read More

5 November 2013

The UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights condemns “intrusive” Work Capability Assessment and the demonization of poor people as undeserving. Read More

December 2013

The Spartacus Network leads the Second People’s Review of the Work Capability Assessment, including accounts of deaths linked to being found fit for work.  Read More

December 2013

Publication of fourth independent review of the Work Capability Assessment – with no mention of deaths or suicides. Read More

4 December 2013

Court of Appeal upholds ruling that the Work Capability Assessment discriminates against some disabled people. Read More

4 December 2013

Despite the Court of Appeal ruling that the Work Capability Assessment discriminates against people with mental health conditions, the DWP tells senior civil servants it is “business as usual”. Read More

2014

Formation of Sisters of Frida – disabled women’s collective.  Read More

7 January 2014

Inquest into the death of Michael O’Sullivan, where the Coroner concludes that the trigger for Michael O’Sullivan’s suicide was his assessment as being fit for work, and writes a prevention of future deaths report to DWP, saying that “there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken”. Read More

30 January 2014

Managing editor of the Sun appointed director of communications at DWP. Read More

19 February 2014

Activists deliver letter to British Medical Association about its members’ opposition to the work capability assessment. Read More

27 February 2014

War on Welfare (WOW) petition secures debate in House of Commons. Read More

March 2014

The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland publishes a report into the death of Ms DE, finding that the process and denial of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) were a major factor in her suicide. Read More

March 2014

Atos pull out of contract with the DWP to deliver the work capability assessment due to reputational and profitability issues. Read More

July 2014

Launch of New Approach campaign and release of work capability assessment report – finding the process “abusive” and “inhumane”. Read More

7 July 2014

Labour peer highlights “devastating” impact of legal aid changes, which remove access to justice for the poorest and most vulnerable. Read More

13 August 2014

DWP data shows increase in use of sanctions against Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants. Read More

22 August 2014

DWP questioned about what records they keep of deaths linked to the benefits system. Read More

30 September 2014

Welfare rights expert and campaigner Nick Dilworth tells newspaper about the “toxic” Work Capability Assessment, and links to deaths. Read More

Late September 2014

The new Conservative minister for disabled people insists DWP is right to ignore reports of deaths linked to benefits. Read More

Early October 2014

Liberal Democrat DWP minister contradicts his Tory colleague over records kept on deaths linked to benefits. Read More

13 October 2014

First freedom of information request into DWP reviews into deaths of benefit claimants. Read More

14 October 2014

DWP admits for the first time that it carries out investigations into some deaths of claimants. Read More

7 November 2014

Faiza Ahmed (known to her family as Sophie) dies by suicide, hours after telling a jobcentre work coach that she was suicidal. Read More

10 November 2014

DWP questioned over how many coroner’s letters about benefits-related deaths it has received in the past 10 years. Read More

10 November 2014

DWP admits in a Freedom of Information response that it has carried out 60 peer reviews into deaths of benefits claimants. Read More

November 2014

Litchfield publishes fifth and final independent review of the work capability assessment, with no mention of the DWP’s own reviews into deaths of claimants. Read More

27 November 2014

Employment minister says there is no formal policy to liaise with agencies after a sanction. Read More

12 December 2014

DWP delays responding to freedom of information request on peer reviews into deaths of benefits claimants. Read More

January 2015

Labour MP speaks of “core visits” procedures, which are supposed to be followed when a  “vulnerable” person is sanctioned. Read More

2 February 2015

A man (name kept anonymous) dies by suicide after being rejected for both Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA). Read More

19 February 2015

DWP refuses to release the peer reviews it has carried out in relation to deaths of benefits claimants. Read More

19 February 2015

DWP admits that 40 of the 49 peer reviews into the deaths of benefit claimants it has carried out were in response to suicides. Read More

2 March 2015

Channel 4 reports that most peer reviews included recommendations for improvements. Read More

2 March 2015

Maximus takes over from Atos as provider of work capability assessments, sparking protests. Read More

March 2015

The death of Sheila Holt, following a work capability assessment. Read More

March 2015

Psychologists Against Austerity say austerity policies are causing mental health problems. Read More

12 March 2015

Dismissal of further medical evidence case on the work capability assessment and discrimination, but upper tribunal administrative appeals chamber criticises minister. Read More

17 March 2015

Rachel Reeves, Labour’s shadow secretary of state for work and pensions, says: “We are not the party of people on benefits.” Read More

18 March 2015

The Commons work and pensions select committee calls for a new independent body to investigate deaths of benefit claimants. Read More

April 2015

DWP examines its flawed peer review process, finding deep flaws. Read More

16 April 2015

Changes to incapacity benefits described “as the biggest single social policy failure of the last 15 years”. Read More

30 April 2015

Black Triangle film listing people whose deaths are linked to the welfare system.  Read More

7 May 2015

Conservatives win overall majority at general election Read More

8 May 2015

DWP admits that 10 of the 49 claimants whose deaths were examined by peer reviews had had their benefits sanctioned. Read More

19 May 2015

DWP raises issues with sanctions and safeguarding of vulnerable claimants by the companies delivering its Work Programme. Read More

29 May 2015

The death of Luke Alexander Loy, three months after being found fit for work and sanctioned. His sister said “he died as a result of Tory cuts”. Read More

2 June 2015

Freedom of information request reveals that 22 of the 49 peer reviews into deaths of claimants involved someone claiming employment and support allowance (ESA).  Read More

26 June 2015

DWP says coroners’ letters expressing concern about the deaths of benefit claimants are not handled by a specific official, revealing no centralised process for accountability. Read More

20 July 2015

John McDonnell voices strong opposition to welfare reform and work bill Read More

22 July 2015

Survey shows that “benefit scrounger rhetoric” is causing disability hate crime. Read More

August 2015

The death of Moira Drury, after the removal of her employment and support allowance (ESA). Read More

10 August 2015

The death of Frances McCormack. She left a note linking her hardship to the “bedroom tax”.  Read More

27 August 2015

DWP publish statistics on how many people died while claiming out-of-work benefits. Read More

29 August 2015

The death of Alan McArdle, an hour after being told that DWP was threatening to sanction him – stopping his employment and support allowance (ESA). Read More

17 September 2015

Information commissioner rejects complaint about DWP refusal to release peer reviews, supporting DWP’s’ response that this would breach data protection. Read More

18 September 2015

First coroner’s report to link work capability assessment (WCA) with the death of a person claiming benefits – Michael O’Sullivan. Read More

6 October 2015

Iain Duncan Smith tells claimants to “work your way out of poverty”. Read More

13 October 2015

Priti Patel denies causality between sanctions and suicides. Read More

14 October 2015

Mother of Mark Wood (who died after being found ineligible for employment and support allowance (ESA)) gives evidence to UN committee. Read More

15 October 2015

Disability News Service appeals to the First-Tier Tribunal over the information commissioner’s decision to reject its peer review complaint (allowing reviews to remain unpublished). Read More

21 October 2015

Prime minister David Cameron is asked about the death of Michael O’Sullivan. Read More

23 October 2015

Ministry of Justice releases Stephen Carré prevention of future deaths (PFD) report.  Read More

28 October 2015

David Cameron asked about peer reviews into deaths of people claiming benefits. Read More

28 October 2015

Welfare reform and work bill has its first reading in parliament. Read More

November 2015

The death of Paul Donnachie, after his employment and support allowance (ESA) is removed. Read More

12 November 2015

Professor Harrington (who carried out the first three independent reviews of the WCA for DWP) says he was not shown Stephen Carré PFD report. Read More

16 November 2015

Research shows links between Work Capability Assessments and suicides Read More

December 2015

DWP, in guidance to healthcare professionals working for Maximus, changes suicide from a “definitive” “substantial risk” if forced into work, to something that should be weighed against ‘benefits of employment”. Read More

11 December 2015

Mental health experts describe how “ruthless” DWP forced through Work Capability Assessments despite knowing of harm. Read More

8 January 2016

National Audit Office (NAO) publishes report on disability assessments and private contractors. Read More

20 January 2016

Coroner publishes prevention of future deaths (PFD) report into death of Sophie/Faiza (see 7 November 2014), calling for DWP to take action to prevent further deaths. Read More

28 January 2016

Ministry of Justice refuses to investigate DWP’s failure to respond to Stephen Carré prevention of future deaths (PFD) report. Read More

3 March 2016

Information Rights Tribunal hears Disability news Service case against the information commissioner over its finding that DWP did not need to release peer reviews into the deaths of benefit claimants. Read More

16 March 2016

Welfare Reform and Work Act receives royal assent. Read More

17 March 2016

Labour former work and pensions secretary says she “never saw” Stephen Carré PFD report. Read More

20 March 2016

Iain Duncan Smith accuses government of deliberately attacking disabled people through “indefensible” cuts because “they don’t vote for us”. Read More

23 March 2016

Disabled activists ask Scottish police to investigate ministers over work capability assessment (WCA) deaths. Read More

April 2016

DWP sends out reminder to staff about six-point suicide prevention plan. Read More

April 2016

Capita faces fresh calls to be stripped of personal independence payment (PIP) contracts after release of Channel 4 undercover footage.  Read More

11 April 2016

The Information Rights Tribunal rules DWP must release redacted versions of peer reviews. Read More

5 May 2016

DWP figures shows that of the 49 peer reviews into deaths of people claiming benefits, 18 of the people who had died by suicide had been claiming employment support allowance (ESA). Read More

12 May 2016

DWP releases redacted versions of 49 peer reviews, showing that ministers were repeatedly warned that policies were putting the lives of “vulnerable” claimants at risk. Read More

18 May 2016

Scottish National Party (SNP) MP Deidre Brock backs calls to prosecute Iain Duncan Smith and Chris Grayling for their failure to make the work capability assessment (WCA) safe. Read More

19 May 2016

The death of Susan Roberts, after being told she had lost a benefit appeal. Read More

19 May 2016

John McDonnell supports calls to prosecute Iain Duncan Smith. Read More

22 May 2016

The film “I, Daniel Blake” (about the unfairness of the work capability assessment) wins the Cannes Palme d’Or. Read More

June 2016

Recovery in The Bin runs Benefits Defence workshops – upskilling disabled people to defend themselves from the welfare system. Read More

17 July 2016

Kamil Ahmad, a disabled Kurdish asylum seeker, is murdered  Read More

4 August 2016

Jobcentre Plus (JCP) worker caught making racist comments on the phone. Read More

30 August 2016

New reviews into deaths of people claiming benefits show DWP staff keep failing to follow suicide guidelines. Read More

September 2016

Changes to DWP guidance (including regulation 35) on safety and risk lead to sharp fall in claimants placed in employment and support allowance (ESA) support group, and increase in number of people found ‘fit for work’. Read More

13 September 2016

Freedom of information battle with DWP finds Maximus memo on suicide guidance and medical evidence was sent a few days after the existence of the Michael O’Sullivan prevention of future deaths report was first revealed. Read More

October 2016

Iain Duncan Smith denies responsibility for WCA deaths. Read More

October 2016

DWP publishes Improving Lives: The Work, Health and Disability Green Paper.  Read More

November 2016

Disabled activists declare war on Mind after links exposed to DWP. Read More

6 November 2016

Government leaks UN committee on the rights of persons with disabilities report to Mail on Sunday in attempt to discredit its findings. Read More

7 November 2016

UN report concludes DWP is guilty of “grave” and “systematic” violations of disabled people. Read More

30 November 2016

The National Audit Office says DWP is not doing enough to understand how sanctions affect people on benefits. Read More

30 November 2016

Psychotherapy organisations express concern about the impact of sanctions on mental health. Read More

December 2016