The DWP has been under the microscope ahead of a debate in parliament

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been the subject of a meeting, protest and some public shaming on social media today. But all that was before an official parliamentary debate into it even began.

The DWP: nothing to see here

Back in 2012, the WOW (War on Welfare) Campaign launched. Centred around a petition that got over 100,000 signatures, it forced a debate on DWP reforms and their effect on people. Ultimately, it aimed to get the DWP to do a “cumulative impact assessment”. This is where the effects and consequences – both positive and negative – of actions or policies are assessed.

But despite the petition and the debate, the DWP and government still haven’t done an assessment. Both have also ignored calls from the UN to carry one out. The DWP claims it cannot do a cumulative impact assessment because it “cannot be reliably modelled”.

So, WOW Campaign has returned and secured another debate in parliament on the issue. It was due to take place on Wednesday 19 December at 2pm. Timetable changes in parliament meant it was pushed back. At the time of publication, the debate should be happening at 7pm . But activity around the debate began much earlier.

Making moves

During the morning, Labour’s Debbie Abrahams, who supported WOW Campaign’s debate, chaired a meeting:

Great meeting ahead of this afternoon's scheduled debate on a cumulative impact assessment on cuts to #disability support. Thanks to @WOWpetition @contactfamilies & Disability Benefits Consortium for speeches, plus campaigners and colleagues who attended #stopdisabilitycuts pic.twitter.com/dD0AI13iZ9

— Debbie Abrahams (@Debbie_abrahams) December 19, 2018

#WOWDebate at the pre debate meeting for the wow debate with @Debbie_abrahams @wowhour @Dis_PPL_Protest @and_unite @depresseddawg74 @MrTopple @NicolaCJeffery @charlotteh71 @johnpringdns pic.twitter.com/1VFwJtUeNK

— Paula Peters (@paulapeters2) December 19, 2018

People shared their experiences of the DWP and its processes:

#WOWDebate Ian Jones of @wowhour describing his pip assessment at the hands of ATOS @Dis_PPL_Protest @MrTopple @NicolaCJeffery @MHResist @johnpringdns @and_unite @WomenStrike pic.twitter.com/Q1Pn7ljCvK

— Paula Peters (@paulapeters2) December 19, 2018

#WOWdebate @wowhour Listening to voices of the people affected by cuts to social welfare. pic.twitter.com/bWrIrGDrZa

— Retro games lover (@depresseddawg74) December 19, 2018

Then, during prime minister’s questions (PMQs) people gathered outside parliament:

Large banner outside HoC @Dis_PPL_Protest #wowdebate pic.twitter.com/LoM4I2w1MZ

— WOWvoices (@wowhour) December 19, 2018

#WOWDebate at old palace yard the list of people who died as a result of Tory ideological welfare reforms. Never forgotten @wowhour @Dis_PPL_Protest @22magoo @MrTopple @johnpringdns @and_unite @LauraPidcockMP @Debbie_abrahams @MHResist @depresseddawg74 pic.twitter.com/hirtwqXBaj

— Paula Peters (@paulapeters2) December 19, 2018

Labour’s Laura Pidcock was there:

#WOWdebate with the great @LauraPidcockMP who showed solidarity to the WOW Debate Protest. She spoke to campaigners and assured us of her support @wowhour @Dis_PPL_Protest @MrTopple @depresseddawg74 @MHResist @johnpringdns @and_unite @MHResist @charlotteh71 @mmaher70 pic.twitter.com/7ah2GTHigg

— Paula Peters (@paulapeters2) December 19, 2018

Other campaign groups and think tanks showed their support:

The #WOWdebate is on today!

You can join the conversation and support the debate using #WOWdebate 👍

Watch from 2 pm! 👇👇https://t.co/158IXY8pXj https://t.co/KUR2osM9D7

— #MEAction Network UK (@MEActNetUK) December 19, 2018

A statement from the Centre for Welfare Reform for the 19 December #WOWdebate on the Government's reasons for refusing to carry out a Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA)https://t.co/9WFJO9LseU#cuts #Disability #WelfareRebellion pic.twitter.com/yUimtm5Npi

— Citizen Network Research (@CitizenForward) December 18, 2018

And people also took to Twitter to share their stories. They were using the hashtag #WOWDebate:

My mum was told despite "having many illnesses" she did not meet the criteria. Makes you wonder what the criteria actually is if it doesn't even include so I'll that you're dying #pip #benefits #WowDebate https://t.co/Pt37UHjXkF

— Kay 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@kayblaq) December 19, 2018

#WOWDebate Thanks to this horrible government I am totally dependant on other people and have no income, no pension and I am too traumatised to go out on my own because of DWP Community Stalkers

— Zoompad … ZUMI, DANCER OF JOY. GOODNESS WILL WIN (@Zoompad) December 19, 2018

“Go private or die”

But campaigner Cat’s story was particularly heartbreaking. She has had numerous problems with the DWP. Cat said in a series of tweets:

My #PIP was reviewed in 2017. Stopped in Aug 2017 the week I had a suprapubic catheter fitted. Assessor ignored my medical conditions & left me with no income for 17 months. I travel to London to see specialists. Without PIP I lost my disability railcard…

I suffer from debilitating pelvic #mesh injuries including nerve damage, severe bladder dysfunction, multiple autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue, kidney damage, years of chronic infections & biofilms leading to antibiotic resistance. High risk sepsis…

By June 2018, under specialist in complex chronic lower urinary tract infections in London. Have to pay privately to see this specialist. Still no word about tribunal. Still no income. But without treatment? Kidney failure & sepsis. Go private or die…

#Austerity cuts mean access to treatment on #NHS isn’t available. #PIP withdrawn meant accessing life-saving treatment increasingly difficult due to lack of income. By August 2018, a year after PIP was stopped, I just wanted to [stop] fighting & die. This is the cost…

But her story is probably not unusual.

A hostile environment

As The Canary exclusively revealed, the DWP, despite its denials, has actually cut disabled people’s benefits in recent years. Moreover, the UN has now produced five separate reports following investigations into UK human rights violations. Yet nothing has changed. And amid all this, 10 claimants a day have been dying in recent years; people who the DWP said were ready to move towards work.

It is this ‘hostile environment’ at the DWP which people have been highlighting. But it will probably also form part of the debate. And for people like Cat, this cannot happen soon enough. So let’s hope that the DWP will be getting the serious scrutiny it deserves.

Featured image via WOW Campaign and UK government – Wikimedia