[ssf] [danmail] Fwd: Fw: Covert taping of benefits medicals legal

Tue Nov 21 16:28:56 GMT 2006

----- Original Message ----- *From:*
benefitsandwork<benefitsandwork at googlemail.com>
*To:* List Member <faerieland at ukonline.co.uk>
*Sent:* Tuesday, November 21, 2006 1:47 PM
*Subject:* Covert taping of benefits medicals legal

*November 2006 newsletter*

[Please note: articles marked OPEN ACCESS can be read by anyone. Other
articles are only available to members. Find out about membership for
Claimants and Carers <http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=4697226&s=103850251>
and membership
for Professionals and
Organisations<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=4697225&s=103850251>.]

This newsletter is available online at:
www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/benefits/newsletter/november_06.htm
<http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/benefits/newsletter/november_06.htm+>

Dear Reader,

Well, we managed to keep our collective lip buttoned for a whole month - I
can't tell you what self control it took. But now here we are again with
what is really quite a cheery newsletter . . no, really, it is.

We have news of a famous victory by an unemployed workers group who have
shamed the DWP into providing freephone numbers for claimants. And then we
have another victory by a solitary B&W member who has forced the DWP to
rewrite their offensively untrue 'oral warning' to claimants taking notes at
medicals.

Plus, following a recent legal ruling we've written to the DWP giving them a
month to remove what is effectively a ban on allowing claimants to record
their medicals. If they don't, we'll be publishing our own Spy Who Loved Me
legal and technical guide to open and covert taping of medicals.

Plus - yes, there's more - we've got hold of the three most recent copies of
the monthly update sent out to all Jobcentre Plus managers and published
them in the members area of the site. Now you can be better informed than
most JC+ staff about what's going on in their office. Yes, we know, that's
probably not too hard.

And - yes it just keeps on coming - we've published a new factsheet on
disability discrimination and employment, the first in a series we're
providing in advance of of the introduction of the Employment and Support
Allowance . . . we do like to be well prepared. Plus, Holiday Whitehead, our
employment and DDA guru is now running a forum for your DDA queries. Don't
be shy about asking, it can get lonely in a new forum.

Finally, we've got lots of volunteer opportunities on the site as we strive
to improve our service to you without actually having the cash to pay
anyone. This month we're especially keen on finding people to help compile a
database and people with Dreamweaver and more complex application skills.

There - I'm all cheered out. Back to unrelieved gloom again next month.

Good luck,

Steve

Secret recording of benefits medicals
legal<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=4697219&s=103850251>
A recent court ruling opens the door to claimants making secret recordings
of disability living allowance and incapacity for work medicals We have
written to the DWP asking them to remove their virtual ban on allowing
claimants to record medicals or we will publish legal and technical guidance
on secret taping.

DDA Factsheets and Forums launched
<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=4697229&s=103850251>*Open access*
Changes to the benefits system mean that knowing how to challenge
discrimination, and seek compensation where appropriate, is likely to be
vital for many disabled claimants.

DWP oral warning u-turn <http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=4697230&s=103850251> *Open
access*
A Benefits and Work member has taken on the might of the DWP and Atos Origin
over an intimidatory oral warning and won.

Volunteers wanted <http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=4697223&s=103850251> *Open
access*
We still haven't reached the point where we can afford to hire people to
work on the site (oh happy day), but we are very keen to extend what we do.
So, if you have a few hours a week to spare, why not check out our volunteer
vacancies. At the moment we're looking for a Database Co-ordinator, Data
Collectors (no experience needed), Web Builders and an Application
Developer.

Confidential Jobcentre Plus Manager's
updates<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=4697222&s=103850251>
*Open access
*Benefits and Work has obtained (and published) copies of previously
confidential monthly updates sent out to all Jobcentre Plus managers.

Dubious DLA medical report
figures<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=4697220&s=103850251>
Figures show that only a tiny proportion of DLA and AA medical reports are
classed as C grade.

DWP phone scam - campaigners
victory<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=4697224&s=103850251>
An unemployed workers centre has shamed the DWP into ending the practice of
making money out of claimants phone calls.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome DLA appeal
statistics<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=4697228&s=103850251>
There has been a fall in the number of successful appeals against a decision
not to award DLA to claimants with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Citizens Advice funding cut <http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=4697218&s=103850251>
Citizens Advice is facing a cut of £4 million from the annual budget of
£23.5 million it receives from the Department for Trade and Industry.

Decision Makers Exchange Issue
68<http://rd.bcentral.com/?ID=4697227&s=103850251>September 2006
Includes information on:
A 'most important reminder' - to DMs that it is essential that they check
that they have valid consent before requesting a report from the customer's
GP or from a hospital doctor.
Disability and Medical diagnosis - Criticism has recently been made in the
media that DM's have been disallowing claims made for children where there
is no firm diagnosis of a medical condition. DM's are reminded that there is
no need to have a formal diagnosis.

 PLEASE NOTE THE REPLY TO ADDRESS ON THIS NEWSLETTER JUST COLLECTS HUNDREDS
OF AUTOREPLIES. IF YOU WANT TO EMAIL US PLEASE WRITE TO:
info at benefitsandwork.co.uk

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