DWP madness – thinking they can get away with the same trick twice

Last Updated: September 2, 2015By
An example of what the change to PIP will mean for disabled people, from a CAB blog article.

An example of what the change to PIP will mean for disabled people, from a CAB blog article.

The Department for Work and Pensions is trying to work the same trick with DLA and PIP as it recently tried with IB/SDA and ESA – refusing a Freedom of Information request on the grounds that the facts are scheduled to be published in the future. Here’s Jayne Linney:

today a FOI request asking  ‘The percentage of current DLA claimants, who, on conversion to PiP, were reduced in their claims’…was answered by the DWP. Unsurprisingly their response was “I can confirm that the Department holds the information you are seeking. However, Section 22 of the Freedom of Information Act exempts this information from disclosure. This is because the information is intended for publication at a future date.Once again the DWP hide behind Section 22, but fail to indicate WHEN these figures are to be produced; could this be because the data once revealed, will show another proven case of how the Welfare Reform Act is persistently failing disabled people?

The recent outcome of the 18 month long fight by Mike Sivier confirmed that “10,000 people lost their lives” after being determined they were well enough to be placed in the Work Related Activity Group! Will this latest refusal for information, demonstrate yet a further number of disabled people, who although surviving, being adversely affected by the decisions of civil servants

This Writer would advise the author of the FoI request to ask for reconsideration at once, demanding to know exactly what information the DWP is planning to publish and in what format. The key word is “exactly”. DWP claimed it was going to publish information that answered my FoI request but the facts prove that the Age-Standardised Mortality Rates that took more than two years to appear had nothing to do with it. Also in the reconsideration request should be a demand to know when, exactly, this information is scheduled for release.

Once the answers (or lack of them) come back, they can write to the Information Commissioner for a ruling. The details of this request will depend on what the DWP provides but she should use the ICO’s own advice, as outlined in my own case (ICO reference number FS50557638) as evidence that the DWP cannot hide behind an indefinite date of publication.

Let’s allow no room for the bureaucrats to manoeuvre.

Source: More disability benefit data refused for release by DWP. | jaynelinney

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10 Comments

  1. michaeltodd1965 September 2, 2015 at 12:30 pm - Reply

    No way people, we stopped them once so we can do it again. Who do they think they are, they have to remember that they are ELECTED representatives who work on our behalf so when we ask for something like information it should be given without question. Just how many more poorly off disabled human beings have to suffer before the DWP and IDS decide to release the information request?

  2. jaynel62 September 2, 2015 at 12:30 pm - Reply

    Have made this suggestion on the FOI page Mike x

  3. Mr.Angry September 2, 2015 at 12:32 pm - Reply

    What was the point of introducing the FOI act if this is what we are up against at every step of the process.I thought corruption was bad in the likes of Nigeria, this bunch outranks them all. Their intentions are pure evil I pray this man IDS gets whats coming to him I really do.

  4. marcusdemowbray September 2, 2015 at 12:33 pm - Reply

    If the PRman Minister Camoron is unaware of all the deaths, suicides and shenanigans at DWP then he is criminally incompetent and should be held to account. If he is aware (which even a dunderhead like him MUST be) then he is guilty of aiding, abetting and conspiring with Herr Dumkopf-Schmitt to gravely breach human rights and commit culpable pre-meditated manslaughter.

  5. gfranklinpercival September 2, 2015 at 1:20 pm - Reply

    These people, politicians, civil servants or contractors who stand in their place are liable on conviction for misconduct in public office to terms of imprisonment not exceeding life.

  6. mohandeer September 2, 2015 at 1:54 pm - Reply

    The DWP is not going to release those stats in time for the special UN rapporteur to have available to her. However, since the DWP has admitted it has them, perhaps she, in her special capacity, can demand the figures be made available to her? My goodness Mike, you are relentless and seemingly indefatigable, hope all your worthy efforts are rewarded.

  7. Di ane September 2, 2015 at 5:02 pm - Reply

    is Sarah [in the CAB PIP leaflet] the same Sarah from the fake DWP leaflets?

    • Mike Sivier September 2, 2015 at 6:36 pm - Reply

      I believe I can answer this with accuracy: No.

  8. Rupert Mitchell (@rupert_rrl) September 3, 2015 at 6:32 am - Reply

    If we allow this excuse for a minister to get away without disclosing the true facts then it is WE who are MAD

  9. mrmarcpc September 8, 2015 at 4:44 pm - Reply

    We caught them first time round in their attempt to trick us and we exposed them, let’s do it again and really go for the throat!

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