The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has gone back on its promise to investigate the role of the DWP in the deaths of vulnerable claimants, effectively letting the DWP entirely off the hook.  Instead it is now only asking the DWP to come up with some new policies in relation to claimants with mental health issues and learning difficulties.

As far back as 2019 the EHRC said that it would mount an investigation into claimant deaths.  But it then used the pandemic as an excuse not to begin work.

Now, however, the Commission has said only that it intends to enter into a Section 23 agreement under the Equality Act 2006 which will oblige the DWP “to commit them to an action plan to meet the needs of customers with mental health impairments and learning disabilities.”

The EHRC claim that:

“This legally-binding action plan is focused on resolving issues for DWP customers, and offers a fast, effective means of redress, and helps to avoid lengthy investigations.”

In a statement unlikely to inspire confidence in disabled claimants, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, Marcial Boo, said:

“The EHRC is committed to stamping out discrimination against all disabled people, including those with mental health conditions and learning disabilities whose needs can be overlooked.

 “Government bodies often deliver essential services to vulnerable people. They must meet high standards and make reasonable adjustments for those who need them. The EHRC will hold them to account if they do not.

 “This agreement with DWP will build on the improvements already taking place for disabled benefits claimants. We are pleased that officials are working cooperatively with us to address our concerns, and we expect the binding legal agreement to be in place shortly. We will monitor its delivery.”

Sadly, the EHRC does not give any details of the “improvements already taking place for disabled benefits claimants”.  Most claimants would probably argue that, unless you live in Scotland, they are completely non-existent.

The reality is that the DWP is vastly bigger and better funded than the EHRC.  It will run rings round the Commission in the drawing up of an agreement which is likely to be little more than a list non-measurable and non-actionable good intentions.

The details of the action plan will not be available until the summer of 2022, at the earliest.

You can read more on the EHRC website.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Polly · 1 years ago
    My 21 year old son died by suicide in 2020. He was sanctioned at the time for missing an appointment. He couldn't face them!! He had unmet learning difficulties and mental health issues including depression. We didn't even hear from the DWP after his passing. Absolute disgrace!! 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      MrFibro · 1 years ago
      @Polly Hi Polly,

      I have Just read your sad new.  My sincere deepest condolence's to you and your family.

      Rather than sort out our own countries domestic issues here at home in Britain, the Tories don't have a problem shelling out countless billions when it suits them to foreign aid, and wars in other parts of the world that has really nothing to do with Britain or the British people at all. ie afghan, iraq, (over 20 years cost hundreds of billions of pounds tax payers monies)and now ukraine.

      This means that our own people are going without food, heating, shelter, medical care and the list goes on and on. Not to mention an elecy, gas and food crisis.

      Disabled sick people are continuously being how can i say persecuted for being disabled, albeit most have worked most of their working lives for this country, and payed their taxes. 

      You would think the penny would drop with this government, and simply leave disabled people alone, and just park them up, as they know full well, that these people will never get better, nor would they be able to hold down any jobs.

      But they continue to change their policies at the dwp and spend more wasteful billions on introducing new welfare policies, and systems that don't and wont work properly, meaning these changes cause more chaos and havoc, and pain to claimants, causing their mental, and physical health  or both to seriously deteriorate.

      The way i look at it, my experience is this... no one gives a toss about any of us, we are seen as parasites, who burden the taxpayers.  and in return as a reward to us, the government, - DWP continuously to want to make life extremely difficult for us.  



      It's almost as if they don't want us to reach state pension age at all.

      This Nasty Tory party sickens me immensely.  and with the roll-out of UC (universal credit) (started on 250 guinea pig claimants in bolton - on monday 9/5/22) and will then be dished out across the country without being fully tested thoroughly and then to be put forward in parliament for scrutiny is another kick in the disabled claimants teeth, well whatever teeth we've got left lol.

      End result more misery and suffering for the British disabled, sick and ill. 900,000 people will be worse off due to the change over from legacy benefits to UC.

      How sickening and frightening is that. Tories have and never will have any empathy or hold any form whatsoever of a moral compass.


      All the best

      regards.










  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    mark francis · 1 years ago
    I think it became clear during the stitch-up of Corbyn's Labour Party that the EHRC is now stacked with Tory appointees with no moral integrity at all.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Trudi · 1 years ago
    What an absolute disgrace 💔😡 - to the lost souls that were so badly let down by the DWP and society………
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Don't know · 1 years ago
    EHRC,can't see past there ass,so many disabled 
    People suffered, worried about financial, now just brushed off and forgotten... the  SS is still live .
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    MrFibro · 1 years ago
    The Equality and Human Rights Commission   <<<<< ABSOLUTE waste of space, more likely been gagged and bunged dough by  our corrupt goverment.  Just like the court case for the 20 quid a week  esa upliftment during the pandemic.

    It's a kick in the B****KS to the dead claimants families.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      James Moore · 1 years ago
      @MrFibro When there is no recourse to real justice the result is the courts and quasi-government organisations are used to perpetuate the injustices and place a very powerful tool at the disposal of the government. 
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