Telford GUARDIAN

SCHEME SLASHED: WORKPLACE RIGHTS CRUSHED! The Access to Work scheme has been a crucial support system for disabled people trying to find and keep jobs. It helps cover costs like special equipment or support workers, making workplaces more accessible. But lately, things have gotten worse — and not in a good way. Longer Waits and Fewer Supports Since July 2024, waiting times for help have nearly doubled — from about 55 days to nearly 85 days. That’s almost three months of waiting, which can make the difference between staying in a job or losing it. Plus, the government has started to cut back on funding for workplace adjustments. They’ve put stricter rules on how support workers are paid, with limits on hourly rates. They’re also now saying some things, like special equipment or flexible hours, are just normal business costs that employers should cover themselves. For small businesses and self-employed workers, this can mean extra costs they simply can’t afford. Who Gets Hit Hardest? The...

A Step Toward Authoritarianism: How Recent Votes Signal a Dangerous Shift in Justice and Privacy In the wake of parliamentary votes on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill, on Wednesday 30 th April, many of us are rightly alarmed. What should have been a straightforward effort to crack down on fraud has turned into something much more troubling—a clear move towards presuming guilt over innocence, and a dangerous erosion of our civil liberties. Let’s break down what happened and why it matters. Presumption of Guilt: The Heart of the Matter At the core of this legislation is a dangerous premise: it treats all benefit claimants as suspects until proven innocent. Instead of safeguarding the rights of individuals, the Bill empowers authorities to assume wrongdoing without concrete evidence. Specifically, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is granted sweeping surveillance powers over bank accounts. This isn’t about targeting known fraudsters; it’s about monitoring ...