Disability campaigners said that the provision of welfare advice is as important to the success of the government's proposed 'Healthy Start' scheme (to reform welfare foods provision) as are links with health professionals or nutritional experts. They urged that the new scheme be linked to the provision of comprehensive welfare advice services within a primary care setting.
Source: Response to Department of Health - 'Healthy Start: Proposals for reform of the Welfare Food Scheme', Disability Alliance (020 7247 8776)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
The government published a Green Paper setting out a comprehensive package of new measures to help people off incapacity benefits and back into work. It would include early support from skilled personal advisers, including work-focused interviews; access to a range of specialist programmes, including new rehabilitation services; and greater financial incentives to work, including a 'return to work credit' of 40 a week for 52 weeks for those finding a job that pays less than 15,000 per year.
Source: Pathways to Work: Helping People into Employment, Green Paper Cm 5690, Department for Work and Pensions, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Press release (pdf) | Hansard
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124, paragraph 1.8
Date: 2002-Nov
From 28 October 2002 carers aged 65 or over can make a claim for invalid care allowance: but the allowance will still overlap with retirement pension.
Source: Important Information for Carers: Changes to the Help Available, Carers UK (0808 808 7777) and Department for Work and Pensions
Links: DWP press release
Date: 2002-Oct
A charity called for government action to tackle poverty and social exclusion among disabled children, by providing suitable childcare, accessible housing, and support for parents who are working or seeking work.
Source: Neera Sharma, Still Missing Out?, Barnardo s (01268 520224)
Links: Report (pdf) | Press release
Date: 2002-Sep
A guide and customer charter were published by the new Disability and Carers Service for disabled people and their carers. The service is part of the Department for Work and Pensions, and replaces the former Disability and Carer Benefits Directorate.
Source: Disability and Carers Service: Tell us your Comments and Complaints, Department for Work and Pensions (020 7712 2171) | Disability and Carers Service: Customer Charter, Department for Work and Pensions
Links: Guide (pdf) | Charter (pdf)
Date: 2002-Aug
Measures to improve entitlement to invalid care allowance (renamed as carer s allowance ) were approved by Parliament.
Source: Regulatory Reform (Carer s Allowance) Order 2002, Statutory Instrument 1457, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Statutory Instrument
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 5.1)
Date: 2002-Jun
A report examined women's access and attitudes to state and private sector incapacity benefits.
Source: M. Howard, In Sickness and in Health, Fawcett Society (020 7628 4441) and Disability Alliance
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-May