NAWRA has responded to the DWP’s consultation on proposed changes to the work capability assessment.

Read our response.

Our final paragraph concludes –

‘In summary, NAWRA completely opposes all these proposals. The government should focus on genuine support which will take time, resources, and skill. If it goes ahead with any of these proposals that cut financial support to, and increase conditionality on, vulnerable claimants, then there is an extremely high risk of claimants’ health deteriorating with the associated risks of self-harm and, in some cases, death. Those deaths may be held directly attributable to the Department.’

We have also sent a copy to the Work and Pensions Committee.

Many thanks to all those who responded to our survey – we had more than 150 responses. And thanks to Daphne Hall (rightsnet) for collating all the results of the survey and drafting our submission.

 

NAWRA is holding a one-day ‘Benefits and Pensions‘ training course free to NAWRA members.

About the training course
Pensions can have a complex relationship with benefits and, at this time of increasing financial pressure, we are seeing more people making use of them as a resource outside a regular retirement income.

This session looks at a number of issues which are often poorly understood. The options which are available after the introduction of the pension freedoms in 2016 give lower income pension savers choices for the first time and the results of those changes can be very different in terms of real income, especially for benefit claimants.

The session will look at:

• The state pension
• Deferral
• Occupational and private pensions – Defined Contribution, Defined Benefit and why the difference matters
• Types of pensions and the ways in which they can be used
• The relationship with benefits for working age and for retirement age clients
• Notional income from untaken pension savings
• Where does tax come into play
• Cliff edges and flat lines – how to find them

Presented by Gareth Morgan who (he says) has been boring people about pensions for far too long.

Dates and locations
The course will take place from 10am to 4pm with breaks for coffee and lunch.

• Manchester: Tuesday 14 November 2023 at Garden Court North Chambers, 3rd Floor Blackfriars House, Parsonage, Manchester M3 2JA.
• London: Monday 20 November 2023 at The Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington St, London SE18 6HQ.
• Bristol: Tuesday 12 December 2023 at 100 Temple St, Bristol BS1 6AG.
• Swansea: Wednesday 17 January 2024 at Civic Centre, Oystermouth Road, Swansea, SA1 3SN.
• Your venue?: Gareth is happy to travel to your venue. If your organisation can provide a free training room please email kelly@nawra.org.uk. We will advertise the course to NAWRA members locally.

How to book
To book a place email kelly@nawra.org.uk with the following information:

•     your name
•     the name of the organisation you represent
•     the date/location of the event you wish to attend

Cost
The training courses are free for NAWRA members to attend.

Accessibility
Do you have any accessibility needs? If so, please email kelly@nawra.org.uk so that arrangements can be made at the venue.

Any questions?
If you have any questions please email kelly@nawra.org.uk

Many thanks to Gareth Morgan for writing and teaching the course and offering it to NAWRA members at no charge.

 

NAWRA has responded to the Work and Pensions Committee inquiry into safeguarding vulnerable claimants.

Thanks very much to all members who contributed and to Daphne Hall (rightsnet) for drafting the submission.