How the Labour Party manifesto supports disabled people

Lawsuits detail troubles in struggling N.C. child welfare system, as officials work to make changes https://lnkd.in/gicHWez7

Today continues my preview of this year’s ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits 35th Annual Health and Welfare Plans National Institute, which is now seven days away. The afternoon of day 1 kicks off with a panel on gender affirming care, which is fast becoming a new flashpoint in the culture wars. For group health plans, the questions are simple – is there a requirement to cover gender affirming care? And, if so, does that requirement extend to adolescents? The answers are not simple, and they are quickly changing. As bottom, the question involves the interpretation of select civil rights and disability laws. Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability in specified health programs and activities, is also front and center. Before April of this year, the answer was likely “yes” on both counts: employer-sponsored group health plans were likely required to cover gender affirming care including for adolescents based on Supreme Court precedent that was admittedly less than perfectly clear. With the issuance of final regulations under ACA Section 1557 the answer was a clear yes for at least a large swath of group health plans, but how large or swath was not at all clear. Then in July, two federal district court judges blocked the final ACA Section 1557 rules, in part in one instance in total in another. These and other cases have opened the floodgates of litigation leaving employers unsure of what the rules are. Moreover, the is happening at a time when both the underlying clinical and legal standards are changing. The questions involving the scope of ACA Section 1557 and the accompanying constitutional framework have left employers with little in the way of reliable guidance. While self-funded plans have the benefit of ERISA preemption where plan design is concerned, states still retain the right to regulate providers and clinical standards. Many “red” states have adopted rules barring gender affirming care, at least where minors are concerned, while some “blue” states seek to protect it. The dynamics are similar in many respects to the questions relating to travel related benefits for the purpose of obtaining reproductive health care. The program takes place on October 17-18, 2024, in Washington, D.C. You can register here: https://lnkd.in/eUvU9e9K.)

What the hell is WorkWell? The government have announced yet another pilot as part of their ongoing reforms of the disability welfare system. 🚨 What is it? WorkWell is a pilot programme that will start this October in 15 areas in England. It is designed to help people get back into work. It will create a single, joined-up assessment that will examine someone's ability to work and what adjustments they might need to stay in or return to work. Participants can self-refer or be referred by a GP or employer, and a work and health coach will provide them with support. Why does the government care? Much of this is geared at getting people into work and links up to reforms of a so-called "sick-note culture". Is this another way to villainise disabled people? Quite possibly. What are the pitfalls? One of the biggest pitfalls is that employers can opt in or out, meaning that just because someone has been identified as someone who needs adjustments doesn't mean their employer will implement them. Yes - we realise they'd be breaching the Equality Act, but a lot already do. There's also the fact that someone's employer or GP can refer them to the service, which doesn't necessarily mean the disabled person wants to be. And, of course, this feels like people are being penalised for not working. In all honesty, it's a bit too soon to tell is WorkWell will work well. (See what I did there?) Find out more from Personnel Today below 👇 #WorkWell #DWP #GovernmentReforms #Disability #DisabledPeople #DisabilityUK Female Founders Rise

What does it truly mean to empower persons with disabilities? Check out this short clip from the Grassroots Research And Advocacy Movement(GRAAM)'s CSR Vocal series, where our CEO, Deepak Prabhu Matti (he/him), discusses Cognizant Foundation's Tech4All programs. Our initiatives focus on providing skills to persons with disabilities, aiming to enhance their employment opportunities and promote financial independence. #CFChangingLives #Future4All #Tech4All Dr. Basavaraju R Shreshta

Why does skilling and employment for Persons with Disability matter beyond welfare? In Episode 2 of the CSR Vocal Series, we dive deep into a crucial question: While many policies prioritize welfare for Persons with Disability, why does skilling and employment take precedence for real empowerment? Our guest shares insightful experiences and outcomes that showcase why moving beyond welfare to skilling is vital for building inclusive growth, self-sufficiency, and a society where every individual thrives. Catch the full discussion to understand the transformative power of skill-based inclusion and how it's redefining the future for Persons with Disability. #CFChangingLives #Health4All #Future4All #CSRVocalSeries #DisabilityInclusion #SkillDevelopment #BeyondWelfare #EmpowermentThroughEmployment #GRAAM Cognizant Foundation Deepak Prabhu Matti (he/him) Dr. Basavaraju R Shreshta

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to give oral evidence to the work and pension's committee to share our views on the proposed welfare reforms alongside colleagues at Disability Rights UK, Scope and Single Parent Rights. At Mind, we are concerned about: - the proposed changes of the substantial risk regulations - the replacement of the WCA by PIP without any modification of the assessment criteria. - the toughening of the sanctions regime Whilst there are some welcome measures such as the roll-out of more individual placement support schemes (IPS) and increased investment in talking therapy, the proposed toughening of the sanctions regime is likely to reduce the effectiveness of these prior interventions. We would like government to: - set up a commission led by disabled people to review the structure and criteria of benefits assessments - involve disabled people in changes to the substantial risk regulation - end benefits sanctions for disabled people, and - increase investment in mental health services. To listen in, 👇 https://lnkd.in/eBXV5zXj

Brain Health Breakthrough is concerned at the government’s recent announcement on disability welfare reforms and the potential impact on those we support. ONS latest figures show there are now around 2 million in the UK with Long Covid, and half of those have had it for two years or more. Long Covid is an energy-limiting condition which profoundly impacts every aspect of a person’s life, including employment, financial security, self-care, mobility and quality of life. Many with Long Covid are now in receipt of disability benefits, particularly PIP. Reforms that introduce extra barriers to claiming benefits may mean those most in need are likely to lose out. Losing PIP may also mean some of those in work may struggle to continue, as all their energy is expended in attempting to cope without support for daily living. There is not enough evidence of reasonable adjustments options being put into practice for people to work from home or do flexible working. We support people with Long Covid, many of whom sadly have not been able to return to work. People in our community would love suitable opportunities to work. However, the 1950’s system we have can't think outside the box. We employ people with Long Covid and operate effectively and sustainably as a team. For some, it is possible with the right support. #LongCovid #WelfareReforms #FlexibleWorking #ReasonableAdjustments

Brain Health Breakthrough is concerned at the government’s recent announcement on disability welfare reforms and the potential impact on those we support. ONS latest figures show there are now around 2 million in the UK with Long Covid, and half of those have had it for two years or more. Long Covid is an energy-limiting condition which profoundly impacts every aspect of a person’s life, including employment, financial security, self-care, mobility and quality of life. Many with Long Covid are now in receipt of disability benefits, particularly PIP. Reforms that introduce extra barriers to claiming benefits may mean those most in need are likely to lose out. Losing PIP may also mean some of those in work may struggle to continue, as all their energy is expended in attempting to cope without support for daily living. There is not enough evidence of reasonable adjustments options being put into practice for people to work from home or do flexible working. We support people with Long Covid, many of whom sadly have not been able to return to work. People in our community would love suitable opportunities to work. However, the 1950’s system we have can't think outside the box. We employ people with Long Covid and operate effectively and sustainably as a team. For some, it is possible with the right support. #LongCovid #WelfareReforms #FlexibleWorking #ReasonableAdjustments

🎉VICTORY!🎉 With Bet Tzedek as a catalyst for this change, Medi-Cal has implemented a new policy allowing electronic signatures on Medi-Cal forms, as outlined in All-County Welfare Directors Letter (ACWDL) 24-18. This is a significant milestone. Bet Tzedek advocated on behalf of several clients with disabilities who were unable to physically sign forms but could electronically sign. By highlighting the critical need for this accommodation, our efforts directly influenced this important policy change. Previously, Medi-Cal required an original, physical signature on forms — even from clients who were paralyzed or otherwise unable to sign. During summer 2023, Bet Tzedek's law clerk Justin Kaley wrote an exceptional brief outlining the legal basis for accepting electronic signatures and arguing that it was a necessary disability accommodation. This change is already having a profound impact, reducing barriers for applicants and enabling more efficient service delivery. It’s rare to see DHCS implement changes like this so quickly, but this time it happened — and it’s making a tangible difference for our clients.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare have just released the People with disability in Australia report (2024 update). The housing section of the report looks at types of housing people with disability live in, their tenure and their housing needs: https://lnkd.in/djdeisbq