Latest news with #RyanBradshaw
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Traveller charity urges police watchdog review
A police watchdog has been urged to investigate an incident in which officers were accused of being "heavy-handed" after large groups of Romani Gypsy and Irish Traveller youths were stopped from attending a city's Christmas market The groups were met by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) at Manchester Victoria on 23 November last year and allegedly "forced" back on to the trains they arrived on. The Traveller Movement said the force's response to its complaint about the incident was "deeply flawed" and it had now asked the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to review the case. Both GMP and the IOPC have been contacted for comment. GMP previously said a dispersal order was put in place on the day in response to "intelligence" about anti-social behaviour on trains and in the city. The Traveller Movement alleged children were racially profiled by officers and excessive force was used. GMP met representatives from Romani Gypsy and Irish Traveller communities in the aftermath of the incident and expressed "regret at the distress and upset these events had caused". Greater Manchester deputy mayor Kate Green previously found the dispersal order raised concerns about discrimination and could have been avoided. Ryan Bradshaw, from law firm Leigh Day which represents the Traveller Movement, said: "Our clients are hopeful that an IOPC review will expose what they believe is the clear institutional racism that led to this appalling incident." It is alleged by the charity that children were forced onto trains heading to unknown destinations, separated from their families and subjected to physical abuse and disparaging remarks about their ethnicity. Pauline Melvin-Anderson OBE from the Traveller Movement said the police response to the charity's complaint was "deeply flawed and lacks transparency". She said it was a "blatant attempt to justify the unjustifiable". "Our children were humiliated, physically harmed, and placed in vulnerable situations because of discriminatory assumptions about their communities," she said. "We will not rest until a full inquiry takes place." The Traveller Movement has called for the IOPC to step in and investigate and for GMP to apologise and disclose the "intelligence" it relied upon to justify its actions. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Dispersal order 'could have been avoided' - deputy mayor Traveller charity angry at police dispersal order Police accused of 'heavy-handed' dispersal response The Traveller Movement
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thousands of DWP benefit claimants could get compensation after court battle
As many as 13,000 benefit claimants could be entitled to thousands of pounds in compensation as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) settles a major court claim. Over 200 claimants were awarded between £200 and £3,000 in damages for losing out on income after being moved on to universal credit. These were people receiving certain disability benefits who were moved from 'legacy benefits' to universal credit before September 2019. The claimants lost 'severe disability premiums' (SDP) in the move, with the DWP not initially introducing a scheme to ensure income protection. Others missed out on the 'Enhanced Disability Premium' (EDP) in the move on to universal credit, with the total loss of income worth up to £180 a month. The 'SDP gateway' was only implemented after a successful High Court battle by law firm Leigh Day on behalf of two benefit claimants who lost income in 2019. It is the same firm that has now settled similar cases for 275 claimants with the DWP. The department has now set up a lawful compensation scheme to repay these claimants, with payments estimated to be in excess of £5,000. It is the non-financial element of the claim that has been settled, with compensation being for the stress and injury to feelings claimants had suffered. However, Ryan Bradshaw, who represented all the claimants in both cases, says that as many as 13,000 benefit claimants could be entitled to financial compensation. Mr Bradshaw said: 'I am glad to have settled this claim on behalf of my clients. However, there are thousands of others who have been similarly affected who have not been in a position to bring a claim like this. 'They too will have suffered unnecessary stress. A suitable scheme, compensating all the people who have endured discrimination at the hands of the DWP, ought to be urgently put in place. The mistakes made here should never be repeated.' One of his clients, Philippa, 39, from Chesterfield, suffers from chronic autoimmune condition fibromyalgia which causes pain throughout her body, dehydrated discs in her spine, and brain fog. She says the loss of DWP payments worsened her health issues and left her struggling to afford the essentials. It was only two years after appealing her benefits that she would reach a tribunal and have some transitional protection reinstated. Speaking about the ruling, Philippa said: 'When you're on benefits, you don't feel secure. Every day you wait for the little brown envelope. 'The compensation has meant the difference between being able to access prepared meals which cover my nutritional needs, versus buying the cheapest ready meals which are not nutritionally balanced enough. A DWP Spokesperson said: 'Following this ruling the department has begun the process of compensating affected claimants.'
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thousands on DWP benefits could be owed cash payments
Thousands could of claimants could be owed compensation following a legal battle involving the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). As many as 13,000 benefit claimants could be eligible for compensation after it was found that many lost income during a migration to Universal Credit. So far, more than 200 claimants have been awarded between £200 and £3,000 in damages as result. Those affected were moved from 'legacy benefits' to Universal Credit prior to September 2019 while also missing out on 'severe disability premiums' as the DWP did not introduce a scheme that enabled financial protection. Meanwhile, some lost up to £180 a month in income due to missing out on the enhanced disability premium (EDP). READ MORE: Thousands call for major change to free bus pass rules for over 60s READ MORE: Major DWP PIP changes confirmed - what we know so far Disability premium payments are generally added to certain legacy benefits such as Income Support and Housing benefit for those living with particular disabilities. It came in three tiers as standard, severe, and enhanced with a variety of eligibility, full details of which can be found here. Law firm Leigh Deigh previously represented two benefit claimants in High Court who claimed to lose income as a result of the move and successfully won the battle for consultation. The same firm has now settled similar cases for 275 DWP claimants. As a result, the DWP has now implemented a compensation scheme to help compensate affected claimants, with some estimating payments to reach well into the £1,000s. While the non-financial element of the claim has been settled, compensation will now be for the stress and injury to feeling claimants suffered in direct relation to the issue mentioned. According to Ryan Bradshaw, a partner at Leigh Day, as many as £13,000 claimants could be eligible for compensation. 'I am glad to have settled this claim on behalf of my clients," he said. "However, there are thousands of others who have been similarly affected who have not been in a position to bring a claim like this. They too will have suffered unnecessary stress. "A suitable scheme, compensating all the people who have endured discrimination at the hands of the DWP, ought to be urgently put in place. The mistakes made here should never be repeated.' A DWP spokesperson said: "Following this ruling the department has begun the process of compensating affected claimants.' Universal Credit is a benefit for those under State Pension age who are either receiving a low income or are out of work and supports a wide range of things including childcare and housing. Most people who were claiming what are now known as legacy benefits will be contacted by the DWP to move them onto Universal Credit, with the legacy benefits ending as a result. The main legacy benefits being affected by this change include: Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) Working Tax Credit (WTC) Child Tax Credit (CTC) Housing Benefit (HB) Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Income Support (IS)
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thousands of DWP benefit claimants could get compensation after court battle
As many as 13,000 benefit claimants could be entitled to thousands of pounds in compensation as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) settles a major court claim. Over 200 claimants were awarded between £200 and £3,000 in damages for losing out on income after being moved on to universal credit. These were people receiving certain disability benefits who were moved from 'legacy benefits' to universal credit before September 2019. The claimants lost 'severe disability premiums' (SDP) in the move, with the DWP not initially introducing a scheme to ensure income protection. Others missed out on the 'Enhanced Disability Premium' (EDP) in the move on to universal credit, with the total loss of income worth up to £180 a month. The 'SDP gateway' was only implemented after a successful High Court battle by law firm Leigh Day on behalf of two benefit claimants who lost income in 2019. It is the same firm that has now settled similar cases for 275 claimants with the DWP. The department has now set up a lawful compensation scheme to repay these claimants, with payments estimated to be in excess of £5,000. It is the non-financial element of the claim that has been settled, with compensation being for the stress and injury to feelings claimants had suffered. However, Ryan Bradshaw, who represented all the claimants in both cases, says that as many as 13,000 benefit claimants could be entitled to financial compensation. Mr Bradshaw said: 'I am glad to have settled this claim on behalf of my clients. However, there are thousands of others who have been similarly affected who have not been in a position to bring a claim like this. 'They too will have suffered unnecessary stress. A suitable scheme, compensating all the people who have endured discrimination at the hands of the DWP, ought to be urgently put in place. The mistakes made here should never be repeated.' One of his clients, Philippa, 39, from Chesterfield, suffers from chronic autoimmune condition fibromyalgia which causes pain throughout her body, dehydrated discs in her spine, and brain fog. She says the loss of DWP payments worsened her health issues and left her struggling to afford the essentials. It was only two years after appealing her benefits that she would reach a tribunal and have some transitional protection reinstated. Speaking about the ruling, Philippa said: 'When you're on benefits, you don't feel secure. Every day you wait for the little brown envelope. 'The compensation has meant the difference between being able to access prepared meals which cover my nutritional needs, versus buying the cheapest ready meals which are not nutritionally balanced enough. A DWP Spokesperson said: 'Following this ruling the department has begun the process of compensating affected claimants.'
The Independent
06-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Thousands of DWP benefit claimants could get compensation after court battle
As many as 13,000 benefit claimants could be entitled to thousands of pounds in compensation as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) settles a major court claim. Over 200 claimants were awarded between £200 and £3,000 in damages for losing out on income after being moved on to universal credit. These were people receiving certain disability benefits who were moved from 'legacy benefits' to universal credit before September 2019. The claimants lost 'severe disability premiums' (SDP) in the move, with the DWP not initially introducing a scheme to ensure income protection. Others missed out on the 'Enhanced Disability Premium' (EDP) in the move on to universal credit, with the total loss of income worth up to £180 a month. The 'SDP gateway' was only implemented after a successful High Court battle by law firm Leigh Day on behalf of two benefit claimants who lost income in 2019. It is the same firm that has now settled similar cases for 275 claimants with the DWP. The department has now set up a lawful compensation scheme to repay these claimants, with payments estimated to be in excess of £5,000. It is the non-financial element of the claim that has been settled, with compensation being for the stress and injury to feelings claimants had suffered. However, Ryan Bradshaw, who represented all the claimants in both cases, says that as many as 13,000 benefit claimants could be entitled to financial compensation. Mr Bradshaw said: 'I am glad to have settled this claim on behalf of my clients. However, there are thousands of others who have been similarly affected who have not been in a position to bring a claim like this. 'They too will have suffered unnecessary stress. A suitable scheme, compensating all the people who have endured discrimination at the hands of the DWP, ought to be urgently put in place. The mistakes made here should never be repeated.' One of his clients, Philippa, 39, from Chesterfield, suffers from chronic autoimmune condition fibromyalgia which causes pain throughout her body, dehydrated discs in her spine, and brain fog. She says the loss of DWP payments worsened her health issues and left her struggling to afford the essentials. It was only two years after appealing her benefits that she would reach a tribunal and have some transitional protection reinstated. Speaking about the ruling, Philippa said: 'When you're on benefits, you don't feel secure. Every day you wait for the little brown envelope. 'The compensation has meant the difference between being able to access prepared meals which cover my nutritional needs, versus buying the cheapest ready meals which are not nutritionally balanced enough. A DWP Spokesperson said: 'Following this ruling the department has begun the process of compensating affected claimants.'
