UK: Disabled people lose legal aid in 99% of benefits disputes

[Indigophoton]

Speaks for itself really, appalling:

Official figures show that cuts have caused a massive drop in claimants granted help for welfare battles.

The extent to which savage government cuts have deprived disabled people of legal aid in disputes over their benefit payments is revealed today by new official figures that show a 99% decline since 2011.

The total number of disabled people granted legal aid in welfare cases has plummeted from 29,801 in 2011-12 to just 308 in 2016-17, cutting some of the most vulnerable people in society adrift without expert advice in often highly complex and distressing cases.

MPs and charities representing disabled people reacted furiously to the figures, released in a parliamentary answer, saying they bore out their worst fears at the time ministers announced the cuts several years ago.

https://amp.theguardian.com/society...-lose-legal-aid-99-per-cent-benefits-disputes

 

[alktipping]

yes unfortunately been on the receiving end of that my first 3 appeals were conducted through solicitors offices my last one was through the c.a,b . from my own experience the solicitors were only interested in the well paid admin side of things . when I mentioned potentially suing atos and the d w p they did not want to know. unfortunately real life is not like the films were crusading lawyers will go the extra miles to put right the abuse of power.