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Up to six million people on the following disability benefits started to receive £150 on 20 September: Disability Living Allowance Personal Independence Payment Attendance Allowance Scottish Disability Payments Armed Forces Independence Payment Constant Attendance Allowance War Pension Mobility Supplement If you haven’t received this yet, don’t worry. The government have said that all eligible people should ... Read more

With winter drawing closer, Independent Lives welcome the steps taken by the government to try and address the cost of living crisis with a freeze to the energy price cap, but for disabled people and those who support them to live independently, the measures announced on Thursday 8 September, do not go far enough. For ... Read more

New homes will be more accessible for older and disabled people as the government has announced plans to raise the accessibility standard following full consultation of proposals. The raising accessibility standards for new homes consultation proposed staying with the existing framework for accessible housing, reconsidering the way existing standards are used or raising the minimum standard. Raising ... Read more

New laws will ensure the 13.7 million disabled people in England, Scotland and Wales receive the assistance they need and will not be charged more than they should when using taxis and private hire vehicles (PHVs). The new Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022, which came into force on 28 June, is ... Read more

New legislation to allow a wider range of healthcare professionals to certify fit notes has been introduced by the government to ease pressure on GPs. From 1 July 2022 nurses, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and physiotherapists are all able to legally certify fit notes. If your employee has been off work with illness for more than ... Read more

Independent Lives has launched PA Pages, an innovative online service which lists personal assistants looking for work as well as disabled employers looking for people to support them to live independently. Personal assistants provide social and domestic support to help disabled people, and people with health and social care needs lead independent lives. Visitors to ... Read more

Independent Lives has been awarded a contract from East Sussex County Council to provide support to disabled people in the county. The service will ensure that recipients of Direct Payments have access to support from highly trained and experienced staff. Support is provided by a phone line, website, a range of factsheets, handbooks and where ... Read more

Independent Lives is proud to present Tyler’s Story. Watch the full film online now. Shot locally in and around Worthing, ‘Tyler’s Story’ follows Tyler as he goes about his life, meeting friends, going to work, the gym and enjoying his hobbies. It draws attention to the challenges and stigma he faces as a disabled man ... Read more

Independent Lives is proud to join the Niamh’s Law campaign which is calling for all public facing staff to receive mandatory disability awareness training. The campaign is named after Niamh Jarvis-Smith, who died unexpectedly in 2020. At the time of her death, Niamh was in the final year of studying to become a children’s nurse ... Read more

Independent Lives is proud to present Tyler’s Story. Join us online on Thursday 16 June for the premiere.  Shot locally in and around Worthing, ‘Tyler’s Story’ follows Tyler as he goes about his life, meeting friends, going to work, the gym and enjoying his hobbies. It draws attention to the challenges and stigma he faces ... Read more