Over the past few years successive governments have imposed stinging welfare cuts. This has left most vulnerable in our community unable to afford the most basic essentials. At the GMLC we actively campaign for reversing these cuts and fight on behalf of those affected by providing access to free face-to-face legal advice. On this page you can find all the latest news on our campaigning and services relating to welfare benefits.
TODAY we ask you to give to our urgent CrowdJustice fundraiser: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/nextgenjustice/ Without access to justice, the most vulnerable in our society are denied benefits they need, housing and employment rights and more. In 2016, the Greater Manchester Law Centre (GMLC) opened because dedicated members of our community came together as volunteers to say: something must…
Press Release Issued 18th April 2018 The Greater Manchester Law Centre, Disabled People Against the Cuts, Acorn Tenants’ Union, Unite Community Union and the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People carried out a day of action in Manchester city centre today, demanding that no one faces eviction as a result of delays to Universal Credit…
As part of our Pro Bono Legal Advocacy Support Project (LASP) students from the Manchester Law School represent clients at appeal hearings who are due to have their Employment and Support Allowance reduced by the Department of Work and Pensions. The project affords students with a unique opportunity to put into practice the knowledge and…
The Greater Manchester Law Centre, Disabled People Against the Cuts and Acorn tenants’ union have jointly issued a campaign demand: no one should face eviction as a result of delays to Universal Credit payments. Universal Credit is a new system that will merge many types of benefits into one single payment. It has faced harsh…
Under GMLC’s new partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) and Pro Bono Community (PBC), 16 law students will assist our clients in applying for disability benefits. All of these students have successfully completed comprehensive training in welfare benefits law from PBC as well as our own training. DLA, PIP and our services Disability Living Allowance (DLA)…
By Robert Povall. Robert is a Campaign Volunteer with GMLC. He is currently studying a GDL at the University of Law and is passionate about making a difference. He wants to become a Barrister, specialising in immigration, civil liberties and human rights. Would you like to write an article for GMLC? Get in touch development@gmlaw.org.uk…
In November 2017 Greater Manchester Law Centre submitted a contribution to the Work and Pensions Committee, after they put out a call for evidence on the medical assessments for disability benefits PIP and ESA carried out by private contractors Capita, Atos and Maximus. Our submission was part of the evidence of the full report, which…
Mr S came to GMLC when he was fighting two battles relating to his benefits. He has long term mental health conditions and was previously in receipt of the Disabled Living Allowance (DLA) Severe Disability Premium, which means that his need for financial assistance was recognised. His DLA payments were stopped. 1. Application for PIP…
Paul Cosier, Katrina Beitina and Marcia Hutchinson are volunteers at the Greater Manchester Law Centre (GMLC). This article collates widely-felt concerns as reported elsewhere about the Personal Independence Payment claim process, including some of the concerning case-studies regarding people with disabilities or chronic ailments and the difficulties they face in maintaining a claim.
GMLC challenges welfare policy where injustices occur, by drawing on their own casework experience and promoting the stories of those let down by the welfare system. At their recent AGM they announced plans for strategic litigation, where they will bring a legal challenge against welfare policy itself. This article is therefore part of the foundations for legal campaigning.
Paul also conducted a study of the ESA claim process for GMLC, which you can find here”.
Last week again saw me appearing before the Social Security and Child Support First Tier Tribunal representing a client who had been found fit for work by the Department for Work and Pensions, and was appealing their decision. The case, for me, was a perfect example of the frequent illogical and ill-founded decisions of the…