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Catherine Hale

@catherinehale.bsky.social

420 followers 250 following 120 posts

Independent research and policy consultant on disability employment and social security. Founder, Chronic Illness Inclusion. #pwME and survivor of medical abuse. Mum of 2 teenagers.

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Catherine Hale @catherinehale.bsky.social · Nov 28

Sharing my response to the #GetBritainWorking White Paper that I posted over on Linkedin in a thread.

A cautious welcome:

It positions the high numbers of people not working, or seeking work, for reasons of health and disability (notice I don’t use the term ‘inactive’?) as a key problem >
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Flexible working for long term health conditions. A Venn diagram with FlexPlus working at the centre. The 3 intersecting circles read 'working from home', 'reduced hours' and 'worktime flexibility'

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Catherine Hale @catherinehale.bsky.social · 21d

Great to hear a robust challenge to DWPs misleading stats on out of work benefits. Thank you as ever @benbgeiger.bsky.social

ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health @kingscsmh.bsky.social · 22d

Are out of work benefits at a record high? Prof. Ben Geiger (@benbgeiger.bsky.social) from the ESRC Centre for Society & Mental Health explains that the official statistics are wildly misleading on BBC radio 4’s More or Less this morning. Have a listen! www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

More or Less - Is it true that out-of-work benefits have almost doubled? - BBC Sounds

Out-of-work benefits, French pensioners, surprising salmon and the truth about senses.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Catherine Hale

LSE Blogs @lseblogs.bsky.social · Sep 3

The #UK Government would like to get more people who are currently on #disability benefits back to #work.

But @catherinehale.bsky.social argues that the current labour market does not accommodate disabled people to return to work. Flex Plus jobs could be a way forward @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social.

Unlocking the workplace for disabled people – the case for Flex Plus jobs as a pathway to work - British Politics and Policy at LSE

The Government would like to get more people who are currently on disability benefits back to work. But Catherine Hale argues that the labour market in its current state is not fit to accommodate…

blogs.lse.ac.uk

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Reposted by Catherine Hale

LSE British Politics and Policy blog @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social · Aug 28

🌟New: The Government would like to get more people who are currently on disability #benefits back to work.

But Catherine Hale‬ ‪(@catherinehale.bsky.social‬) argues that the labour market in its current state is not fit to accommodate disabled people wanting to return to #work.

#GetBritainWorking

Unlocking the workplace for disabled people – the case for Flex Plus jobs as a pathway to work - British Politics and Policy at LSE

The Government would like to get more people who are currently on disability benefits back to work. But Catherine Hale argues that the labour market in its current state is not fit to accommodate disa...

blogs.lse.ac.uk

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Reposted by Catherine Hale

Dr Zara Bain @zaranosaur.bsky.social · Jul 21

Have you signed up to @aat-transcribes.bsky.social’s researcher community mailing list?

Last week’s mail-out covered recent research on disabled people in work and highlighted work from clients @theadhdacademic.bsky.social & @catherinehale.bsky.social

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Catherine Hale @catherinehale.bsky.social · Jul 18

Thank you and the same to you Ruth. It is indeed relentless

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Reposted by Catherine Hale

Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · Jul 15

“There’s a longstanding practice in UK politics to force disabled people to fight for their basic rights – a kind of gladiatorial scrap in which the Colosseum is replaced by the set of Good Morning Britain.”

Today’s col. on the fallout of more ‘welfare reform.’ www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Disabled people want to live a full life. Instead, we’re forced to scrap over our right to food and a wash | Frances Ryan

Britain’s political and media class advocate policies that leave disabled people hungry and dirty. Why are we expected to settle for this, asks Guardian columnist Frances Ryan

www.theguardian.com

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Catherine Hale @catherinehale.bsky.social · Jul 15

Neil Coyle used to work for Disability Rights UK. Talk about a traitor.

Catherine Hale @catherinehale.bsky.social · Jul 10

Well said Tom

Reposted by Catherine Hale

Dr Jay Watts (they/she) @shrinkatlarge.bsky.social · Jul 9

I’m ashamed to live in a country that just passed a welfare bill condemning hundreds of thousands to deeper poverty and despair.

I’m ashamed of a Labour government that refused to work WITH disabled people to build a benefits system based on dignity, not punishment.

#BinUCBill

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Catherine Hale @catherinehale.bsky.social · Jul 2

Proud to have contributed to work at the @kingscsmh.bsky.social that can inform an evidence based approach to reforming welfare and employment policy for disability and mental health.
Yesterday’s debacle in parliament shows that pursuing cuts by spreadsheet is not the way forward.

ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health @kingscsmh.bsky.social · Jul 2

While almost all observers agree that social security in the UK isn't working as it should be, it's essential that any reforms are grounded in high-quality research evidence and listen to the voices of those most impacted: www.kcl.ac.uk/news/spotlig...

Gathering the evidence to reform the welfare system

The recent DWP Green Paper, entitled ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working’ has provoked a great deal of discussion from policymakers, from researchers, and from dis...

www.kcl.ac.uk

Catherine Hale @catherinehale.bsky.social · Jul 1

So sorry I could t join today. With you 100% in solidarity and words aren’t enough to say how grateful I am to DPAC and everyone else out there fighting today

Reposted by Catherine Hale

Paula Knight 🎨✒️♿ @paulaknight.bsky.social · Jul 1

I think I'll make a t-shirt with the words *these people* on. Because that's what right-wing nondisabled people use to refer to disabled people - as if it will never happen to them, as if 'these people' are other.
Good luck with that.
#Disability #StopTheCuts

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Reposted by Catherine Hale

Dr Jay Watts (they/she) @shrinkatlarge.bsky.social · Jul 1

Breaking - Labour is speaking to rebels about more concessions to secure the vote tonight.

Let me clear as a disabled person who is sometimes dependent on state benefits and a clinician: there are no concessions that can make us feel safe in an unconsulted process #TakingThePIP

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Catherine Hale @catherinehale.bsky.social · Jul 1

Thank you for your unwavering leadership on this issue

Reposted by Catherine Hale

Helen Barnard @helenbarnard.bsky.social · Jul 1

As MPs vote on massive cuts to Universal Credit & PIP today, they should bear in mind:
- This does not have public support
- This is not the change the public voted for
- The public don't believe the only way to meet fiscal challenges is to make disabled people poorer and iller

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Reposted by Catherine Hale

Fiona Robertson @fionaswriting.bsky.social · Jun 21

EMERGENCY CALL OUT: DISABLED PEOPLE

HAVE TEN DAYS BEFORE THE DISABILITY CUTS ARE VOTED ON IN PARLIAMENT

WE NEED A REBELLION

I am begging, even if you think there's no point, even if you have tried before, please contact your MP and ask them to vote against the cuts on the 1st.

FB link in reply.

Fiona Robertson

EMERGENCY CALL OUT: DISABLED PEOPLE

HAVE TEN DAYS BEFORE THE DISABILITY CUTS VOTED ON IN PARLIAMENT

WE NEED A REBELLION

I am begging, even if you think there's no point, even if you have tried before, please contact your MP and ask them to vote against the cuts on the 1st.

If they are Labour, this is vital:

If they are already against the cuts, please write to support them. They will be under enomous pressure from the party and need to know we are grateful, and will defend them against attacks.

If they're pro-cuts, tell them they have betrayed everything Labour was meant to represent, and their ideological crusade is just eugenics. Tell them these are cuts even the Tories didn't dare make and the myth that there's no money in one of the richest countries on earth doesn't fly anymore.

And if they're swithering or quiet, these are the most important - tell them they have a chance to be heroes of the Labour movement. Tell them rebellion is a duty and they will be supported and lauded. Tell them this is their chance to take a real stand for the people and yes, Rayner is threatening reprisals but this is the essence of labour solidarity - we stand together as a collective because they can't fire everyone. Don't be the weak link. And then maybe tell them if they do vote for the cuts, you'll spend what's left of your life fighting to get them deselected.

If they are Tories, make the obvious economic case that the loss of people from the workforce to provide care for people who no longer qualify for support, the cost of increased emergency and exacerbated conditions, etc, will cost far more than it could save.

Lib Dems and the SNP should be on board anyway, but write with support and fear. They still need to hear it.

Reform... Well. They'll likely vote against as part of their current manipulative 'no really we're friends to disabled people, please ignore our plans to privatise health and social care and do far worse cuts than this to the support you rely on oh and you'll have no legal human rights to challenge any of it'. But probably worth telling them making Labour look bad is possible.

If you can get a meeting with your MP, zoom or in person, even better. But please write. You can use the wonderful site Write To Them (just search those words)

Look at Disability Rights UK and DPAC (Disabled People Against Cuts) for information and statistics you can use the comments as I find them. I'll link some in

Our lives depend on this. Please help us.

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Reposted by Catherine Hale

Dr Jay Watts (they/she) @shrinkatlarge.bsky.social · Jun 16

🧵 NEW: APPG on Poverty and Inequality's response to the Pathways to Work Green Paper reveals SHOCKING evidence - disabled households face £1,067 extra costs monthly (67% of income) yet government plans devastating cuts that will push 400,000 into poverty. Thread👇#TakingThePIP

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Catherine Hale @catherinehale.bsky.social · Jun 16

Thank you Peter. It’s hard but I keep having to walk away from activism in order to pay the bills. I don’t have energy for both! Saluting you and your wonderful work

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Reposted by Catherine Hale

M A Osborne @maosbot.bsky.social · Jun 13

Learning about myalgic encephalomyelitis really changed me. The full depth of suffering associated with this horrific illness is right out in the open for anyone to read about and/or to develop themselves, and our society seems to have decided to address the problem solely by stigmatising patients

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Catherine Hale @catherinehale.bsky.social · Jun 12

What a wonderful piece thank you. Really helpful for reflecting on my own journey. I Set out to change the world with Chronic Illness Inclusion but didn’t get the funding and had to walk away. Now working inside institutions, vying for influence but never able to set the agenda. Solidarity

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Reposted by Catherine Hale

Frances Ryan @francesryan.bsky.social · Jun 9

Nearly half a million people in disabled households will be forced into severe hardship if the disability benefit cuts go ahead, new research by @trusselluk.bsky.social shows.

No MP who votes for this can pretend they don’t know. www.trussell.org.uk/news-and-res...

Nearly half a million people in disabled households will be forced into severe hardship if UK government goes ahead with cuts to social security | Trussell

Hundreds of thousands of people will be pushed into severe hardship if government goes ahead with ‘cruel’ cuts to disability payments.

www.trussell.org.uk

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Catherine Hale @catherinehale.bsky.social · Jun 7

Hoping to make it to the accessible march

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Catherine Hale @catherinehale.bsky.social · Jun 5

I’m very excited to be part of this line up. And discussing a topic so close to home, personally and professionally:
The lack of suitably flexible jobs for people with health conditions and disabilities

New Economics Foundation @neweconomics.bsky.social · Jun 5

EVENT: Join us for a free online event, "It's not me, it's you", to discuss how to improve employment opportunities for disabled people.

With expert speakers @benbgeiger.bsky.social @catherinehale.bsky.social and Wingham Rowan‬.

🗓️ June 19
🕙 10-11:30am
💻 Online
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/its-not-me...

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Reposted by Catherine Hale

Paula Peters @paulapeters19.bsky.social · Jun 3

#WelfareNotWarfare

Join People’s Assembly

Saturday 7th June 2025

Please assemble 12 noon
BBC Portland Place
London W1A 1AA

All accessible details here:

dpac.uk.net/2025/05/acce...

accessible march

Assemble: 1.30pm
North End of Whitehall
Whitehall
London
SW1A 2HQ

Rally will be BSL

Alt text of image:
On a black background shows a map wity a red line on the map with black arrows with black box and arrows with white text
In white text at the top of the graphic it says National Demonstration
Saturday 7th June 1.30pm Top of Whitehall
Accessible March
At the top of the red line it says assemble at 1.30pm top of Whitehall

Nearest accessible toilets Charing Cross Station (has radar key)
Changing places Victoria Embankment
Sliver Cross Pub has wheelchair lift

End Rally at Horseguards Rally Will be BSL and have a safe space at front of stage

Nearest accessible underground station at end of rally is Westminster underground at Bridge Street
Jubliee line is step free lift from street to platform level.
Logos are of People’s Assembly
Disabled People Against Cuts
Crips Against Cuts

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