Catherine Hale
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catherinehale.bsky.social
Catherine Hale
@catherinehale.bsky.social
430 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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catherinehale.bsky.social
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 >
1/9
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'
catherinehale.bsky.social
Great to hear a robust challenge to DWPs misleading stats on out of work benefits. Thank you as ever @benbgeiger.bsky.social
kingscsmh.bsky.social ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health @kingscsmh.bsky.social · Sep 17
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
September 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
lseblogs.bsky.social
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
September 3, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social
🌟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
August 28, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
zaranosaur.bsky.social
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

academicaudiotranscription.com/improve-your...
Improve Your Transcripts - Academic Audio Transcription Ltd
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academicaudiotranscription.com
July 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
francesryan.bsky.social
“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
July 15, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
shrinkatlarge.bsky.social
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
July 9, 2025 at 8:19 PM
catherinehale.bsky.social
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.
July 2, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
paulaknight.bsky.social
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
July 1, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
shrinkatlarge.bsky.social
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
July 1, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
helenbarnard.bsky.social
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
July 1, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
fionaswriting.bsky.social
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.
June 21, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
shrinkatlarge.bsky.social
🧵 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
June 16, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
maosbot.bsky.social
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
June 13, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
francesryan.bsky.social
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
June 9, 2025 at 9:36 AM
catherinehale.bsky.social
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
neweconomics.bsky.social 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...
Promotional graphic for an event titled “IT’S NOT ME, IT’S YOU: BETTER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISABLED PEOPLE.” A woman gestures while speaking in an office setting. Date and time are displayed: “Thursday 19 June, 10–11.30am.” Includes New Economics Foundation logo. Graphic featuring speaker Wingham Rowan, with a teal-toned portrait and bold text: “SPEAKER WINGHAM ROWAN.” Caption reads: “Founder and CEO of UKFlexi – providing systemic support to the nonstandard workforce.” Includes New Economics Foundation logo. Graphic featuring speaker Catherine Hale, with a teal-toned portrait and bold text: “SPEAKER CATHERINE HALE.” Caption reads: “Disability research, policy and coproduction consultant, and Associate Researcher at King’s College London.” Includes New Economics Foundation logo. Graphic featuring speaker Ben Baumberg Geiger, with a teal-toned portrait and bold text: “SPEAKER BEN BAUMBERG GEIGER.” Caption reads: “Professor in Social Science and Health at King’s College London, and co-lead of the Work, Welfare Reform and Mental Health programme within the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health.” Includes New Economics Foundation logo.
June 5, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
paulapeters19.bsky.social
#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
June 3, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
elsawilliams.bsky.social
Deep breath, lads.

In response to the proposed government disability cuts, I wrote a piece about my life before The Daily Tism (it includes a PIP assessment, a mental health crisis and iced Madeira cake). We’ll fight this with everything we’ve got.

#TakingThePip
I’m an autistic writer who is finally working. Without PIP, I wouldn’t have had a chance
How do you explain a PIP assessment to somebody who’s never had one?
medium.com
June 1, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
paulapeters19.bsky.social
#TakingThePIP

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Labour is taking the Pip – and disabled people have had enough | Cherylee Houston
I am in tears reading the stories of what might happen if these further cuts go ahead, which is why I’ve joined forces with others to demand action, says actor Cherylee Houston
www.theguardian.com
May 27, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
louisekenward.bsky.social
The JKP Writing Prize is back for 2025 - part of Hachette UK’s Future Bookshelf programme, which supports aspiring writers from underrepresented backgrounds.

Everyday Disability and Chronic Illness: Stories of Joy, Resistance, and Anti-Ableism

www.thefuturebookshelf.co.uk/landing-page...
The JKP Writing Prize 2025
Visit the post for more.
www.thefuturebookshelf.co.uk
May 23, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
disrightsuk.bsky.social
🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨

Yesterday, over 100 Disabled people joined the mass lobby of MPs to resist benefit cuts - the largest lobby of Disabled people Parliament has seen in over a decade.

Read more👇
www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/over-10...
Over 100 Disabled People's Mass Lobby of MPs to Resist Benefit Cuts
www.disabilityrightsuk.org
May 22, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
eddavey.libdems.org.uk
Ginny cares for her husband Tim, who has myotonic dystrophy. She works part-time, on top of caring for him every day.

Now, under the Government’s PIP changes, they face losing £12,000 a year. Today I asked the Prime Minister: what does he expect carers like Ginny to do?
May 21, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
justtreatment.org
🚨BREAKING: Hannah, a young PIP claimant, confronts Liz Kendall (DWP chief) over Labour’s £5bn disability benefit cuts.

Kendall ignored her and walked away.

This government would rather risk disabled people's lives than tax wealth.
May 21, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
kingscsmh.bsky.social
In light of Sir Charlie Mayfield's report on work and disability on @todayshow.com we wanted to resurface 'The 39 Steps Realising the potential of Flex Plus working for disability inclusion' report...

www.kcl.ac.uk/csmh/assets/2025/39-steps-flex-plus-working-disability-inclusion-report-2025.pdf
www.kcl.ac.uk
May 15, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Reposted by Catherine Hale
owenjones.bsky.social
A few years ago, Keir Starmer suggested Jeremy Corbyn wasn't pro-immigration enough.

Now Starmer sounds like Enoch Powell.

The most dishonest frontline politician in UK democratic history 👇

www.owenjones.news/p/starmers-e...
Starmer's Enoch Powell impression shows he's the most dishonest politician in our history
Compare to what Keir Starmer was saying just a few years ago
www.owenjones.news
May 13, 2025 at 6:41 PM