Hertfordshire, UK – Disabled resident Tamara Simeunovic has written to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP, demanding urgent reform of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and an immediate investigation into what she describes as unlawful access to claimants’ bank accounts and systemic discrimination against disabled people. In her letter, Ms Simeunovic – who has lived in Hertfordshire for 33 years – details how DWP advisers have allegedly accessed her bank information without consent and without any legal authority to do so. She argues that such actions violate the Data Protection Act 2018, breach basic human rights, and expose a deeper culture of disregard for disabled people’s dignity within the department.
“The DWP has been using artificial intelligence to wrongly accuse disabled people of fraud and to invade their financial privacy,” Ms Simeunovic said. “As the Fraud, Debt, and Error Bill never passed into law, this practice is completely unlawful. People are being threatened, harassed, and made to fear losing their benefits for simply questioning decisions that are wrong.”
In addition to the serious concerns about financial privacy and fraud, Ms Simeunovic has raised alarming issues regarding the theft of her intellectual property by former Disability Ministers Stephen Timms and Liz Kendall, alongside current DWP Minister Pat McFadden. These individuals have used her ideas, which were shared publicly to advocate for improvements in the disability benefits system, and misappropriated them to justify harmful policies, including the Fraud, Debt, and Error Bill. This constitutes intellectual property theft, an unlawful act under UK copyright law.
The actions of Timms and Kendall, who were directly involved in taking Ms Simeunovic’s work and using it for negative disability cuts, have caused direct harm to disabled individuals. Despite public opposition and the bill not passing, these ministers continued to push policies based on stolen ideas, breaching laws relating to intellectual property, fraud, and human rights.
Ms Simeunovic now demands the Fraud, Debt, and Error Bill be abolished, as well as the Universal Credit and disability cuts associated with it, all of which were built on stolen concepts. She also proposes the creation of ‘Tamara’s Law,’ which would ensure that any fraudulent or unlawful actions by the DWP or its ministers would prevent the passage of such harmful legislation. The law would further guarantee that if the DWP or its ministers breach the Fraud Act, Misconduct in Public Office Act, and other human rights protections, they will be held accountable.
Ms Simeunovic also highlights that the £6,000 savings cap, which is often applied to disabled claimants, does not apply to those receiving Universal Credit with Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP), both of which she receives. This is a point clearly outlined in the DWP’s own policy guidelines. Despite this, the DWP has been making fraudulent deductions by failing to apply these rules correctly, in breach of the Fraud Act. This misconduct needs immediate reform, and the Fraud, Debt, and Error Bill, along with cuts to disability benefits and Universal Credit, should be abolished to prevent further harm.
However, the bill did not pass before the July 2024 general election called by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Following public outcry and a petition signed by more than 30,000 people, Liz Kendall publicly stated that the DWP would not be granted access to claimants’ accounts. Despite this, Ms Simeunovic and other claimants say they have faced unexplained deductions and investigations apparently based on financial monitoring.
To prevent further abuses, Ms Simeunovic is calling for the creation of ‘Tamara’s Law.’ This would ensure that disabled claimants automatically win their cases if the DWP fails to comply with legal requirements or deliberately delays tribunal decisions. This law would offer crucial protection for disabled people in the benefits system.
“The DWP’s current use of AI to flag ‘suspicious’ transactions without legal oversight is dangerous and unlawful,” she said. “It undermines trust and punishes disabled people who already face constant scrutiny.”
Ms Simeunovic has formally requested the return of the money withdrawn from her Universal Credit payments and compensation for the violation of her privacy. She notes that both Scope and Disability Rights UK have confirmed that the DWP has no legal power to investigate or access bank data unless a claimant has been convicted of fraud. Her letter also highlights what she describes as “deep structural problems” within the benefits system, policies and practices that penalise people for being disabled rather than supporting them to live safely and independently. One major issue is the £6,000 savings threshold used to reduce or remove Universal Credit (UC). Ms Simeunovic says this threshold is outdated and unrealistic, especially given that many disabled people face monthly medical and living costs exceeding £2,000.
Ms Simeunovic further asserts that the actions of Liz Kendall, Pat McFadden, and other DWP officials amount to misconduct in public office, a criminal offense under UK law. She argues that by failing to follow their own policies, causing harm to vulnerable people, and misusing public office for personal gain, these officials should be held accountable.
“A realistic threshold would be around £30,000,” she said. “That’s what it actually takes to cover basic needs like housing, medication, mobility equipment, and emergency care. The current system effectively tells disabled people they’re not allowed to plan for their future.”
She also condemns the reduction of Universal Credit for those receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP). PIP is designed to cover the additional costs of disability and is not means-tested, yet it is being treated as income by some DWP departments, a practice she argues is both illogical and discriminatory. Ms Simeunovic raises another critical point: the way the current benefits system penalises disabled people who live with partners or carers. When two adults share a household, benefits are often reduced or withdrawn, even when one partner is providing essential daily care.
“People with epilepsy, paralysis, or other serious conditions often rely on a trusted person to keep them safe,” she said. “But the current system punishes that. It forces people into isolation just to keep their benefits. It’s cruel, unsafe, and in some cases, life-threatening.”
She cites the example of people with epilepsy who may suffer seizures when alone, putting them at risk of severe injury or death. Current DWP policy, she argues, pushes them to live without the very support that keeps them alive. Ms Simeunovic also calls for the abolition of the Work Capability Assessment, describing it as “unfit for purpose” and “deeply traumatic” for claimants. She says only healthcare professionals who understand a person’s long-term condition should decide eligibility for support, not outsourced assessors who see claimants once and base decisions on superficial criteria.
“Disabled people should not have to repeatedly prove permanent conditions,” she said. “The system often demands degrading evidence, including video recordings of seizures or private medical episodes. It’s invasive, it’s humiliating, and it shows a complete lack of empathy.”
In addition to these systemic issues, Ms Simeunovic has also suffered from the DWP’s failure to follow due process in tribunal hearings. The DWP deliberately delayed her tribunal decision by withholding critical evidence, causing severe financial and health-related consequences. Ms Simeunovic argues that this ongoing injustice demonstrates the need for substantial reform and greater accountability within the DWP.
Her letter further criticises the inadequate mental health support available through the NHS, where waiting lists can stretch for months and free counselling is often limited to six sessions. She argues this is “nowhere near enough” for people dealing with chronic conditions, trauma, or long-term unemployment linked to disability. She also draws attention to discrimination in the workplace, especially against people with epilepsy or neurological conditions. Employers, she says, often misunderstand or fear these conditions, leading to rejection, lack of accommodations, or dismissal after a medical episode.
“Employers need proper disability awareness training,” she said. “That means accepting CVs instead of long online forms, relaxing reference requirements for those who’ve been unwell, and creating workplaces where people with sensory or mobility challenges aren’t excluded.”
At the heart of Ms Simeunovic’s appeal is a simple demand for compassion, integrity, and fairness within public services. She says too many DWP advisers lack understanding of how disability affects everyday life, often giving thoughtless advice such as telling claimants to “go to a foodbank”.
“That’s not acceptable,” she said. “Someone recovering from surgery or managing epilepsy can’t just eat whatever’s handed out in a food parcel. For some, that advice could be dangerous. DWP staff need proper training and accountability.”
Ms Simeunovic concludes her letter by urging Liz Kendall to take these concerns seriously, not only to address her personal case, but to deliver lasting reform for millions of disabled people across the UK.
“Disability can happen to anyone,” she said. “We need a benefits system built on respect and understanding, not suspicion and punishment. The DWP must start following the law and treating people with the dignity they deserve.”
For media enquiries,
contact: Tamara Simeunovic
phone: 07511768473
email: [email protected]
address: Hertfordshire, United Kingdom