Welcome back, highlights from today’s weekly news – Disability Living Allowance to be phased out starting today and replaced by Personal Independence Payments, Greater Manchester Police becomes the first force to record attacks on members of subcultures as hate crimes, and an interesting article arguing for an education directed towards the discovery of happiness.

Starting today, the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will be phased out in some parts of the UK and replaced by Personal Independence Payments (PIP). The new system proposes regular checks to ensure those receiving benefits still need them instead of awarding lifetime benefits as under the DLA. While on the face of it, the proposals sound reasonable, they have been quite controversial and disability campaigners are arguing that they are designed to save money. The disability charity, Scope, says 600,000 people will eventually lose financial support.

Widening the purview of hate crimes, the Greater Manchester Police is now going to record attacks on members of subcultures as hate crimes. Currently, offences on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and transgender identity are categorised as hate crimes and can receive higher sentences. Greater Manchester Police has been working with the charity Sophie Lancaster Foundation, which was set up following the murder of 20 year old goth Sophie Lancaster. The police force says this move will help raise awareness of the problem.

And finally, on a happy note, Dr Anthony Seldon, co-founder of Action for Happiness, has written an article arguing for an education directed towards the discovery of happiness – “We are developing generations of dysfunctional and misguided products from our exam factory system…One of our greatest priorities should be to help young people learn life skills and attitudes that are conducive to living a flourishing life and making a positive contribution to society…”

Have something to add? Email Equality.and.Diversity@lse.ac.uk