Isabella McRae
Isabella McRae is a senior reporter and feature writer at The Big Issue. She reports on a wide range of issues across social affairs and culture. Isabella was awarded Best News Story at the Anti-Slavery Day Awards in 2025. She was also a winner of the PPA Next Gen Awards in 2023, formerly known as the 30 under 30, and was shortlisted for journalist of the year in the Scope Disability Awards 2024. Get in touch with Isabella through isabella.mcrae@bigissue.com
Blind woman mistakenly refused disability benefits by DWP: 'I was in shock'
Braille on protest poster
Disability benefits

Blind woman mistakenly refused disability benefits by DWP: 'I was in shock'

Disability benefits companies used to be fined millions by DWP – but not anymore. What happened?
dwp protest
Disability benefits

Disability benefits companies used to be fined millions by DWP – but not anymore. What happened?

What to expect from Liz Kendall as Keir Starmer's controversial shadow work and pensions secretary
Liz Kendall
Cabinet reshuffle

What to expect from Liz Kendall as Keir Starmer's controversial shadow work and pensions secretary

Government's new welfare reforms could cause 'huge anxiety for disabled people'
Disability benefits

Government's new welfare reforms could cause 'huge anxiety for disabled people'

Disabled people face 'harrowing' and 'inhumane' benefits assessments, MPs warn in Westminster debate
Disability symbol on ground
Disability benefits

Disabled people face 'harrowing' and 'inhumane' benefits assessments, MPs warn in Westminster debate

Parents will 'suffer' balancing work and childcare as schools shut over concrete safety crisis
schools shut/ concrete safety
Schools

Parents will 'suffer' balancing work and childcare as schools shut over concrete safety crisis

'Good riddance, Grant Shapps': New energy secretary Claire Coutinho urged to tackle climate crisis
Claire Coutinho
Energy

'Good riddance, Grant Shapps': New energy secretary Claire Coutinho urged to tackle climate crisis

Young man who died by suicide feared DWP would take disability benefits away
Josh, who struggled with DWP disability benefits
Disability benefits

Young man who died by suicide feared DWP would take disability benefits away

'I have cancer and I'm worried about heating this winter': Energy price cap will leave 6.3 million households in fuel poverty
Wise/ Energy Bills
Energy bills

'I have cancer and I'm worried about heating this winter': Energy price cap will leave 6.3 million households in fuel poverty

The DWP disability benefits system has 'failed people living with Parkinson's for a decade'
Phil Bungay/ DWP disability benefits
Disability benefits

The DWP disability benefits system has 'failed people living with Parkinson's for a decade'

DWP warned over disability benefits failures that leave disabled people in 'psychological distress'
DWP
Disability benefits

DWP warned over disability benefits failures that leave disabled people in 'psychological distress'

DWP faces disability benefits backlog as record 430,000 people wait for PIP review
Disability sign/ DWP PIP can help people with disabilities or illness pay for extra costs
Disability benefits

DWP faces disability benefits backlog as record 430,000 people wait for PIP review