Yesterday saw MPs debate annual increases, or in some cases a continued freeze, of benefits and the state pension. During a speech by Labour Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Margaret Greenwood MP, a Tory Whip thought it wise to say she doesn’t know the meaning of the word destitution. Yesterdays debate was on the the amount that each benefit will
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A local council in London has called the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) “grotesque and unbelievable” after they discovered claimants are being visited whilst in hospital. One claimant who missed an appointment because on an operation was shocked when a jobcentre adviser arrived at their bedside. It’s no secret that if you’re on Universal Credit you run the risk
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A recent report by the think-tank Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JrF) has found that once the roll-out of Universal Credit is complete, 10.7 million people in “out of work families”, will be worse off. The report does say that 12.9 million in work, will benefit but, why are the most vulnerable taking the hit yet again? The recent report by JrF
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It has emerged that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have already started development of an digital tool that will automatically trawl claimants NHS medical records. Health professionals have raised fears that the doctor patient relationship could be at risk as claimants will be less likely to be completely open about their condition in fear of the DWP using
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Universal Credit has taken another hit today after staff at two Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) call centres voted to strike for 2 days in March. The staff at the Wolverhampton and Walsall centres voted by a whopping 138 to 15, in favour of industrial action. They are demanding an extra 5000 staff to help ease the extreme workloads
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Stuart has written for the site before. He is on Universal Credit and I allow him to share his story in exactly his words. I don’t edit anything. The spelling and flow may sometimes be off but, in this article he is sharing some of his innermost thoughts he wrote at a real low point. Nothing at all has been
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Details have emerged showing that The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has a hostile new policy regarding foodbank referrals. In an email, a Jobcentre Plus (JCP) Manager revealed that no paper referral forms will be given to claimants from now on. Instead, they’ll be sent to other agencies to get help. The shocking new policy was first revealed exclusively
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Disabled workers on Tax Credits can currently receive additional premiums, a Disabled Element (WE) and a Severe Disability Element (SDE). However, if they’re moved to Universal Credit there’s no provision for these and it will see claimants lose over £4,000 a year. There’s been much talk on the news about the loss of the Severe Disability Premium (SDP) for claimants
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An answer to a written question in the House of Lords has revealed that 16% of new Universal Credit claims still aren’t paid on time. The government also revealed that 6% of all claims aren’tbeing paid to claimant when they should. With the pilot of managed migration starting later in the year, not to mention the addition of mixed age
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Disgusting, that’s how the government have once again acted towards welfare claimants. Last night the government quietly out a written statement confirming that couples with only one pension age claimant will no longer be able to jointly claim Pension Credit from May this year. Couples with one pension age claimant and one below the state pension age, are currently able
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Work and Pensions Secretary, Amber Rudd has caused upset and shock by saying the 5 week wait for claimant’s first Universal Credit payment is acceptable. Unveiling a raft of “supposed” new announcements for Universal Credit, Rudd said of the 5 week period claimants have to wait; “at the moment I’m satisfied with what we’ve got”. This will come as a
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“The claimant must move out of the household and is required to provide written evidence to their work coach that they are receiving help for domestic abuse before the easement can be granted.” This is the shocking statement made by Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, (PCS). It reveals how low the Department for Work
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Yesterday there was much coverage in the media of Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd’s announcement that the next process in the roll-out of Universal Credit would be halted. What they all failed to mention is that Esther McVey had announced the same thing months ago. The media literally did the Tories a favour by giving the impression that they
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Having seen the absolute monstrosity that is this years New Years Honours list I have decided to put together a small one myself. I have included some people I think deserve recognition for the work they have done to help the vulnerable. It’s not exhaustive so as you can visit each one’s content. I recommend you follow them all if
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