A cross party report by the House of Lords’ Economic Affairs Committee has said that Universal Credit is “failing millions of people”. The committee took evidence from charities and benefit claimants during its investigation in which it also found the Tories flagship benefit’s design responsible for “soaring rent arrears and the use of food banks”. This is yet another damning
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has come under fire after it announced a scheme whereby jobcentre sdtaff assess claimants mental health. The £100,000 scheme being rolled out in Cornwall will see claimants on Universal Credit assessed by the work coach to as “to avoid seeing their GP”. The DWP have announced a controvertial £100,000 scheme for benefit claimants
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It has emerged that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) plan to start a covert campaign to tackle “misinformation” about Universal Credit. A memo first revealed by the Guardian, talks of an unbranded wraparound advert on the Metro Newspaper and a BBC Two documentary they helped make. It is a propaganda campaign North Korea would be proud of due
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A written question to The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed that government contractor Maximus, have failed to meet targets two-thirds of the time since March 2015. This raises serious questions as to why earlier this year, the private firm had its contract renewed until 2021 despite failing so badly. Maximus are one of the private companies paid
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A new report by the charity, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), has warned that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) “inadequate” communications and frequent administrative errors, are resulting in Universal Credit claimants receiving the wrong amount. It also says that 1 in 5 cases they deal with are as a result of DWP errors. Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG),
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The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) have released a damning report on Universal Credit and how it will affect claimants financially in the future. The report states that while some will benefit, the poorest 10% of claimants will be an average of £150 worse off per year. Worse still, claimants with a long term disability will be especially hit. The
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The Work and Pensions Committee at Westminster have criticised the government for its response to a report they compiled on the issues Universal Credit claimants requiring help with childcare costs have. They have accused the government of failing to listen and for showing contempt to those who gave evidence of the struggles they face. The Work and Pensions Committee is
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In an answer to a written question, The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed that its most recent figures show 53% of Universal Credit claimants had money deducted from their benefit payment. Deductions have long been raised as pushing people into poverty but as of yet, the DWP have no heeded this warning. Chair of the Work and
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An investigation has been opened by the Work and Pensions Committee after charities have warned of a rise in ‘survival sex.’ This is where women feel forced into prostitution due to delays and cuts to their Universal Credit. MPs have now launched an investigation to find out the extent of the problem and to see what can be done to
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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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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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