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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The High Court have once again dealt a damning blow to the government’s Universal Credit plans. Today that a judge has ruled the government’s Universal Credit migration arrangements for those who previously received the Severe Disability Premium (SDP) and, moved onto Universal Credit before 16 January 2019 as; “unlawful.” The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will have to rethink
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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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National foodbank charity The Trussell Trust have released their end of year statistics for the period April 2018 to March 2019. They show that the number of food parcels they gave out rose by 19% to nearly 1.6 million. Just under 500,000 of those were for children. The main reason for this rise? Benefits not covering living costs. Earlier this
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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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The government has been accused of covering up a significant report on Universal Credit to hide the poor results. The study which looks at the transition from Tax Credits to Universal Credit is dated November 2017. It was carried out jointly by HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and its results although dated, paints a dire picture
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This is episode 1 of my new podcast: Also In The News – #AITN. Many stories don’t get the coverage that they should from mainstream news outlets. That’s why I have decided to start Also In The News. This week I have chosen three areas to talk about. First I talk about the rise of In-work poverty and what has
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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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On Wednesday, the Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered his spring statement to update us on the state of the UK economy. On benefits, he resisted cross party calls to scrap the benefit freeze early. However, in an Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) report accompanying the statement, it was revealed that Amber Rudd’s recent announcements were not for compassion but due to
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Last week, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd announced that her department was looking into combining the health assessments for certain benefits into one. However, rather than remedy anything,this would then risk sick and disabled claimants losing two benefits at once. Currently, benefit claimants who have a health condition or disability face separate assessments when applying for welfare benefits like
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Former Tory MP Heidi Allen is the Independent Group’s Welfare Spokeswoman. She recent;y put out a video on social media calling for the end of the benefits freeze. What’s staggering is that since 2015 her voting record on welfare has been to cut, scrimp and exclude those with disabilities. Why should we believe a word she says? Heidi Allen recently
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