Welfare reform

Opinion Former Comments

CPAG: Welfare myths are not based on fact - and people are starting to see it

Ministers turned on charities and faith groups this week to discredit concerns over their welfare reforms. They know they cannot sustain public support when welfare myths are simply not based in fact.

CPAG: Coalition policies to push 600,000 children into absolute poverty by 2015

New analysis for Child Poverty Action Group by Landman Economics has found that an increase of 600,000 children in absolute child poverty is likely between 2010 and 2015.

Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union Welfare Statement

The ideology of cuts affecting the most vulnerable people in our society is totally out of character for a nation that traditionally prides itself on bringing support to those in crisis. Over the years, the UK has led the way in terms of people and organisations who have gone way beyond the call of duty in terms of supporting others and treating them with the dignity and respect they deserve. This is a country that after years of struggle, made health, education and general wellbeing a basic human right. READ ON.

CPAG: Child poverty strategy in disarray from poverty-producing bill

The government has revealed in answer to a parliamentary question that 200,000 children will be pushed into relative income poverty by its bill to cut social security benefits and tax credits in real terms. This results from a restriction of annual uprating to just 1%, which is below inflation.

CPAG: Introduction to welfare rights

This week-long course is aimed at advisers, social workers, probation workers, health and housing workers and others new to welfare benefit advice work. This course is designed to give participants an understanding of the structure of the benefit and tax credit system, ability to identify the issues that may affect entitlement and an appreciation of the importance of advice and advocacy. The emphasis is on tackling benefit questions through case studies, including how to calculate entitlements, and providing participants with the chance to practise using CPAG’s Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook.

CPAG: ‘Double Lockout Bill’ cuts real support for workers and jobseekers by 4%

A new report published today by Child Poverty Action Group, with contributions from a range of experts, reveals that the government’s welfare benefit uprating legislation is based on bogus claims and is a poverty-producing bill that will further exclude the poorest workers, jobseekers, carers and disabled people from the mainstream of society.

Benefits test penalises most vulnerable, says mental health charity Rethink

In response to Professor Malcolm Harrington’s third and final official review of the government’s Work Capability Assessment (WCA) published today, Paul Jenkins, CEO of the charity Rethink Mental Illness said:

PCS: Welfare cuts are a 'perverse redistribution of wealth'

Commenting on reports chancellor George Osborne will today announce a further £10.5 billion cut from the welfare budget, Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Mark Serwotka said:

Rethink Mental Illness: New GP survey shows Government welfare test is pushing vulnerable people to the brink

More than eight out of ten GPs say they have patients who have developed mental health problems due to a controversial benefits test, according to new polling released today by the charity Rethink Mental Illness.

United Response: Disability charity launches new easy read guide to living independently and managing money

The national disability charity, United Response, is launching a new free guide today to help people with learning disabilities, who want to live more independently, make financial decisions about their future.

Friday, 12 November 2010 00:00

Iain Duncan Smith's radical welfare reforms have been announced spurring reaction from politicians and commentators alike.

The work and pensions secretary proposes replacing the existing complex system of benefits with one 'universal credit', with sanctions for those who repeatedly refuse to take up work.

Labour have praised the principles behind the reforms, but argue that for them to work, there must first be sufficient jobs available in the economy.

Meanwhile, right-wing thinktank the Institute of Economic Affairs has criticised the reforms for not going far enough.

Fully £18 billion is being cut from the welfare budget under the spending review, though Mr Duncan Smith did secure funding for his idea to allow claimants to keep some of their benefits once they move into work.

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MRSA Action UK Annual Memorial Event

Families will pay tribute and remember those lost to MRSA and healthcare associated infections at Westminster Abbey on Thursday 13th June 2013

BSIA: Information Destruction Exhibition & Conference 2013

Following the great success of the BSIA's Information Destruction Conference and Exhibition in May 2012, we are pleased to annouce that the event is returning again in June 2013. This one-day conference and exhibition is aimed at key decision makers in organisations that carry out the secure destruction of confidential material.