Welfare
Budget 2018: Billion-pound Universal Credit pledge
Chancellor Philip Hammond today pledged £1bn in an attempt to ease benefits claimants’ transition to Universal Credit (UC).
Whitehall ‘dismissed’ councils’ concerns over Universal Credit
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is ‘disturbingly adrift from the real-world problems’ caused by the Universal Credit rollout, a report by MPs has concluded.
soapbox
Paul Wheeler is 'taking a break from Brexit Britain' to spend a year in the German capital while returning to university The attraction of a country which teaches in English and charges no tuition fees 'proved irresistible'
Universal Credit chief admits support is not working
The civil servant in charge of the Universal Credit rollout has admitted support for claimants has not been effective, as responsibility was handed to the charity sector.
Measuring poverty to help solve the problem
We need to measure poverty to be able to hold the Government to account and to tackle the problem, argues Deven Ghelani.
Welfare support has 'collapsed' for many
One in six top-tier councils are not providing vital welfare services devolved to them just as the sector’s budget cuts hit hard.
Cash collection made simple
Councils could bring in vital extra funding if they apply behavioural insights to revenue collection argues Tim Pearse
Universal Credit rollout pushed back as fresh changes made
A raft of changes have been made to Universal Credit, pushing back the expected completion of the rollout another year.
Bedroom facts
When is a bedroom not a bedroom?
Universal Credit reports to be released to committee
Pensions secretary David Gauke has reluctantly agreed to release a series of Universal Credit impact reports to a select committee, but pleaded for them not to be leaked to the public.
'Revised timetable' for Universal Credit rollout
The Government has caved into pressure and changed the timetable for the rollout of Universal Credit (UC), The MJ has learnt.
Children's commissioner adds to calls for Universal Credit pause
The children’s commissioner Anne Longfield will ask the Treasury to pause the rollout of Universal Credit (UC) for families with children.
NAO: Public debt levels soaring after seven years of austerity
Britain’s debt crisis has got worse since the financial crash, with liabilities now equivalent to £47,000 per household, auditors have reported.
Holding up the mirror
Jo Miller speaks to Sam Clayden about the changes throughout her first year as SOLACE president and argues central government could learn a thing or two from its local counterpart.
Pause the rollout of UC - WLGA
The rollout of Universal Credit (UC) must be paused, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) has urged.
Arrears set to skyrocket as UC rolls out
Rent arrears among council tenants claiming Universal Credit (UC) across the UK could reach several hundred million pounds, a new report has warned just days after the Government reaffirmed its commitment to the programme.
Universal Credit: Councils looking at rent arrears worth millions
Rent arrears among council tenants claiming Universal Credit across the UK could reach several hundred million pounds by the end of the rollout, a new report has warned.
'Firebreak' in Universal Credit rollout but government stands firm
Work and pensions secretary David Gauke has said there will be a ‘firebreak’ in the rollout of Universal Credit in January, but insisted this was always part of the plan.
Birmingham fearing welfare crisis if UC rollout continues
Britain’s biggest local authority claims it faces a homelessness and debt crisis if ministers plough ahead with the rollout of the Universal Credit (UC) regime.
UC: This is what we're doing, now DWP must respond
Jo Miller outlines the sector's gripes with the rollout of universal credit, and outlines some of the things councils are doing locally to mitigate the impacts.