Kelly Jones

*sigh*

I agree, that phrase is dismissive on multiple levels. Still, it is a good idea to teach kids how to deal with unfairness without taking all of it on themselves/ expecting their caregivers to sort it. Fighting injustice everywhere you find it is just not sustainable.

Thanks for this. So nice to see someone opening up a view of the big picture rather than spouting narrow one-sided arguments. Really enjoyed your piece :)

Inside the community with more disability benefit claimants than anywhere else Walton in Liverpool has the country's highest rate of disability benefits. But what's behind the stats in an area in the firing line of cuts?

Also more in benefits down the line: "...it all comes back to child poverty. Growing up in poverty causes mental health problems and other chronic illnesses early in life, leading to high use of disability benefits"
www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

Apologies ... looks like we're having server problems at the moment .. however we're working on it and hope to be back soon ...

Good Q. If you think of having a child as a multi-step process (e.g. 1. Partner choice 2. Unprotected sex 3. No morning-after pill 4. No abortion 5. Not relinquishing the child), you can see the two-child limit doesn’t factor in + it disproportionately affects women who end up raising children alone

Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament Current version of Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill with latest news, sponsors, and progress through Houses

Isn't the "eligibility verification measure" to flag claimant bank accounts with too much capital or income in the Public Authorities (Fraud and Error) Bill? bills.parliament.uk/bills/3921 Not yet passed. Data Protection and Digital Information Bill had similar proposal but never passed...

"replete with elegant satisfaction" sent a wave of that contented feeling my way, what a lovely turn of phrase 😊

I suspect the rate in benefit claims has been steeper than the increase in illness because sick/disabled ppl made do without claiming until the cost of living forced them to. They were still entitled!

Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - On Tuesday 1st July, MPs will be asked to vote on the UC & PIP Bill, which contains the biggest cuts to social security in a decade. This briefing from ten organisations including Scope, Citizens Advi...

Heartened to see these charities working together to oppose the UC and PIP bill - www.ucpipbill.co.uk

Easy to read breakdown of the proposed changes to UC and PIP that MPs will be voting on soon

If it's really getting you down, or it's dragging on, do get yourself a benefits advisor. Check out advicelocal.uk to find out who's near you. An advisor may help you deal with the DWP, complain (if appropriate) and ask for flexibility in light of any vulnerabilities/difficulties you have

It is stressful so don't beat yourself up for finding it so. DWP processes are very opaque which doesn't help. I'm concerned about how they learnt about the energy bill credit in the first place - unless you disclosed it? I don't think the DWP has the power to get info directly from energy providers

I've never heard of DWP gaining direct access to utility balances - doesn't sound right... maybe on a credit report? But that's usually when you've defaulted/you're in debt. I will be looking this up when time allows, for sure!

TfL has banned what it calls a 'controversial' advert from Save the Children. The ad is part of a campaign calling for the two-child limit on Universal Credit to be scrapped. I kinda 'get' the rationale, but then... ahh no, I don't. Daft decision in my view.

Thanks Paul, server issues again. Be assured we're investigating long-term solutions!

Thanks for bringing these stats to my attention Charlie. Interesting to see that even after lapsing such a high proportion of appeals, appeal success rates are still very high at tribunal.

10% reduction in second homes in Scotland following introduction of new Council Tax rules - having intended effect on housing supply issues? www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-... Backstory: www.rightsnet.org.uk/housing/news...

The W&P Committee’s proposal to record benefit claimant status on death certificates is sensitive — but it could help us better understand the pressures facing people of working age, and how support systems might be failing them.
committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence...

Sad news of another suicide linked to benefit problems
www.rightsnet.org.uk/now/post/62942

I don't envy the DWP staff arranging the Green Paper consultation events 😆
* DWP shares email addresses of event participants www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewt...
* Manchester DPAC 'gatecrashed' one of the events bsky.app/profile/mdpa...

Also of self-employed people having to stop work due to illness or some other shock, and having to use savings meant for restocking/ retraining/ replacing tools on living costs

I've seen cases of couples separating, having too little capital from sale of shared property to buy elsewhere, spending their precious savings on rent at a time when it's harder to increase earnings (e.g. childcare) and the family being trapped on benefits

Really pleased to see this report - the cliff-edge is particularly damaging for people's long-term prospects of getting off benefits.

Interesting presentation of stats on no. people likely to lose daily living component of PIP under proposed '4 point rule'... tinyurl.com/532mt4sa
Another FOI response confirming
87% on standard rate score < 4 points on all activities
13% on enhanced rate score < 4 points in each activity

What a joy to read 😆

Such a shame, and they were doing so well to get it down! www.rightsnet.org.uk/welfare-righ...

I'm also adverse to preferential treatment for 'working people' who are evidently better placed to increase their income and improve their own lives. However, I wonder if increased housing supply for earners will reduce pressure on the social rented sector? Benefitting everyone?

I'm yet to ascertain what criteria must be met before government departments are compelled to publish algorithms on the Algorithmic Transparency Record www.gov.uk/algorithmic-... - seems piecemeal so far