Z2K (Zacchaeus 2000 Trust)

Improving temporary accommodation? Start with fixing the five basics The homelessness emergency needs systemic solutions, but local action can improve conditions for people right now, says Albinia Stanley of the Better TA Alliance

Families are living in temporary accommodation without access to essentials like a kitchen or Wi-Fi.

As part of the Better TA Alliance, we are calling on local authorities to #FixTheFiveBasics.

www.insidehousing.co.uk/comment/impr...

How patients could suffer after Labour's universal credit cuts Millie Light writes of the deep sorrow she feels for anyone who becomes sick or disabled with cancer after the universal credit cuts.

Seriously ill and disabled people with conditions like cancer face losing out on over £200/month under the UC Bill.

We're calling on the government to clarify planned protections for people with the most severe conditions.

www.bigissue.com/opinion/canc...

Access All: Disability News and Mental Health - Extra episode: Interview with the disability minister - BBC Sounds On Access To Work, collaborating with disability groups, and more

It was good to hear Stephen Timms say that the DWP will be ‘taking a lead’ from disabled people on the Timms Review.

But it’s vital that the government gets this right. We need clear safeguards to rebuild trust and ensure meaningful co-production.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The nine health conditions most at risk of being hit by Universal Credit cuts SOME disabled Universal Credit claimants face cuts to their payments when new Government rules come in, campaigners have warned. Labour is planning to bring in major reforms to the benefits system …

We're worried that upcoming UC cuts will affect many disabled people who will never be able to work because of their conditions.

The government must clarify how it will ensure that disabled people with severe conditions will be protected.

Read our full quote 👇

www.thesun.co.uk/money/360843...

Benefits claimants with MS and Parkinson's face universal credit cut Keir Starmer can still ‘avoid a crisis’ by rethinking a key benefit reform, say rebel Labour MPs

ICYMI: Our Senior Policy Advisor warned in @theipaper.com that people with serious, lifelong conditions may not be protected from cuts to the health element of Universal Credit.

inews.co.uk/news/benefit...

Benefits claimants with MS and Parkinson's face universal credit cut Keir Starmer can still ‘avoid a crisis’ by rethinking a key benefit reform, say rebel Labour MPs

We told @theipaper.com our concerns about cuts to the health element of UC for seriously ill or disabled people.

People with serious, lifelong conditions like Parkinson’s and MS may not be protected from the cut.

Read more👇

inews.co.uk/news/benefit...

White text with pink highlighting on a purple background with a pink and white border reads "At Z2K, we help people navigate the housing system and secure a safe, suitable roof over their head. Find out how we helped Sandy"

White text with pink highlighting on a purple background with a pink and white border reads " Sandy has lived in Westminster for over ten years and relies on community mental health support to manage her serious mental health issues day-to-day. When she was evicted from her privately rented home, Westminster City Council accepted their duty to provide housing for her as a vulnerable adult."

White text with pink highlighting on a purple background with a pink and white border reads "But they then tried to end this duty when Sandy declined an offer of accommodation that was over 125 miles away from her support network. Being moved so far away would have made Sandy's severe mental health issues even worse - when Sandy turned to us, she felt she had no options left."

White text with pink highlighting on a purple background with a pink and white border reads "We helped to challenge the council's decision to stop providing Sandy with housing support. Thanks to our support, Sandy is now living in Temporary Accommodation close to her support network, and is on the waitlist for a permanent home in the area. *identifying details have been changed"

Everyone should have a decent, affordable home that meets their needs. At Z2K, we help make this a reality for people like Sandy.

If you can afford to do so, please give today and support our vital advice and representation service👇

z2k.org/donate-z2k/

Tens of thousands at risk of poverty despite Labour’s benefit U-turn, MPs warn Changes to welfare reforms not enough to protect newly sick and disabled people from financial hardship

Around 50,000 people who become disabled or seriously ill will be pushed into poverty by 2030 by cruel cuts to the health element of UC, the Work & Pensions Select Committee warns.

We gave evidence to the committee to highlight the risks of the cuts.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

White text in a purple speech bubble on a pink background with the Z2K logo reads “I take absolute pleasure in telling you how impressed I was with the submission that [my caseworker] had drawn up for my case. I was extremely impressed with both the content and his speed of delivery to me. He’s done a great job.” - Z2K Client"

We help people access the support they are entitled to.

Do you want to support us to help even more people?

Please give what you can.

z2k.org/donate-z2k/

Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.

Delays to MRs are leaving disabled people without vital support.

The DWP said this would be fixed by March – but waiting times are still too high. We’re calling on the DWP to bring down delays.

Thanks @richardburgon.bsky.social for raising this.

questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...

It’s disappointing that the government failed to heed the concerns raised in the House of Lords last night about the Universal Credit Bill.

We need a social security system that lifts disabled people out of poverty, rather than pushing them into it.

PIP claimants wrongly denied £260m in benefits after DWP errors Thousands of disabled people may still be owed over £5,000 each for benefit money they were mistakenly denied

We said in @theipaper.com that benefits underpayment errors could cause "significant financial hardship" for disabled people and the DWP must "do everything it can to ensure that these errors are corrected as soon as possible".

inews.co.uk/news/pip-cla...

Universal Credit Bill - Joint briefing ahead of Lords stages On Tuesday 22nd July, members of the House of Lords will debate the Universal Credit Bill. This briefing from organisations including Scope, the Disability Benefits Consortium, Citizens Advice, Mind, ...

The House of Lords will debate the Universal Credit Bill later this afternoon.

Serious questions remain unanswered. We’ve joined 12 other leading anti-poverty and disability charities to set out our remaining concerns about the bill.

www.ucpipbill.co.uk

And we are off!

The #FixTheFiveBasics campaign launches today, with local orgs leading actions in ten boroughs across London.

We’re calling on local councils to ensure every family in TA can:
1️⃣ Cook a meal
2️⃣ Wash clothes
3️⃣ Get online
4️⃣ Safely store belongings
5️⃣ Understand their housing situation

Our client Miracle says that living in TA without "anywhere to cook meant that my costs of living were floating up into space".

We met with local councillors this week to launch the #FixTheFiveBasics campaign to make sure everyone in TA can access the basics.

Hear more from Miracle 👇

fix

Families are living in Temporary Accommodation (TA) with no idea how long they'll be stuck there.

We met council leaders this week to launch the #FixTheFiveBasics campaign to ensure people in TA have basic necessities such as clear, accessible information.

www.fixthefivebasics.org

Benefit cuts will hit severely disabled people despite ministers’ claims, say charities Exclusive: Charities say planned universal credit changes fail to account for progressive or fluctuating conditions

ICYMI: Our Director of Policy & Campaigns told @francesryan.bsky.social @theguardian.com that "we have real fears that many disabled people with lifelong conditions that severely impact their daily lives will not in fact be protected from the cuts" to UC.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

MPs vote to make Labour's 'reckless' benefits bill into law. Now what? Despite major concessions, there remain concerns around the cuts to the health element of universal credit and the future of PIP.

ICYMI: Our Chief Executive told the @bigissue.com that "We have serious concerns about the robustness of the government’s commitment to co-produce changes to disability benefits with disabled people".

Read more👇

www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

White text on a purple background with an image of a house reads "Do you live in Westminster borough? Do you want to tackle sky-high rents and poor conditions? Write to your councillors today"

Do you live in Westminster borough❓

Do you want to tackle sky-high rents and unacceptable conditions❓

Take our quick and easy campaign action and ask your councillors to act now

z2k.eaction.org.uk/private-rent...

1 in 9 children are now impacted by the cruel two-child limit, new DWP stats show.

Without urgent action, this government will preside over a significant rise in child poverty.

The UK Government must urgently scrap the two-child limit.

MPs vote to make Labour's 'reckless' benefits bill into law. Now what? Despite major concessions, there remain concerns around the cuts to the health element of universal credit and the future of PIP.

Our Chief Executive told the @bigissue.com that "we have serious concerns about the robustness of the government’s commitment to co-produce changes to disability benefits with disabled people.

"The Timms review cannot be a mere tick-box exercise."

www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

4/4: We are calling on the government to urgently set out how disabled people will have genuine decision-making power in the Timms review.

We also need clear safeguards to ensure MPs and disabled people can meaningfully scrutinise any finalised plans.

3/4: We were pleased to see the government set out more detail about how the Timms review of PIP will be co-produced with disabled people.

But there is still considerable ambiguity around the government’s plans for the review.

2/4: It’s vital that the government now sets out its long-term plan for addressing the fundamental inadequacy of our social security system.

The increases to the basic rate of universal credit in this bill simply don’t go far enough.

1/4: We’re really disappointed that MPs voted through huge cuts to vital support for seriously ill and disabled people last night.

Make no mistake, these cuts will push disabled people even deeper into poverty.

Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - Joint briefing ahead of Committee and Remaining Stages On Wednesday 9th July, MPs will be asked to vote on amendments to the UC & PIP Bill. This briefing from over twenty organisations including Scope, the Disability Benefits Consortium, Citizens Advice, ...

MPs will soon give their final vote on the UC & PIP bill - we've joined over other 20 organisations to raise our concerns.

Over 700,000 seriously ill and disabled people will lose £3000/year on average.

Government must drop these cuts.

Read the full briefing👇

www.ucpipbill.co.uk

The Commons debate on the UC & PIP Bill will be starting shortly.

We are calling on the government to abandon dangerous planned cuts to support for seriously ill and disabled people.

Today MPs will vote on the final Commons stages of the UC & PIP Bill.

The government must make sure the Timms Review is genuinely coproduced with seriously ill and disabled people.

Benefit cuts will hit severely disabled people despite ministers’ claims, say charities Exclusive: Charities say planned universal credit changes fail to account for progressive or fluctuating conditions

The final Commons stages of the UC & PIP bill are tomorrow.

We told @francesryan.bsky.social of @theguardian.com that we have real fears that many disabled people with lifelong conditions that severely impact their daily lives won't be protected from the cuts.

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Tomorrow the final Commons stages of the UC & PIP Bill will take place ⏰

We’re calling on the government to drop its dangerous planned cuts to UC health and urgently set out how it will ensure changes to PIP are genuinely co-produced with disabled people.