1. Home
  2. Posts

Posts

Active filters:
  • Blog
Blog

Autumn Statement - no help for capped families 

23 November 2023
The Chancellor’s decisions to uprate benefits in line with inflation and to restore local housing allowance rates to the 30th percentile of rents were welcome, despite coming wrapped in punitive rhetoric, and accompanied by yet another ramping up of benefit sanctions. Increasing benefit rates and support with rent costs will make a difference to many families continuing to struggle with rising prices, who approach this winter terrified about how they will get by. But, sadly, these changes will provide absolutely no help to the over 85,000 households affected by the benefit cap, who will receive not one penny more.
Benefit cap Blog UK
Blog

The limits of test and learn

14 November 2023
Today the DWP published the latest data on the outcomes of tax credit claimants who have been sent their ‘migration notice’. This is a letter informing people that they have three months to make a claim for universal credit (UC), at which point their tax credit payments will be terminated. The data reveals that 16,000 people sent a migration notice did not make the transition to UC and had their legacy benefits terminated. This equates to 27 per cent of those who have been sent a migration notice and reached their deadline (based on those sent a migration notice in the first half of 2023).
Blog Universal credit UK
Blog

Universal credit – past, present and future

06 October 2023
CPAG in Scotland’s Early Warning System has been operating for ten years! Over Challenge Poverty Week we are looking back at some of the social security events in this period, key findings from the Early Warning System and how they have influenced policy and practise. This blogs looks back at universal credit and how Early Warning System evidence can influence its future. 
Blog Early warning system (Scotland) Universal credit Scotland
Blog

How school costs make it harder to go to school

05 October 2023
Pupils and parents have told us that costs associated with going to school and stretched family finances are affecting children’s attendance, as Georgina Burt explains in this blog.
Blog Cost of the school day Education Free school meals UK England
Blog

The welfare reforms that broke the connection between need and support

03 October 2023
CPAG in Scotland’s Early Warning System has been operating for ten years! Today we are focusing on the welfare reforms that broke the connection between need and support in the social security system.
Bedroom tax Benefit cap Blog Early warning system (Scotland) Two child limit Scotland
Blog

10 years of the Early Warning System

02 October 2023
CPAG in Scotland’s Early Warning System has been operating for ten years! Over Challenge Poverty Week we will look back at some of the social security events in this period, key findings from the Early Warning System and how they have influenced policy and practise. Looking ahead we will identify how Early Warning System evidence and analysis can inform the future shape of social security at UK, Scotland and local level.  
Blog Early warning system (Scotland) Scotland
Blog

Doubly punished: 1 in 4 hit by benefit cap and two-child limit

17 July 2023
The harms of the cost of living crisis are multiplied by the benefit cap and two-child limit, flagship policies of the welfare reform agenda which sharply sever the relationship between need and support provided by our social security system. 
Benefit cap Blog Two child limit Universal credit UK
Blog

Universal credit, minimum income guarantees and social security reform

25 May 2023
Jane Millar reflects on a range of recent proposals to reform the UK’s social security system.
Benefit delivery Blog Children’s benefits Universal credit UK
Blog

Nicola Sturgeon’s legacy on child poverty is one of huge progress, but new FM must complete the job

27 March 2023
As we find out who Scotland’s new First Minister will be. What will this mean for action to end child poverty? Whatever people’s views of her wider legacy there should be no doubt Nicola Sturgeon has made huge progress putting in place the building blocks needed to end the scourge of child poverty in Scotland.
Blog Child poverty statistics Scotland
Blog

Navigating the social security system with a mental health problem

14 March 2023
CPAG has published a new benefits and mental health handbook to help people who might be going through some of the most difficult times in their lives.
Blog Health UK