Households with children are at a higher risk of poverty than other households. Large families and single parents are at the highest risk of fuel poverty.
This briefing, produced by CPAG in association with Age UK and RNIB, focuses on two new mandatory reconsideration policies introduced in 2022 and 2023 which put access to justice for particular groups of claimants at risk.
As food bank use continues to soar to unprecedented levels, the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) wants to see the UK without the need for charitable food aid, where adequate and nutritious food is affordable to all. But what is driving increasing demand for food aid? What is the problem with responding to food insecurity this way? What role do cash payments play as responses to poverty and destitution? And why is a ‘cash first’ approach the way forward?
On 1 October, energy bills for a typical household were due to rise to £3,549 a year, nearly treble the cost a year before. The cost was due to jump again in January 2023. But in September the government announced that the average bill would be capped at £2,500 a year for the next two years. What impact will this have on fuel poverty, defined as spending more than 10 per cent of net income on fuel? How many households are spending even greater proportions of their income on fuel? And who will be worst affected by rising prices?
Emergency support is financial and in-kind support provided by local authorities in England and Scotland, and by the Welsh government. What role can it play in reducing demand for food banks and food aid in Britain? CPAG has just concluded a two year research project, Ending the Need for Food Banks, to examine how emergency support could be redesigned so it does just that. What could this new system look like?
This report focuses on some of the problems UC claimants are experiencing both making a claim for UC and receiving accurate payments, which appear to be caused by the digitalisation and automation of the UC system. Claimants who have specific life circumstances are experiencing similar problems because the UC computer system seems unable to calculate their UC payment correctly and in accordance with the law.
