01 September 2016
Over 19,000 low income, sick and disabled Londoners were referred to bailiffs in 2015/16, a 51% increase on the previous year. 26 of 33 London boroughs charge council tax to households previously deemed too poor to pay (up from 24 in 2015/16). Eight London boroughs hiked minimum charges for 2016/17 (up from 7 in 2015/16).
31 August 2016
Read the latest report from CPAG and Z2K in a series that examines how London council tax support schemes have changed in the last three years and analyses the impact these changes have had on claimants.
10 August 2016
Saturday 13 August 2016 marks 100 days of Sadiq Khan’s Mayoralty. While 100 days can feel like a very long time in politics (just think of events post-Brexit), it’s scarcely sufficient time for sweeping policy change.
09 August 2016
This autumn the benefit cap will be cut, squeezing low-income families even further and pushing more people into poverty. We are looking for test cases to legally challenge the benefit cap. If you are an adviser and have clients currently affected by the cap, we would like to hear from you.
27 July 2016
In an important test case brought by CPAG, it has been held that tax credit claimants have always been able to make a late appeal against decisions made by HMRC.
25 July 2016
This autumn the benefit cap will be cut, squeezing low-income families even further and pushing more people into poverty. The Welfare Reform & Work Act 2016 lowers the cap to £23,000 per annum for families (or £15,410 for single claimants) in London and £20,000 for families (or £13,400 for single claimants) outside of London.
20 July 2016
Responding today to Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green’s announcement of further delays to the roll out of Universal Credit, Child Poverty Action Group Chief Executive Alison Garnham said: “Although we don’t want the government to rush through the roll out of universal credit if it’s not ready as it will eventually involve half the nation’s children, this latest delay does beg the question of whether the benefit is still fit for purpose...
13 July 2016
David Cameron’s final words at PMQs today – “Nothing is really impossible if you put your mind to it” – bring to my mind one of his early speeches on poverty.
01 July 2016
In searching for explanations for the cataclysmic events of 23 June, commentators have alighted on the obvious voting divides by age, region and level of disadvantage across the UK. The amazing thing is that this should come as any surprise.
