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Category - benefits

  • 23 Jan 2012
    Coalition seeks its own welfare in a bout of bishop bashing

    With Liberal Democrats deeply divided on welfare reform, senior coalition figures have united to attack bishops and faith leaders over benefit capping.

  • 14 Jan 2012
    Housing benefit reform – on the move

    Many people have not yet realised the full impact of housing benefit and other welfare reforms threatening further hardship for those already disadvantaged. On political if not humanitarian grounds, the government would do well to stop targeting those in greatest need, says Savi Hensman, examining the specific issue of housing benefit.

  • 8 Dec 2011
    Social attitudes: a challenge to faith communities

    Religious observance has declined over the years, the British Social Attitudes survey confirmed. The 28th report, published in December 2011, indicated that 50 per cent did not affiliate to a religion, and some who did seldom attended religious services or meetings.

  • 21 Oct 2011
    Denying justice to least powerful

    The UK government is making it harder to challenge state decisions, the chair of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council has warned.

  • 6 Oct 2011
    The parallel universe of David Cameron

    Welcome to the parallel universe of David Cameron. It is a world in which the Tories stand up for the poor, lead the fight against dictatorship and stop people from being given benefits on demand. It is a world that exists in a conference hall in Manchester this week, in a few daily papers the rest of the time, and in the less well-informed parts of the right-wing blogosphere. It has nothing in common with the world that most of us live in.

  • 1 Jun 2011
    Vulnerable claimants and asylum seekers at serious risk

    Changes in the UK welfare benefit system are having devastating effects on the mental health of thousands of people, charities and a senior psychiatrist have warned. In a letter to the Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/may/31/consequences-benefit-chang...), they pointed out that flawed tests for work capability were causing great distress and hardship, and some people had even taken their own lives.

  • 13 May 2011
    Note of caution over fall in child poverty

    The Child Poverty Action Group have welcomed the news of a fall in child poverty - but warned that the government's policies are likely to push it back up again.

  • 2 Apr 2011
    Tricking vulnerable people out of benefits

    Disturbing evidence is emerging that UK job centres are increasingly looking for excuses to stop welfare benefits to people who are out of work. People with mental health problems, learning or communication difficulties, those who are young or uneducated are among those at most risk.

  • 11 Feb 2011
    Disabled by society

    Disabled people stand to lose much and gain little from the government's cuts. The social model of disability suggests that people are largely "disabled" by society, says Nicola Sleap. Christians should take a stand on disability rights, responding to Jesus' call to heal by healing a society that continues to marginalise people.

  • 5 Jan 2011
    Lucas: Politics is not a choice between power and principles

    In a new year message, Green Party Leader Caroline Lucas has said that “politics does not have to be a straight choice between power and principles”.