Home ›

welfare reform

  • 7 Mar 2013
    Bedroom tax: Is the Government genuinely ignorant?

    This is not the first government to be accused of being out of touch, and no doubt it won’t be the last. When the government is comprised largely of millionaires who have led unusually privileged lives, perhaps it is almost too easy an accusation to make. But when a government seems disconnected from the lived reality of its people to an extent that is quite evidently damaging, then the disconnect must be taken seriously.

  • 7 Mar 2013
    This is what ESA/WCA means for sick and disabled people

    As part of a new campaign to highlight the highly damaging impact of the government's welfare changes, particularly in relation to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), activist Sue Marsh (http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.co.uk/) launched #ESAendgame, the first of a range of mobilising activities, on Twitter and on her web page yesterday (6 March 2013).

  • 2 Mar 2013
    Shelter warns of 'bedroom tax' effect on temporary accommodation in Scotland

    Applying the bedroom tax to tenants placed in homeless temporary accommodation will have a devastating impact, says Shelter Scotland.

  • 25 Feb 2013
    Channel 4 Dispatches: benefit cuts and disabled people

    Channel 4 television's respected 'Dispatches' series will carry a programme on Disability Living Allowance at 8pm tonight (Monday 25 February). It is entitled, perhaps rather sweepingly and unhelpfully, 'Britain on Benefits'. Nonetheless, it will be important viewing.

  • 25 Feb 2013
    Mocking sick and disabled people

    When did sick and disabled people become 'fair game' for mockery in the UK?

    Over the last few years the way certain elements of the media have portrayed these sections of the population as ‘scroungers’ and ‘benefit cheats’ has been depressing, but today the Daily Mail reached a new low. In this article dramatic claims were made about the numbers of new claimants for Disability Living Allowance, describing a rush to claim the benefit before new more stringent rules are introduced.

  • 23 Feb 2013
    Ian Duncan Smith: smoke and mirrors over welfare reform

    As elements of the government’s Welfare Reform programme meet growing opposition, the Secretary of State comes under increasing pressure. Defeat in the Court of Appeal over Workfare and increasingly vocal opposition to the bedroom tax has seen Iain Duncan Smith stridently defending his policies.

  • 31 Dec 2012
    Welfare petition aims for ten thousand backers by New Year's Day

    The 'war on welfare' (WOW) petition initiative launched earlier this month needs 100,000 people to sign up to help trigger a Westminster debate on the issue.

  • 31 Dec 2012
    Another moral wrong from IDS on work and welfare

    Should the welfare system be reformed? Is the tax credit system flawed? Is a universal credit a good idea in principle? The answer to all these questions is 'yes'. But if the question is about whether the government is tackling these issues in the correct way, the answer is 'no'. A huge change of direction is required.

  • 31 Dec 2012
    Duncan Smith's attack on working poor a 'smokescreen', say critics

    As the government continues its aggressive rhetoric against benefits and claimants, welfare campaigners have pledged to continue their struggle for justice.

  • 20 Dec 2012
    'War on welfare' petition tops 5,000 in less than 48 hours

    Less than 48 hours after it was launched, more than 5,000 people have signed an e-petition calling for an independent assessment of welfare changes.