Welfare

Terrie Alafat The latest benefit cap statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there is a need for the UK government to re-look at welfare policies, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has said.

Jeane Freeman More than a quarter of a million individual low-income households have received awards totalling £132.6 million from the Scottish Welfare Fund since its inception in 2013.

The High Court in London has ruled that the application of the benefit cap to lone parents with children under two is unlawful because of its discriminatory impact upon children. The judicial review challenge, which was supported by homelessness charity Shelter which intervened in the case, was brou

The publication of the Social Security Bill is a “landmark moment” for the Scottish Parliament, according to Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). Introduced to Parliament yesterday, the Social Security (Scotland) Bill will give the Scottish

Jeane Freeman Historic legislation to establish Scotland’s first social security system has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament.

Court of Session A disabled woman who converted a bedroom in her rented housing association property into a second living room so she could have a living space separate from her carers was still liable for the higher rate of the so-called ‘bedroom tax’, appeal judges have ruled.

Scotland’s affordable housing sector has called on the new UK Parliament to work cross party to address implementation issues with welfare reform. Prime Minister Theresa May announced that she will be seeking to form a minority government with support from the Democrat Unionist Party, after the Co

At the end of financial year 2016/17, Angus Housing Association has reported record low rent arrears of 1.01%. The performance bucks the trend for most Scottish landlords as rent arrears have generally been on the increase since Universal Credit (UC) and other welfare reforms have been introduced.

Willie Rennie A housing and infrastructure development bank will be created to stimulate major capital investment across the UK under new plans by the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

Angela Constance Details of the first social security benefits to be delivered by the Scottish Government following the introduction of new devolved powers have been outlined to the Scottish Parliament.

Jeane Freeman Almost 113,000 awards have been made under the Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) scheme over the past year, with a total value of £51.9 million, new figures have revealed.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon First Minister Nicola Sturgeon outlined the SNP’s key policies yesterday as the party leader revealed its manifesto for the upcoming general election.

With the general election just two weeks away, the Scottish Federation of Housing Association (SFHA) has revealed its five-point plan to reduce the damaging impact of welfare reforms. The membership body said welfare reforms have increased the vulnerability of tenants and impacted on the ability of

An interim report on the impact of UK government plans to cap housing benefit for social housing tenants aged under 35 has concluded that 21,000 young Scots could face a rent affordability gap of up to £22.6 million annually as a result. Commissioned by the Scottish Government in conjunction with t

Thousands of people with direct personal experience of the current benefits system have signed up to help shape the delivery of benefits in Scotland’s new social security system. As recruitment comes to a close, the latest volunteer figures for the Experience Panels stand at 2,335 – far in exces