Universal Credit
Women ‘hit hardest by welfare reform’, warn MSPs
Women are being hit hard on multiple fronts by changes to the benefits system, according to a report published by Holyrood’s Welfare Reform Committee.
Published 6 July 2015
Lifetime costs of Universal Credit up by almost £3bn
The total lifetime cost of the Universal Credit welfare reform programme has increased by nearly £3bn in the past three years to £15.8bn, according to new figures from the UK government.
Published 29 June 2015
Kingdom provides advice for Fife tenants on Universal Credit changes
Over eighty Fife tenants have attended events in Dunfermline and Glenrothes to receive support and advice on the forthcoming implementation of Universal Credit.
Published 15 June 2015
Seven-day Universal Credit waiting period will cause ‘serious problems’
The UK government is to press ahead with proposals to introduce a seven-day waiting period before claimants are eligible for Universal Credit.
Published 12 June 2015
Working families could become ‘second class savers’ under Universal Credit
Working families moving onto Universal Credit could become ‘second class savers’, with any money put aside potentially counting against their benefit entitlement, according to a new report published today by the independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation.
Published 8 June 2015
Council homes set for Moray health centre site
The former health centre in Forres is to be demolished to make way for council housing after Moray Council purchased the site from NHS Grampian.
Published 3 June 2015
Highland Council pilots alternative Universal Credit payment arrangements
The Highland Council is the first local authority in the UK to trial a new Universal Credit application process that enables landlords to electronically submit an Alternative Payment Arrangement to support vulnerable tenants.
Published 2 June 2015
Report: The Smith Commission and beyond: the devolution of housing benefit to the Scottish Parliament
Shelter Scotland has published a paper which sets out the principles it believes should underpin further devolution of social security - including housing benefit – to the Scottish Parliament, and what steps the Scottish Government and UK governments should take in relation to the devolution of social security.
Published 2 June 2015
UK government urged to improve welfare reform implementation
The UK government’s spending watchdog has criticised the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) for its failure to anticipate problems in its implementation of welfare reform.
Published 1 June 2015
Queen’s Speech – CIH Scotland laments Scotland Bill’s ‘lack of clarity’
CIH Scotland has expressed its concerns over the inclusion of the Scotland Bill in yesterday’s Queen’s Speech.
Published 28 May 2015
Blog: What now for the welfare of Scotland?
David Bookbinder on the tricky issue of welfare in Scotland and the UK following last week’s general election result.
Published 12 May 2015
Universal Credit reaches Scottish Isles
The national roll out of Universal Credit continued yesterday with the benefit now available to new single claimants in Kirkwall, Lerwick and Stornoway.
Published 12 May 2015
SFHA calls for early focus on devolution
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has urged the record cohort of SNP MPs heading to Westminster to make the devolution of further powers to Scotland a priority.
Published 11 May 2015
Report highlights ‘grotesquely disproportionate’ impact of welfare reform on women
A new report has called on the Scottish Government to implement a gendered response to welfare reform mitigation after it found the cuts have had a “grotesquely disproportionate impact” on women.
Published 6 May 2015
UNISON and Child Poverty Action Group call on UK government to make work fair
The Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland and UNISON have joined together to call on political parties to lay out policies to tackle in-work poverty.
Published 5 May 2015
