Universal Credit

A lack of “clear information” from the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) is preventing councils from properly preparing for the switch to Universal Credit, local authorities have warned. A survey of 145 council benefit managers found a quarter of respondents had not started making any pla

Universal Credit staff in Glasgow and Bolton will continue a two day strike this morning over what their union describes as “increasingly oppressive working conditions”. The UK government's flagship social security programme has been dogged by delays and allegations of money squandered on IT.

Michael McMahon 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.

Iain Duncan Smith 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.

Mr Sangster receiving his ASDA voucher Over eighty Fife tenants have attended events in Dunfermline and Glenrothes to receive support and advice on the forthcoming implementation of Universal Credit.

Gavin Smart The UK government is to press ahead with proposals to introduce a seven-day waiting period before claimants are eligible for 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. Making it work – the final repor

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. As part of the conditions of sale, carried out with the help of funding from the Scottish Government, the council is required to demolish the existing buil

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. The council is working with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to

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 so

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. The National Audit Office has called for the DWP to use the hard lessons it learned from implementing its recent program

CIH Scotland has expressed its concerns over the inclusion of the Scotland Bill in yesterday’s Queen’s Speech. Under the new plans, the Scottish Parliament is to receive new devolved powers to raise 40 per cent of taxes and decide about 60 per cent of public spending.

David Bookbinder David Bookbinder on the tricky issue of welfare in Scotland and the UK following last week’s general election result.

The national roll out of Universal Credit continued yesterday with the benefit now available to new single claimants in Kirkwall, Lerwick and Stornoway. Universal Credit, the new benefit that will replace Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Income Support, Tax Credits and Housing

Mary Taylor 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.