Universal Credit

Hugh Henry Paying the housing element of Universal Credit direct to landlords and the immediate abolition of the ‘bedroom tax’ are needed if Scotland is to create a welfare system which treats claimants with dignity and respect, MSPs have said.

Working households on Universal Credit are set to lose an average of £1,000 in 2020, rising to £1,300 for those with children, despite the welcome reversal of the main cuts to tax credits announced in the Spending Review. New analysis by the independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation has not

David Mundell The Scottish Government will be able to "top up" tax credits and child benefit payments as part of new powers coming to Holyrood, Scottish Secretary David Mundell has confirmed.

Kirsty McKechnie In a guest blog for Shelter Scotland, Kirsty McKechnie, welfare rights worker for Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, gives the story so far for Universal Credit.

Nile Istephan The Scotland Bill has the potential to enable social landlords to support and transform tenants’ lives though sections of the it fail to meet the “spirit or substance” of the Smith Commission, according to the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA).

West Dunbartonshire Council tenants are being consulted on proposals to reduce weekly rent charges by spreading payments over the whole year instead of 47 weeks. The move is a response to the introduction of Universal Credit, which means some tenants now receive a single monthly benefit payment to m

Alex Neil New powers to make changes over how Universal Credit is paid will eventually affect over 700,000 households across the country, according to the Scottish Government.

Paul Gray An independent advisory committee has called for an urgent and robust review of the UK government’s benefit sanctions regime amid concerns that it is failing to help jobless claimants.

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