Universal credit

• Universal Credit could put domestic violence victims ‘at further risk’

  Reforms to the welfare system could increase women’s vulnerability to financial abuse, a new report has argued today.

  

• DWP under fire over Universal Credit

  Auditors have heavily criticised the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for the design and implementation of Universal Credit.

  

• Over 1.5 million people were destitute in the UK last year

  More than 1.5 million people in the UK were pushed into destitution at some point last year, according to anti-poverty campaigners.

  

• Carers face benefit ‘cliff-edge’, MPs warn

  MPs have called on the Government to remove the ‘cliff-edge’ in the benefit calculation that could see many carers lose their allowance.

  

• Whitehall extends Universal Credit support to ‘kinship carers’

  The Government has announced it would be extending support under Universal Credit to families looking after children who might otherwise be in the care of the local authority.

  

• Rollout of Universal Credit increasing demand on food banks

  The rollout of Universal Credit is increasing the use of food banks by an average of 52%, new research has revealed today.

  

• MPs to investigate link between Universal Credit and abuse

  The Work and Pensions Committee today announced they will be holding a one-off evidence session on the relationship between Universal Credit and domestic abuse.

  

• Research warns of 'design flaw' in Universal Credit

  A ‘design flaw’ in Universal Credit is leaving self-employed workers at a financial disadvantage, new research has warned today.

  

• Over 100,000 children to lose free school meals under reforms

  One in eight children who would have qualified for free school meals under the old system will become ineligible under universal credit.

  

• Free school meals: What do the changes mean for families?

  Which children should be receiving a free hot meal at school and who should pay for it? Mark Whitehead reports.