Councils click into the future of planning
In town halls across the country, planning officers are racing to update their Local Plans — but this time, the process looks very different.
'Devil in the details' of welfare reform plans, says SIGOMA
19/03/2025 The ‘devil will be in the details' of the Government's proposed reforms to welfare, says SIGOMA leader. |
Annual welfare spending to rise by £20bn
13/06/2024 Welfare spending is set to increase by £20.8bn a year by the end of the next parliament, a think-tank has found. |
Seven in 10 councils struggling amid cost of living crisis
03/10/2023 Seven in 10 councils are struggling to support people hit by the cost of living crisis, according to new research published today. |
Call to simplify devolved-benefits in Wales
28/07/2022 A new report has called on the Welsh Government to simplify the benefit system to help more people during the cost of living crisis. |
Benefit reforms could lead to 'poorer health' campaigners warn
27/01/2022 Plans to reform Universal Credit to move half a million people into jobs by the end of June could lead to poorer health, a charity has warned. |
Calls for urgent reform of UK’s welfare system
24/01/2022 The UK’s social security system is failing to protect low-income families from extreme hardship and urgently needs reforming, researchers have warned. |
Think tank calls for 'fairer' welfare system
20/09/2021 The welfare system should reintroduce a clear link between contribution and reward, according to the results of a three-year research programme. |
Lords call for reform of 'failing' Universal Credit system
31/07/2020 A Lords committee has urged the Government to substantially reform Universal Credit to protect the most vulnerable. |
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London boroughs face £23m rent arrears due to Universal Credit
22/07/2020 The rollout of Universal Credit is leading to thousands of council tenants falling behind on rent payments, new research commissioned by London Councils has found. |
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ADCS president calls for welfare overhaul
08/07/2020 The impact of the pandemic on children’s futures must not be underestimated, the president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has said. |
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Study finds 64,000 UC recipients suffer ‘psychological distress’
02/03/2020 New research has found that tens of thousands of people have experienced ‘psychological distress’ due to the introduction of Universal Credit (UC). |
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Welfare reform drives ‘sofa surfing’, council chiefs warn
23/12/2019 Council leaders have called on the Government to adapt welfare reforms as research finds changes to the benefits system have been a driver of ‘sofa surfing’. |
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Council chiefs call for welfare reform to tackle homelessness
19/12/2019 Local authority leaders have called on the new Government to adapt welfare reforms so that they protect families at risk of becoming homeless. |
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Universal Credit drives food bank use, charity says
19/09/2019 A report from the main provider of food banks has warned that the roll out of Universal Credit has been a major factor behind the increase in food bank use. |
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Universal Credit driving tenants into rent arrears, study says
23/08/2019 Universal Credit is causing tenants to fall behind in their rent, new research from a group representing landlords has revealed. |
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Nearly 600,000 children affected by two-child limit on benefits
01/08/2019 Campaigners have called on the Government to lift the 'two child limit' for payment of benefits to families. |
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Universal Credit should come with ‘health warning’, MPs say
23/07/2019 The Department for Work and Pensions should develop ‘clear and comprehensive guidance’ on when a benefit claimant is to be moved onto Universal Credit, MPs have said. |
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Housing association calls for an end to the 5-week wait for UC payments
26/06/2019 Housing association called for an end to the 5-week wait for Universal Credit payments after survey revealed two fifths of claimants forced to use food banks. |
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Whitehall blasted for trying to solve homelessness ‘on a shoestring’
20/06/2019 An assessment of the state of homelessness prevention has criticised Whitehall for trying to solve the homelessness crisis ‘on a shoestring’. |
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Welfare reforms put pressure on struggling families, report warns
13/05/2019 A new study looking at the impact of welfare reforms on child vulnerability has found that a quarter of children in low income families are unable to make ends meet. |
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MPs to investigate link between Universal Credit and ‘survival sex’
19/03/2019 Reports that increasing numbers of people are being forced to exchange sex to meet basic needs due to welfare reforms are to be investigated by MPs. |
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MPs warn eight out of ten households unable to escape ‘cruel’ benefit cap
12/03/2019 More than eight out of ten households affected by the benefit cap should be exempt from the ‘cruel’ policy, MPs have said today. |
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Think tank recommends ‘helping hand’ payments for UC claimants
11/03/2019 Universal Credit claimants should receive an upfront ‘helping hand’ payment and financial compensation for late payments, think tank says. |
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Rudd delays Universal Credit rollout
07/01/2019 Work and pensions secretary Amber Rudd has delayed the next phase of the Universal Credit (UC) rollout amid ongoing concerns over the controversial system. |
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Universal Credit bad for people's health - academics
15/11/2018 Universal Credit (UC) is bad for health and wellbeing, academics have found in a new study commissioned by Gateshead MBC. |
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Universal Credit ‘retrograde’ step in tackling domestic abuse
22/10/2018 Single household payments under UC are a ‘retrograde’ step which makes it difficult for victims of domestic violence to escape their abuser, according to MPs. |
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Universal Credit could increase risk of domestic violence, MPs warn
01/08/2018 Paying the Universal Credit benefit to a household rather than individuals could increase the risk of domestic violence, MPs have warned. |
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Minister claims UC claimants ‘happy with service’ despite criticisms
22/06/2018 A minister has defended Universal Credit against damning criticism from auditors, describing it as ‘an agile, adaptable system, fit for the 21st century’. |
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DWP under fire over Universal Credit
14/06/2018 Auditors have heavily criticised the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for the design and implementation of Universal Credit. |
