The Work and Pensions Committee, under its new Chair, Stephen Timms MP, has launched an inquiry into Universal Credit, in particular, focussing on the effect and consequences to claimants of the five-week wait for first payment.
The DWP is preparing to roll out to social landlords a new direct payment system, to replace the four weekly third party creditor schedule for Managed Payments to Landlords and UC Scottish Choices Direct Payments. The four weekly payment schedule will still be used, however, for third party deductions against arrears of rent.
SFHA has submitted evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Social Security Committee Inquiry on benefit take-up.
Ahead of the dissolution of Parliament, the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee has published two reports highly critical of welfare policy and has called for the reversal of the benefit freeze by increasing levels by CPI + 2% for the next four years.
The Supreme Court has ruled where there was a ‘transparent medical need for an additional bedroom’, which was not catered for in regulation B13 (5) and (6), there was unjustified discrimination on the ground of disability, contrary to article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
SFHA has joined the Trussell Trust’s #FiveWeeksTooLong campaign.
SFHA has submitted evidence to the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee’s Inquiry into Welfare in Scotland – highlighting concerns over the shortcomings in the administration of Universal Credit.
SFHA seeks member support for Challenge Poverty Week
Update on SHRG's work and key issues.
Wheatley’s team of 22 welfare benefits advisers have helped more than 3,250 customers claim Universal Credit in the past seven weeks.
Blog by Jeremy Hewer, SFHA Policy Lead.
A number of housing associations have been advised that current third party deductions for arrears and applications for deductions have been suspended.
Additional 110,000 Universal Credit claims since coronavirus outbreak
Charities Scottish Women’s Aid, Social Bite and other key partners will share up to £8 million.
DWP asks housing associations and co-operatives to highlight that DWP number may appear as 0800 number, ‘private’ or ‘number withheld’.
Scottish Parliament unanimously supports new emergency powers in the Coronavirus (Scotland) Bill.
