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You are here: Home / Archives for universal credit

universal credit

Universal credit: System’s flaws left claimant in despair and mired in debt

By John Pring on 17th November 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Universal credit: System’s flaws left claimant in despair and mired in debt
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A disabled man was left suicidal and without any income because of the serious flaws within the universal credit system set up by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Phillip Manion’s experience of universal credit’s controversial online journal system has […]

Universal credit: ‘Brutal’ system left bereaved woman feeling ‘trapped and worthless’

By John Pring on 17th November 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Universal credit: ‘Brutal’ system left bereaved woman feeling ‘trapped and worthless’
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A disabled former nurse has described how the “brutal” and “biased” universal credit system left her feeling trapped and worthless. Shirley Rudolph was eventually forced to abandon her universal credit claim and rely on two small pensions and bereavement support to […]

New DWP boss Mel strides into trouble in first Commons appearance

By John Pring on 3rd November 2022 Category: Employment

New DWP boss Mel strides into trouble in first Commons appearance
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The new work and pensions secretary has refused to apologise after misleading MPs on how many disabled people want to return to work, just days after he was appointed to the post. Mel Stride (pictured), who replaced the sacked Chloe Smith […]

DWP finally releases universal credit ‘fitness for work’ figures

By John Pring on 27th October 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

DWP finally releases universal credit ‘fitness for work’ figures
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has finally published figures that show how many universal credit claimants are being found “fit for work” through the work capability assessment process. They show that DWP is consistently finding more disabled people claiming […]

DWP admits court defeat after universal credit discrimination led to suicide thoughts

By John Pring on 20th October 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

DWP admits court defeat after universal credit discrimination led to suicide thoughts
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has admitted repeatedly breaching the Equality Act, after a disabled man was left needing hospital treatment three times for suicidal thoughts caused by months of failures by universal credit advisers and jobcentres. A legal […]

Support for user-led plan to replace universal credit… and treat all claimants with respect

By John Pring on 13th October 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Support for user-led plan to replace universal credit… and treat all claimants with respect
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Disabled people’s organisations and allies have offered strong support for a user-led plan to build a social security system that treats all benefit claimants with “dignity, fairness and respect”, and replaces the government’s “chaotic” universal credit. The plan has been drawn […]

Conference confusion as Tories undermine new disability minister on benefit cuts

By John Pring on 6th October 2022 Category: Politics

Conference confusion as Tories undermine new disability minister on benefit cuts
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The Conservative party has undermined its new minister for disabled people just days after her appointment, by refusing to back her promise that disability benefits will be uprated next year by the full rate of inflation. Claire Coutinho (pictured, above right) […]

Labour conference: Foxcroft promises job support plans will not include sanctions

By John Pring on 29th September 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Labour conference: Foxcroft promises job support plans will not include sanctions
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Labour’s shadow disability minister has promised that her party’s plans to “target” those who are out of work because of long-term ill-health will not see claimants punished if they refuse an offer of support. Shadow work and pensions secretary Jon Ashworth […]

Disabled man faces being made homeless over universal credit mobile home rules

By John Pring on 15th September 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Disabled man faces being made homeless over universal credit mobile home rules
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A disabled man who lives in a mobile home because of his agoraphobia says he faces being made homeless because of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rules on housing support that were introduced alongside universal credit. David* says he needs […]

New DWP boss faces claim she misled parliament over ‘fitness for work’ stats

By John Pring on 8th September 2022 Category: Benefits and Poverty

New DWP boss faces claim she misled parliament over ‘fitness for work’ stats
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Newly-promoted Chloe Smith faces a claim that she misled parliament about the failure of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to publish “essential” figures about its “fitness for work” assessments. The claim has emerged just days after Smith was appointed […]

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Latest Stories

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Disabled peers plan to ‘amend, amend, amend, amend, amend’ after assisted dying bill reaches Lords

Minister finally admits that working-age benefits spending is stable, despite months of ‘spiralling’ claims

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