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16 November, 2023

Government announces new ‘Back to Work Plan’ to provide employment-focused support to more than a million people alongside tougher sanctions for people who don’t look for work

Forming part of next week's Autumn Statement, five-year plan will 'reform the ways that people with disabilities or health conditions interact with the state' and 'support more people on unemployment benefits who are able to work, to get back into work'

16 November, 2023

Government outlines plan to close the benefit claims of those who refuse to ‘engage with the jobcentre’

Work and Pensions Secretary says 'if you are fit, if you refuse to work, if you are taking taxpayers for a ride, we will take your benefits away'

16 November, 2023

DWP sets out measures it has in place to support vulnerable claimants, and how it is working to build on the help it currently provides

While reiterating that it has neither a statutory or common law duty of care to claimants, Department tells Work and Pensions Committee that it takes its responsibilities seriously

16 November, 2023

Miscellaneous amendments to social security legislation in relation to the introduction of carer support payment in Scotland

New statutory instrument

15 November, 2023

Chancellor urged to stick to uprating working-age benefits by September CPI rather than adopt October 2023’s lower figure

Charities and policy organisations respond to reports that Treasury is considering saving £2 billion by uprating in line with last month's figure of 4.7 per cent rather than September's 6.7 per cent

15 November, 2023

Almost nine in ten claimants report that their experience with Social Security Scotland is ‘good’ or ‘very good’

However, around one in six claimants say they faced some sort of barrier in claiming, with long wait times for the phone helpline being the most frequent problem

15 November, 2023

Discretionary support in Northern Ireland is ‘at a crossroads’ as budget reductions start to bite

Commissioner says that recent progress in raising awareness about the scheme and emphasising grant awards over loans is unlikely to be maintained

14 November, 2023

Almost one in seven people sent a universal credit migration notice did not make a claim and had their legacy benefit award terminated

New DWP statistics for period from July 2022 to August 2023 also show that almost half of those who were sent a migration notice have yet to make a universal credit claim

14 November, 2023

Tax credit claimants who were sent a universal credit migration notice between November 2022 and March 2023 but did not make a claim lost an average of £300 per month

With the DWP not having carried out any research as to why the individuals did not claim universal credit, CPAG questions whether the Department has 'reached the edge' of its test and learn approach

14 November, 2023

Universal credit sanction rate increased to almost 6.5 per cent in August 2023

However, new DWP statistics also show that the same month had the lowest percentage of claimants in conditionality regimes where sanctions could be applied

14 November, 2023

Number of people on universal credit rose to 6.2 million in October 2023

New DWP statistics also show that number of claimants in the ‘no work requirements’ conditionality regime has now risen to 2.2 million

14 November, 2023

Changes to the ministerial team at the DWP following yesterday’s Cabinet reshuffle

Employment Minister Guy Opperman and Pensions Minister Laura Trott leave the Department, replaced by Jo Churchill and Paul Maynard

14 November, 2023

DWP says it is reviewing its staff guidance on acceptable evidence of refugee status for those who have not yet received a Biometric Residence Permit

Minister also confirms that refugees do not have to have received permit before making a claim for universal credit

14 November, 2023

Cost of living payments offer only a short-term reprieve for many and are insufficient to meet the scale of the problem

While acknowledging that the payments are important and distributed quickly, Select Committee highlights that the 'unsophisticated nature' of the system places significant limitations on its ability to meet the needs of different groups

14 November, 2023

Scottish Parliamentary Committee launches consultation on Bill designed to improve the experience of people using services provided by Social Security Scotland

Views sought on proposals that include the creation of new social security benefits for children and care-experienced people, and new rights in relation to decision making

13 November, 2023

Scottish Housing Minister and COSLA call on UK government to end LHA freeze

Failure to increase LHA in line with rent increases is hindering the efforts of the Scottish Government and local authorities in their core missions to tackle poverty and prevent homelessness

9 November, 2023

Work and Pensions Committee launches inquiry to examine effectiveness of statutory sick pay

Responses will inform consideration of how benefit might be reformed to better support the recovery and return to work of people who claim it

9 November, 2023

DWP Permanent Secretary confirms that powers used to distribute Household Support Fund cannot be used to support those with NRPF

Where a person with NRPF is not eligible to access the Fund, Mr Schofield suggests that 'they may decide that their best option will be returning to their home country'