University of the West of England research student Coralie Neave-Coleshaw reviews the recent UN report revealing concerns about the UK welfare system, and shows how disabled people are affected by supply-side employment policies
The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has recently released its concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of the United Kingdom. Its conclusions in respect of social security provisions are bleak; it is ‘deeply concerned about the various changes in the entitlements to, and cuts in, social benefits’ since 2012, and makes several recommendations. These include: reviewing entitlement to social security; reversing cuts; restoring links between benefit levels and the cost of living; and reviewing the use of sanctions. Read More
Our latest guest writer Michael Adler from the University of Edinburgh explores ways to ameliorate the hardship caused by sanctions. He charts the rise and recent fall in numbers of benefit sanctions issued, and says that although this fall is obviously to be welcomed, sanctions are still problematic. He argues that despite making some changes to the system, the government last year rejected all recommendations that would have thrown further light on the problems of the system. Read the blog here
Our latest guest writer Michael Adler from the University of Edinburgh explores ways to ameliorate the effects of sanctions
In an article entitled ‘A new Leviathan: benefit sanctions in the twenty first century’, which appears in the current issue of the Journal of Law and Society, I draw attention to the spectacular growth of benefit sanctions in the UK that took place between 1998 and 2013. I noted that, in 2012 and 2013, the number of Jobseekers’ Allowance (JSA) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA) sanctions imposed by the DWP, which was more than one million, actually exceeded the number of fines imposed in the criminal courts. Read More
In her latest guest blog, disability rights advisor Laura J Welti raises an issue of practicalities for some welfare benefit recipients. Laura is Manager of Bristol Disability Equality Forum. Read her blog post here.
In her latest guest blog for us, disability rights advisor Laura Welti raises an issue of practicalities for some welfare benefit recipients
I have recently been approached about the arrangements for those without a bank account to access their benefit payments.
The government, albeit reluctantly, contracted a high street chain to pay out benefits monies to individuals without bank accounts upon the provision of certain evidence. The chain has a presence in many areas of Bristol where I am based (and I assume elsewhere too). But there is a fundamental flaw in the arrangement that has been resulting in people having no cash whatsoever for several days after they should have been able to access their benefit payments. Read More
Our event in Glasgow on 9 June in partnership with Policy Scotland’s Welfare Reform Network was a great success. Chaired by Hugh Henry, former Convenor of the Welfare Reform Committee in the Scottish Parliament, the event included presentations of our first wave findings by research team members. Guest speakers John Dickie from Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland; and Rosalind Tyler-Greig, Inclusion Scotland, offered responses. Read the presentations and our findings paper
Come and hear about our research findings at our special events around the country. Read More
Our latest email newsletter is out now with all the news from our recent findings launch. There’s a note on the big day in London, plus links to all of our first wave findings papers. Catch up with press coverage on the findings, and get details of our other forthcoming events in England and Scotland. Find out about citations of our research in parliament. Use our easy signup at the bottom of this screen and get your copy straight away.
Reform of the welfare and benefits systems – and in particular the emphasis on trying to change behaviour through sanctions – has had a “profoundly negative effect” on the people that receive them, our collaborative study has found. Read More
Our research has been cited in the House of Lords and the Guardian recently.
The House of Lords resumed its debate on the Housing and Planning Bill on 18 April. The government’s proposal to introduce fixed-term tenancies was the subject of a series of amendments. Read More
The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) has recently released its concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of the United Kingdom. Its conclusions in respect of social security provisions are bleak; it is ‘deeply concerned about the various changes in the entitlements to, and cuts in, social benefits’ since 2012, and makes several recommendations. These include: reviewing entitlement to social security; reversing cuts; restoring links between benefit levels and the cost of living; and reviewing the use of sanctions. Read More
