Welfare

David Bookbinder It might seem trite to term the proposed LHA limits on social housing as ‘Bedroom Tax 2’ but it’s completely legitimate, writes David Bookbinder.

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has raised concerns about the inconsistent messaging from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) following their claim the LHA cap - dubbed the Bedroom Tax 2 - will not apply to existing tenants. The DWP statement in a Herald article on 3rd

Bruce Forbes Angus Housing Association director, Bruce Forbes, has accused a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesperson of “peddling lies and deliberately misleading the public” to justify the Westminster government’s “brutal” cuts to welfare.

Bruce Forbes The director of Angus Housing Association in Dundee has warned that changes to welfare payments could plunge some of the city’s poorest people further into poverty.

Jeane Freeman Minister for social security Jeane Freeman has expressed strong opposition to the UK government on its proposal to limit the number of children in families who can qualify for Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit.

GWSF's Maureen Cope believes the cuts are "contrived and highly punitive" Westminster's plans for a fresh round of welfare cuts, dubbed ‘Bedroom Tax 2’, threatens to undermine housebuilding projects, increase homelessness, and weaken public sector finances across Scotland, it has been claimed.

Alison Johnstone Universal Credit has caused a 20 per cent rise in rent arrears from East Lothian Council tenants in just three months since it was introduced, a report has found.

The average rent arrears of a tenant receiving Universal Credit is almost five times the average of those not in receipt of the welfare payment, according to new research. Data and insight provider HouseMark carried out a detailed analysis of benchmarking data submitted by its members to examine the

Lord Freud Minister for welfare reform Lord Freud is to retire from his ministerial position at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) at the end of December.

Aoife Deery details Shelter Scotland’s response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on social security. At the end of October, Shelter Scotland submitted our response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on social security. We appreciated this opportunity to help shape the new Scott

Sanctions on welfare payments cost more to administer than they save and are being handed out without evidence that they actually work, according to today’s report from the National Audit Office (NAO). The independent watchdog of state spending said that imposing a financial penalty on a claimant

Over 86,000 Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) awards totalling over £44 million were made by Scotland’s councils over a six month period to support housing costs and mitigate against the ‘bedroom tax’. The DHP scheme provides financial assistance towards housing costs for those claiming hou

The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has highlighted that 241,000 more tenants in Scotland will be affected by the announcement that all social housing tenants on Universal Credit will be brought under the new Local Housing Allowance (LHA) cap when it is introduced in 2019. Ministe

Lord Freud The UK government’s cap on Local Housing Allowance (LHA) has been delayed for another 12 months for general needs accommodation but will now apply to all tenants who receive Universal Credit when it is introduced in 2019.

Derek Mackay The UK government must use the Autumn Statement to reverse its freeze on benefits and the damaging reduction of the benefit cap, and ensure low income families will not face any further welfare cuts, according to finance secretary Derek Mackay.