Welfare

Paul Gray An independent advisory committee has called for an urgent and robust review of the UK government’s benefit sanctions regime amid concerns that it is failing to help jobless claimants.

Alex Neil Around 120,000 children will be cast adrift if the UK government changes its definition of child poverty, social justice secretary Alex Neil has claimed.

MPs have backed UK government plans for £12 billion in welfare cuts. The vote on the second reading of the Welfare Reform and Work Bill, which includes plans to limit child tax credit to two children, passed by 308 to 124 in the House of Commons last night.

Roseanna Cunningham Scotland’s fair work and social justice ministers are to press UK ministers to fully honour the Smith recommendations on powers over welfare and employability.

George Osborne Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne is expected to announce today that his planned £12 billion cuts to the UK's welfare budget will be spread over a longer period of time.

John Swinney MSP Deputy first minister John Swinney has written a letter expressing his concerns over planned UK government cuts to tax credits.

Michael McMahon Women are being hit hard on multiple fronts by changes to the benefits system, according to a report published by Holyrood’s Welfare Reform Committee.

George Osborne UK ministers are considering forcing all housing benefit recipients to contribute towards their rent as part of efforts to save billions from the welfare bill, according to reports.

The Church of Scotland has joined with other churches and charities calling on the UK government to set up a full, independent review of the benefits sanctions system. In the 100 days since the House of Commons work and pensions select committee called for a review the government has given no indica

CIH Scotland is seeking input from its members on how they think new powers in the Scotland Bill can improve social security in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament’s Welfare Reform Committee has launched a call for evidence on the practical implementation of powers relating to social security covere

Angus Robertson Amendments to the Scotland Bill which would effectively give the Scottish Parliament the power to design its own welfare system have been rejected by the UK government.

SFHA CEO Mary Taylor is one of the letter's signatories Thirteen of Scotland’s leading charities have appealed to the UK government to find new ways of reducing public spending ahead of £12 billion in additional cuts to the welfare bill in next week’s emergency budget.

Iain Duncan Smith The total lifetime cost of the Universal Credit welfare reform programme has increased by nearly £3bn in the past three years to £15.8bn, according to new figures from the UK government.

Alex Neil Charities and groups that work with people who receive benefits will play a crucial role in developing Scotland’s new social security powers, social justice secretary Alex Neil will say today.

Citizens Advice Scotland has expressed concern about the impact of further welfare cuts, following David Cameron’s speech yesterday. Arguing that the UK should be a "lower tax, lower welfare society", the prime minister said it was wrong to treat "the symptoms of the social and economic problems w