Universal Credit

Jeane Freeman Recipients of Universal Credit in Scotland will be offered two new ways to help them manage their money, the Scottish Government has announced as it issued new guidance for landlords and claimants.

Sarah Boyack Ahead of today’s Scottish Government debate on ‘The Roll-out of Universal Credit’, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has once again warned that the continued roll-out of the benefit will have catastrophic consequences for some of the most vulnerable in society

David Gauke MP The roll out of the devolution of welfare powers to Scotland and concerns over Universal Credit will be raised by the Scottish Parliament’s social security committee when it takes evidence from secretary of state for work and pensions David Gauke MP.

More and more social tenants in Scotland are struggling to pay the first month’s rent in advance as a result of welfare reforms, making it even more difficult for them to find and keep a home, according to two leading housing organisations. Shelter Scotland and the Scottish Federation of Housing A

Jeane Freeman Social security minister Jeane Freeman has outlined more details on Scotland’s new social security agency and provided an update on the Scottish Government’s progress to abolish the ‘bedroom tax’ at source and in delivering choice in Universal Credit.

A dossier detailing a catalogue of concerns from landlords, councils and charities regarding Universal Credit has been handed to a parliamentary inquiry investigating the programme as pressure mounts on ministers to halt its continued roll-out. With the accelerated roll-out of the new system just we

Sally Thomas The continued roll-out of Universal Credit will have “catastrophic consequences” for some of the most vulnerable in society as well as undermine the sustainability of housing associations, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has said.

A group of 24 Scottish charities have come together to urge the UK government to stop the roll-out of the Universal Credit system in Scotland. A major change the benefits system, Universal Credit replaces six existing benefits with one, and is designed to make the benefits process easier. The govern

Rory Mair Citizens Advice Scotland has called for a halt to the accelerated roll-out of Universal Credit, publishing new figures which show the system risks leaving thousands of Scots in poverty and debt.

At the end of financial year 2016/17, Angus Housing Association has reported record low rent arrears of 1.01%. The performance bucks the trend for most Scottish landlords as rent arrears have generally been on the increase since Universal Credit (UC) and other welfare reforms have been introduced.

Willie Rennie A housing and infrastructure development bank will be created to stimulate major capital investment across the UK under new plans by the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

An interim report on the impact of UK government plans to cap housing benefit for social housing tenants aged under 35 has concluded that 21,000 young Scots could face a rent affordability gap of up to £22.6 million annually as a result. Commissioned by the Scottish Government in conjunction with t

Angela Constance Women are being unfairly impacted by recent UK government cuts to benefits and welfare eligibility, according to equalities secretary Angela Constance.

The UK government is to make households that are made homeless exempt from Universal Credit following reports that the new benefits system has led to an increase in rent arrears. According to The Guardian, local authorities in London have said that rent collection levels for homeless tenants placed

Mary Taylor A request by Scottish ministers for an immediate halt to the roll-out of the full service of Universal Credit “until problems with its implementation are fully resolved” has been welcomed by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA).