Welfare

The Scottish Government has pledged to establish an expert group together with a £50 million fund with the aim of eradicating homelessness for good. Announced by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as she delivered her Programme for Government for 2017/18 to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, the ‘En

Sally Thomas The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has today outlined three key issues for its members ahead of the Programme for Government 2017–18 being unveiled.

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

Jeremy Hewer The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) has accused the Social Security (Scotland) Bill of saying little about the powers the Scottish Government could exercise that would assist tenants who need help to sustain their tenancy.

Jeane Freeman Social security minister Jeane Freeman met local councils yesterday to discuss the practical steps needed to encourage more people to claim the financial support they are entitled to.

Ashley Campbell CIH Scotland has welcomed the Scottish Government’s focus on creating a new social security system based on human rights, dignity and respect but has raised concerns about how the principles will be applied and measured.

Young people and private renters are disproportionately affected by a “terrible shortage” of affordable homes in Scotland, according to a new report. Figures from Shelter Scotland’s ‘Impact Report’ have highlighted that a shortage of affordable homes, welfare reform and stagnant wages have

Terrie Alafat The latest benefit cap statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there is a need for the UK government to re-look at welfare policies, the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) has said.

Jeane Freeman More than a quarter of a million individual low-income households have received awards totalling £132.6 million from the Scottish Welfare Fund since its inception in 2013.

The High Court in London has ruled that the application of the benefit cap to lone parents with children under two is unlawful because of its discriminatory impact upon children. The judicial review challenge, which was supported by homelessness charity Shelter which intervened in the case, was brou

The publication of the Social Security Bill is a “landmark moment” for the Scottish Parliament, according to Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). Introduced to Parliament yesterday, the Social Security (Scotland) Bill will give the Scottish

Jeane Freeman Historic legislation to establish Scotland’s first social security system has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament.

Court of Session A disabled woman who converted a bedroom in her rented housing association property into a second living room so she could have a living space separate from her carers was still liable for the higher rate of the so-called ‘bedroom tax’, appeal judges have ruled.

Scotland’s affordable housing sector has called on the new UK Parliament to work cross party to address implementation issues with welfare reform. Prime Minister Theresa May announced that she will be seeking to form a minority government with support from the Democrat Unionist Party, after the Co

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.