Welfare

Almost half of low income households in the UK are not claiming the welfare benefits and tax credits they could be entitled to, according to new research. National charity Turn2us has found that of the 48 per cent of low income households missing out on assistance, 87 per cent have seen no improveme

Adam Lang By Adam Lang, head of communications and policy at Shelter Scotland

Universal Credit has “serious design flaws” and has “veered off track” because of cost-cutting, according to think tank the Resolution Foundation.

Nicola Sturgeon The SNP has unveiled plans for 50,000 new affordable homes, a Warm Homes Bill to help tackle fuel poverty and a social security system based on dignity and respect should it win the upcoming Holyrood election.

Willie Rennie The Scottish Liberal Democrats have set out plans to increase in housing supply by expanding the Housing Fund for Scotland model and tackle youth homelessness through mediation.

Stephen Crabb New work and pensions secretary Stephen Crabb has said there will be no further planned cuts to welfare after the UK government abandoned its changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

Iain Duncan Smith The Scottish National Party is calling on David Cameron to “immediately and completely” scrap cuts to disability benefit announced in Wednesday’s budget following the resignation of Iain Duncan Smith.

The Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform (SCoWR) has written to political candidates across Scotland to ask them to commit to using new powers to create a fairer social security system. Set up in 2006 to highlight the concerns of a diverse coalition of organisations in Scotland about the UK governmen

The Scottish Government should have a single department responsible for both new tax and welfare powers due to be devolved, according to Reform Scotland. With welfare expenditure currently divided between two departments, HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Reform Scotland believes

Justine Tomlinson Tenants of supported accommodation will not be subject to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) cap on housing benefit until April 2017 after the UK government introduced a year-long exception.

Alex Neil A new delivery agency will be set up to administer social security payments worth £2.7 billion when they are devolved to Scotland, social justice secretary Alex Neil announced today.

Members of The Highland Council’s resources committee have welcomed the considerable involvement and work carried out by council staff on issues relating to welfare reform and have agreed to support the potential role of local authorities as financial assessment delivery partners for Scotland’s

David Orr Housing associations in England have delayed or cancelled plans to build new sheltered accommodation units due to proposed cuts to housing benefit.

Nicola Sturgeon Nicola Sturgeon has called on the UK government to “immediately” announce an exemption for women's refuges and other types of supported accommodation.

Alex Neil Social justice secretary Alex Neil has called for “urgent clarification” from the UK government around the proposal to restrict housing benefit for tenants in supported and women’s aid refuge accommodation.