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Sat, 9 December 2023

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Articles tagged with: universal credit
Forcing unready people into ill-suited work is not the answer
Economy
By Stephen Timms MP
Forcing unready people into ill-suited work is not the answer
The Chancellor made a lot of strengthening the sanctions regime in his statement. His focus on sanctions took away from several welcome changes.
New Universal Credit Sanctions Could Include Losing Free NHS Prescriptions And Dental Care
Economy
By Chaminda Jayanetti
New Universal Credit Sanctions Could Include Losing Free NHS Prescriptions And Dental Care
Exclusive: Jeremy Hunt’s plans to toughen the rules around sanctions for Universal Credit claimants may lead to people losing their free NHS prescriptions and dental care, PoliticsHome can reveal.
Benefit Claimants Say Sanctions Make It Harder To Find Work
Social affairs
Benefit Claimants Say Sanctions Make It Harder To Find Work
Exclusive: New research has found that the majority of people required to attend job centres to access benefits believe being hit with sanctions when they don't attend undermines their ability to find a good job.
Government Warned Benefit Sanctions Could Be 'Costly' For Productivity
Economy
Government Warned Benefit Sanctions Could Be "Costly" For Productivity
A leading benefits expert has warned the government’s policy of benefit sanctions will be “costly” for productivity – with warnings it will make “very little difference” for economic inactivity.
Scrap upfront childcare fees for families on the lowest incomes – it’s the poverty premium in action
Education
By Becca Lyon
Scrap upfront childcare fees for families on the lowest incomes – it’s the poverty premium in action
After housing costs, childcare is the biggest single expense facing parents with young children. In some cases, it costs even more than their mortgage or rent. Like thousands of parents in England with pre-school age children, as I rush out the door, packed lunches, coats, and toys in hand, I think to myself: there’s got to be a better system than this.
Labour Calls For Regional Job Support To Tackle Economic Inactivity
Political parties
Labour Calls For Regional Job Support To Tackle Economic Inactivity
Labour has called for a more dynamic approach to tackling the UK’s economic inactivity issues by tailoring employment support at a local level and expanding the accessibility of Job Centre support.
The Jonathan Ashworth interview: “We're going to shift power and resources out of Whitehall”
Economy
By Tali Fraser
The Jonathan Ashworth interview: “We're going to shift power and resources out of Whitehall”
Following his keynote speech setting out Labour’s plans for jobs and welfare, Jonathan Ashworth tells Tali Fraser about linking together health and employment services, his childhood experience of benefits and his determination to not become addicted to work.

Photography by Louise Haywood-Schiefer
Reforming childcare support through universal credit changes should be a priority for the government in 2023
Communities
By Stephen Timms and Siobhan Baillie
Reforming childcare support through universal credit changes should be a priority for the government in 2023
Global pressures and our post-pandemic world mean we have experienced one of the most financially tough years in recent memory. We must hope that Christmas can provide at least a small amount of respite and family time for parents who work so hard to provide for their children.
Rishi Sunak’s Honeymoon Period Could Be Very Short-Lived
Political parties
Rishi Sunak’s Honeymoon Period Could Be Very Short-Lived
Hours after Rishi Sunak was announced as the UK’s 57th prime minister on Monday, one Conservative MP walked into Strangers, the bar frequented by MPs on the parliamentary estate, and said “thank fuck for that”.
Top Tory Says Benefits Freeze 'Doesn't Make Any Sense' As Liz Truss Faces Further Rebellion
Political parties
Top Tory Says Benefits Freeze "Doesn't Make Any Sense" As Liz Truss Faces Further Rebellion
Dissent is mounting among senior Conservative MPs over Liz Truss's refusal to confirm whether Universal Credit will rise in line with inflation, raising the prospect of further rebellion in the party.
Committee Corner – Work and Pensions Committee chair Stephen Timms on his in-tray
Communities
By Stephen Timms MP
Committee Corner – Work and Pensions Committee chair Stephen Timms on his in-tray
Amid a cost of living crisis and stretched public services, the next 12 months will be busy for Parliament’s select committees. Labour chairs set out their priorities – next up, Stephen Timms
Boosting benefits is the right way to tackle the cost of living crisis
Economy
By Stephen Crabb MP
Boosting benefits is the right way to tackle the cost of living crisis
Help is coming. That is the clear message from both Conservative leadership camps as families across the country brace themselves for unprecedented increases in energy prices.
Benefit Delays For Ukrainian Refugees Leave British Families Turning To Crowdfunding
Foreign affairs
Benefit Delays For Ukrainian Refugees Leave British Families Turning To Crowdfunding
A Labour MP has branded delays "unacceptable and dangerous" after the wait for benefits payments to Ukrainian refugees has put financial strain on families.
With costs rising, Rishi Sunak should be doing more to help people reliant on benefits
Economy
By Iain Duncan Smith MP
With costs rising, Rishi Sunak should be doing more to help people reliant on benefits
On 1 April the Ofgem price cap soared by 54 per cent, costing the average household an eye-watering extra £693 in energy bills this year.
Rishi Sunak cares more about political posturing than good policymaking
Economy
By Ryan Shorthouse
Rishi Sunak cares more about political posturing than good policymaking
This really is the confused Chancellor.
Amid a cost-of-living crisis, Rishi Sunak should have done more to help the most vulnerable
Economy
By Peter Aldous MP
Amid a cost-of-living crisis, Rishi Sunak should have done more to help the most vulnerable
Amidst a worsening cost-of-living crisis, this week’s Spring Statement represented an opportunity for the Chancellor to get ahead of the curve in supporting people through the very challenging months ahead of us.
WATCH: Upfront childcare payments are forcing mothers out of work, parents warn MPs Partner content
Economy
By Save the Children
WATCH: Upfront childcare payments are forcing mothers out of work, parents warn MPs
Three working mums warned MPs this week that having to cover upfront childcare payments when receiving Universal Credit is shutting parents, and especially mums, out of the workforce.
The Green Party has a plan to tackle the cost-of-living crisis now
Economy
By Adrian Ramsay
The Green Party has a plan to tackle the cost-of-living crisis now
Today marks 100 days since Carla and I gave our first speech to Green Party conference as co-leaders.
No child should be denied life opportunities because they live in poverty
Social affairs
By Wes Streeting MP
No child should be denied life opportunities because they live in poverty
This winter is going to be hard for a lot of families. We are facing a cost-of-living crisis, following the Conservative government’s triple whammy of a £1,000 a year cut in Universal Credit, higher taxes on working people, and energy bills allowed to go through the roof. Many are worried about how they will afford to celebrate Christmas this year.
Partner content
Coronavirus
By Policy@Manchester
The economic impact of COVID-19 on ethnic minorities in Manchester
Rishi Sunak Announces 8% Cut To The Universal Credit Taper Rate
Economy
Rishi Sunak Announces 8% Cut To The Universal Credit Taper Rate
Rishi Sunak has confirmed that he will cut the Universal Credit taper rate by 8% in time for the new year, meaning people receiving in-work benefits will be able to keep more of their earnings.
Urgent action is required to prevent avoidable deaths as millions more face fuel poverty this winter
Economy
By Baroness McIntosh
Urgent action is required to prevent avoidable deaths as millions more face fuel poverty this winter
It is a matter of great concern that against the background of rising inflation, the end of furlough and cut to Universal Credit that the price cap might end in April 2022.
Keir Starmer Accuses Boris Johnson Of 'Turning On The Poorest' Over Universal Credit Cut
Social affairs
Keir Starmer Accuses Boris Johnson Of 'Turning On The Poorest' Over Universal Credit Cut
Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of “turning on the poorest” after the Prime Minister removed the temporary £20 universal credit uplift this week.
Out of work families can not afford the cut to Universal Credit
Economy
By Stephen Timms MP
Out of work families can not afford the cut to Universal Credit
The cut will reduce real terms support for an out of work family to the lowest level since Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister.