Universal Credit increased reliance on food-banks, minister admits
Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd is facing calls to halt the roll-out of Universal Credit, after admitting that its introduction had increased reliance on food banks.
universal credit
Food bank use has increased due to universal credit roll-out, admits Amber Rudd
Food bank use has increased due to the universal credit roll-out, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd has admitted.
Alistair Carmichael concerned about impact of slow internet on Northern Isles benefit claimants
Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael has challenged the UK Government about the increasing amount of online form-filling required to claim Universal Credit.
Universal Credit making veterans feel suicidal, Scottish minister claims
Veterans are being left suicidal by problems caused by Universal Credit, a Scottish Government minister has said.
Rudd urged to take immediate steps after mothers win Universal Credit case
Amber Rudd has been urged to take “immediate steps” over the way the controversial Universal Credit is calculated following a High Court victory for four working single mothers.
Universal Credit: why has it proved so controversial?
Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd has announced further changes to the Government’s controversial Universal Credit scheme.
Rudd urged to build on ‘compassionate’ reforms to Universal Credit system
Amber Rudd has been urged to take further steps to help people on Universal Credit after unveiling reforms of a system she said was not as “effective” or “compassionate” as she wanted.
Reforms will make Universal Credit more compassionate and individual – Rudd
Amber Rudd has announced a set of reforms to the Government’s new Universal Credit, saying that the system she inherited was not as “effective” or “compassionate” as she wanted.
Rudd floats benefit freeze end as she rows back from Universal Credit child cap
Amber Rudd has signalled that a benefit freeze introduced in 2016 will not be renewed when it comes to an end next year.
Halt universal credit roll-out to save people from poverty: Nicola Sturgeon
The UK Government must completely halt the roll-out of universal credit to prevent it from driving people into poverty, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Rudd rethinks roll-out of controversial Universal Credit reform
The next phase of the Universal Credit programme (UC) will be overhauled following widespread criticism of the extension of the flagship welfare reform.
Universal Credit reform could be disastrous for disabled people, MPs warn
Universal Credit could have potentially “disastrous” consequences for disabled people, a cross-party group of MPs has warned.
Bitter debate on Universal Credit at final council meeting of the year
A bitter debate on controversial welfare changes was heard at the city council’s final full meeting of the year.
Labour defends Corbyn after he sidesteps Brexit chaos to focus on benefits
Labour has defended Jeremy Corbyn’s decision not to use Prime Minister’s Questions to grill Theresa May on Brexit and the fallout from Tuesday night’s votes.
Tory fury as Corbyn accuses them of labelling disabled people ‘scroungers’
Jeremy Corbyn triggered fury on the Tory benches as he accused them of labelling disabled people “scroungers” and creating a “hostile environment” for people on benefits.
Moray food bank experiencing one of their busiest ever years
A Moray food bank has been forced to close one of its bases - to pool its resources to meet growing demand.
Benefits changes ‘pushing Aberdonians to the point of despair’
Council house tenants are being pushed further into debt “to the point of despair” by changes to their benefits, according to a leading charity.
Food bank use in Moray on the rise as Tory cuts are blamed
Food bank use in Moray has risen by almost 20% in the last year with the UK government’s welfare cuts to blame, according to a local MSP.
Record-breaking rise in people queuing up for emergency supplies at Aberdeen foodbank
An Aberdeen food bank is urgently appealing for donations following a record-breaking rise in people queuing up for emergency supplies.
Amputee fears becoming hospital bed-blocker over benefits blunders
A motorcyclist who lost his leg and almost died in a horrific crash was told he was “not ill enough” to warrant a hospital visit to set up the benefits payments needed for him to return home.
10% of people on Highland Council’s housing list have no roof over their head as the north’s homeless crisis escalates
The number of homeless people seeking council housing in the Highlands has risen to an “alarming” 690 - at a time the authority is facing a multi-million-pound “crisis” over rent arrears because of Universal Credit.
Universal Credit blamed for ‘startling’ rise in people seeking advice on rent arrears
The roll-out of Universal Credit has contributed to a “startling” rise in the number of people seeking advice about rent arrears, according to new figures.
Shock figures show reliance on foodbanks in Aberdeen
Oil rich Aberdeen is now home to 20 foodbanks, outnumbering other Scottish cities, shock figures have revealed.
Minister under fire for ‘insensitive’ visit to north-east job centre
Pensions minister Guy Opperman has been branded “insensitive” for praising the controversial Universal Credit system at a job centre in Banff yesterday.
Eviction threats after housing agency policy change
Residents on housing benefits have been left ‘hanging’ after an agency changed its policy and threatened tenants in the north east with possible eviction.
MP backs campaign calling for ‘overhaul’ of universal credit
Highland MP Drew Hendry has backed a new campaign calling for a radical overhaul of the Universal Credit system and protect people from the threat of eviction.
Issues likely to arise with digital benefits system for north-east residents
North-east residents may need additional help if they are to successfully claim universal credit due to it being exclusively online, a local charity has warned.
Hendry: Damning report on universal credit vindicates my campaign
Highland MP Drew Hendry has said a damning report on universal credit has vindicated his years of warnings about its introduction.
Benefit delays forcing freed Scottish prisoners to use food banks
Released prisoners are “routinely” taken to food banks to help them cope with benefit delays, ministers have been told.
Scottish Government could be hit with £1m charge to improve welfare payments
The Scottish Government could be hit with a £1 million bill for making it easier for claimants to budget with Universal Credit welfare payments.
Foodbank use in north of Scotland up by a quarter in one year
The north of Scotland’s most vulnerable residents have been forced to turn to foodbanks in record numbers over the past twelve months.
Welfare U-turn on housing benefit for 18-21 year olds
Young people needing housing benefit will get automatic entitlement after a major UK Government policy U-turn on Universal Credit.