Great blog from Niamh on why the Timms Review must address the ongoing delays to PIP decisions 👇

Great report from Victoria and @beccastacey.bsky.social on how Access to Work could support disabled people in the workplace better

Great blog by Maddy showing the key things the Timms review should be considering as they review PIP 👇

Front cover of report available at https://assets.ctfassets.net/mfz4nbgura3g/7wu3LoA0AQwqvYQVfCiuQd/fb1919402e1775afa23d00cdd8d92e8c/Unemployment_Insurance_report_final_090126__1_.pdf

The government wants to enhance contributory unemployment benefits - we’re good with that

Contribution-based benefits can help the legitimacy of the welfare state. There is a catch though…

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

The government is keen for more disabled people to move into work, but what happens to those who do work? Becca and Victoria's brilliant report looks at the challenges many disabled people face when moving into and staying in work 👇

The government must cancel plans to cut disability benefits for young people This blog has been co-written by Maddy Rose, Senior Policy Researcher, and Victoria Anns, Policy Researcher.

📢Young disabled people could face benefit cuts of more than £420 a month if government plans go ahead.

Young people deserve real support - not cuts that could push them into poverty.

New blog from me & @victoria-anns.bsky.social: medium.com/p/62015a6f0b12

The absolute bloody vandalism of austerity in one chart. Good analysis of the overall picture here.

Agreed, pushing people towards work is inappropriate for so many people. A case worker could help people access health and wellbeing support. It should also be entirely optional so that people don't have to take part if it's not right for them

Excellent thread on what should guide any Jobcentre engagement with disabled claimants (many of these principles should be standard across the whole UC system - not just for those currently exempt from conditionality).

For more on the barriers to work that disabled people face, see this brilliant paper by @beccastacey.bsky.social www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

The Pathways to Work green paper does little to address the lack of accessible work and training opportunities or the lack of trust in DWP, among other challenges. For truly effective support, govt will need to tackle the systemic issues that make work inaccessible for many disabled people

I propose five principles for the support conversation: 1) Make the conversation voluntary. 2) Be empathetic and supportive. 3) Offer flexible and tailored support. 4) Look beyond work, at health and wellbeing. 5) Offer ongoing support to those who want it, not a ‘one-off’ conversation

This paper builds on my previous work proposing a case worker model for Jobcentres. Case workers would be claimants’ main point of contact and refer them for specialist support, as well as ongoing pastoral and practical support bsky.app/profile/kslh...

The ‘support conversation’ is meant to help disabled people move into work, but the govt offers little detail on how this will be done. My paper argues that using a case worker approach would offer a consistent, trust-based relationship and allow more holistic support beyond employment support

DWP plans to introduce a ‘support conversation’ for disabled claimants who don’t currently meet a work coach. My new paper explores how this conversation can be done effectively and avoid causing harm 🧵
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

Chart from https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publications/benefit-cuts-dont-have-widespread-support/ showing that the majority of people do not support planned or expected social security cuts in the UK

📢 Benefit cuts don’t have widespread support

DWP plans will see more than 50,000 disabled people lose job support DWP plans mean large numbers of disabled people will no longer qualify for a work allowance to support people looking for employment.

Many thanks to @cjayanetti.bsky.social for their write-up of this piece in the @bigissue.com tinyurl.com/2rvs3n4t

Are out-of-work benefit claims at a record high? The official statistics are wildly misleading - I've now made some new estimates that show just how wrong they are

Are out-of-work benefit claims at a record high? My new post open.substack.com/pub/inequali... , and also my take on More or Less this morning at www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

The cuts to UC health will create an unacceptable two-tier system, disadvantaging future claimants. Read more about this in Victoria's new report 👇

Come and join the best team going to do impactful work on welfare policy. This is a great opportunity to learn and develop research and influencing skills in a friendly and supportive organisation.

Brilliant new briefing from Sarah and Julia offering some possible solutions to the fact that UC's monthly assessment periods just don't work for many claimants 👇

Great report from Jagna showing that UC incentives to work are often misguided and overly complex. Instead what we need is more investment in supporting people to find and stay in suitable work 👇

Brilliant in-depth report from Ed and Emily looking at health inequalities and work. Well worth a read!

The changes to the disability cuts bill don't go back enough - cutting UC Health would cause untold damage. Victoria's blog explains why we're calling on MPs to vote against it once again 👇

Anti poverty organisations all unanimously urging MPs to vote against the UCPIP Bill this afternoon, and calling on the government to carry out proper reviews and consultation before legislating.

This is too important to vote through on an act of faith.

www.ucpipbill.co.uk/wp-content/u...

Image of the Houses of Parliament

A long thread on why the concessions in and around the UCPIP Bill (ie the disability benefits cuts) are illusory, disingenuous and potentially makes things worse 🧵

There are 5 big myths to bust -fifth is the most difficult to untangle, but the most significant in my view, so please do bear with 🙂

After all the rumours we now know what's in the amendment. From November next year, new claimants who need help to cut up food, dress, wash, or use the toilet would be denied the lifeline that PIP provides. For young disabled people and people who become disabled in the future, it is utterly bleak

I think everyone would agree that eligibility to disability benefits should be decided based on need.

The government's concessions further erode this principle.

The 4 point rule is arbitrary. Restricting UC health based on age is unfair. And creating a 2-tiered dis ben system is unjustifiable.

Changes to UCPIP bill are result of campaigners & disabled people speaking out about the profound harm the govt was about to inflict.

However, the bill remains illogical & inherently unfair.

The govt should pause & come back with meaningful reform if serious about “fixing the foundations”.

It's now more important than ever to write to your MP and tell them that the only acceptable outcome is for ALL of the cuts to be stopped