Started the video diary thing, all for a good cause: my eternal shame 👇

"I'm not being funny" fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis Society Help Craig Berry raise money to support Multiple Sclerosis Society

If you thought this was funny, you're welcome. If you didn't, punish me by prolonging my humiliation: www.justgiving.com/page/not-bei...

Diary entry 1

Two of my worlds (snooker and local economic strategy) colliding www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Wrote about pension fund nationalism, collectivist pensions, triple lock, pensions tax relief for @bennettschool.cam.ac.uk 👇

🆕Government promised pension reforms to boost returns for savers & drive more long-term UK investment.
There are some encouraging signs—but to truly deliver, the agenda needs to be far more ambitious.
The Pensions Commission needs to think big, writes @craigpberry.bsky.social
Read: bit.ly/4uWd1NK

"I'm not being funny" fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis Society Help Craig Berry raise money to support Multiple Sclerosis Society

Thanks to everyone who has donated to my fundraiser for @mssocietyuk.bsky.social so far

On track to humiliate myself as a stand up comic in the near future!

If I reach £600 milestone this week, I'm going to upload some cringe video content to whet the appetite

www.justgiving.com/page/not-bei...

"I'm not being funny" fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis Society Help Craig Berry raise money to support Multiple Sclerosis Society

Thanks to everyone who has donated to my fundraiser for @mssocietyuk.bsky.social so far

On track to humiliate myself as a stand up comic in the near future!

If I reach £600 milestone this week, I'm going to upload some cringe video content to whet the appetite

www.justgiving.com/page/not-bei...

New gig news

New gig news

"I'm not being funny" fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis Society Help Craig Berry raise money to support Multiple Sclerosis Society

I'm raising money in aid of @mssocietyuk.bsky.social at the moment

In a moment of madness, I've promised to do some stand up comedy if I reach my £1,000 target

Trying not to think about that bit tbh!! But you can still help me get to £999 before it gets real

www.justgiving.com/page/not-bei...

Amazing. It was Aguero but if QPR also missed a penalty with last kick

"I'm not being funny" fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis Society Help Craig Berry raise money to support Multiple Sclerosis Society

I'm raising money in aid of @mssocietyuk.bsky.social at the moment

In a moment of madness, I've promised to do some stand up comedy if I reach my £1,000 target

Trying not to think about that bit tbh!! But you can still help me get to £999 before it gets real

www.justgiving.com/page/not-bei...

For future reference, this is what a Universal Credit review looks like 👇

Government proposals weaken rather than strengthen contributory unemployment benefits for disabled… The government’s proposals for a new contributory unemployment benefit — known as Unemployment Insurance — were almost overlooked when the…

This blog is so good it had an impact before it was even published - if reports are true that the government is postponing Unemployment Insurance
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/government-p...

But one thing is clear: yet another disability benefits cut would be a very shaky foundation for any apparent revival of contributory benefits. It is great that the government seems to have listened to this message, but tbc I guess

fwiw I think it is a shame - in fact a mistake - if Unemployment Insurance is permanently shelved. In my full report earlier this week I outline the value of contributory unemployment benefits, offer advice on how to design the new benefit www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

Government proposals weaken rather than strengthen contributory unemployment benefits for disabled… The government’s proposals for a new contributory unemployment benefit — known as Unemployment Insurance — were almost overlooked when the…

This blog is so good it had an impact before it was even published - if reports are true that the government is postponing Unemployment Insurance
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/government-p...

Disabled people could face benefit cuts – even if they cannot work

Long-term claimants of employment and support allowance could be moved over to a new, time-limited disability benefit – equating to cuts.

Unemployment Insurance is a new benefit merging new style JSA and ESA. Much to commend eg higher payments compared to JSA.

But for disabled people, this could end long-term support without even offering the same short-term gain. While other disability benefits are cut too.

Not a great start!

I agree. Telling this family that the benefits system will no longer support you (or not to same extent) if one member develops a debilitating/long term condition is hardly the best start to reviving the contributory principle

Disabled people are routinely shut out of employment. My brilliant colleagues @beccastacey.bsky.social and @victoria-anns.bsky.social draw on the experience of the people we support to chart a way forward 👇

The government is planning to merge two benefits to create 'unemployment insurance'.

But this would end indefinite awards currently paid to many disabled people claiming new style ESA, making them time-limited instead.

Great report from Craig breaking down the key issues
👇

Unemployment Insurance is a chance to get contributory unemployment benefits right. And there is much to commend in government proposals. But here is what we think they need to do:

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

Worse, some won’t get UC at all, because they have a small amount of savings (with the limits not uprated for TWO DECADES). It's not unreasonable for someone in later life with a strong employment record to have built up some savings before becoming unwell

Chart on combined UI/nsESA and UC income across various benefit design scenarios https://assets.ctfassets.net/mfz4nbgura3g/7wu3LoA0AQwqvYQVfCiuQd/fb1919402e1775afa23d00cdd8d92e8c/Unemployment_Insurance_report_final_090126__1_.pdf

Some will be able to fall back on UC. But is this really what we want for people who worked and paid National Insurance when they were well enough to do so?

Some have no prospect of ever returning to work. Many will have degenerative and incurable conditions

Many claimants in these circumstances are already in hardship, despite long term awards. 12% who come to see us about contributory ESA need charitable support, ie food banks. Debt clients on both cont.ESA and UC have an av monthly deficit of £133 - long way from being able to afford daily essentials

There are reasonable concerns about the current system being used as an early retirement benefit. But this is a structural problem - resulting from failures to improve health and accessible workplaces for older, disabled people - that cannot simply be wished away

Now, those unable to work have long-term awards consistent with their health problems, whereas in future they will receive UI for only 6 or 12 months