The Cancer Sanction ? This is?disgusting! Just been made aware that the DWP have sanctioned someone for missing a JSA appointment due to having treatment for cancer! A letter from a desperate mother: Trish Lewis Walton My son was diagnosed with testicular cancer on 28th nov so he couldn?t go for an jobseekers appointment on 4th dec.… Read More
Keeping it Hush? Keeping Hush? We find it interesting that the DWP have not widely publicised the existence of additional help that people making new claims may be entitled to. Before the recent welfare reforms came into effect on 1/4/13 that saw the end of Crisis Loans, customers who were waiting for a new claim to benefits to… Read More
Welfare reform-Armed Forces How Does this effect you? From 8 April we will start to make the first Armed Forces Independence Payments to eligible service and ex-service personnel. Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP) has been designed to provide financial support to service personnel and veterans seriously injured as a result of service, to cover the extra costs they… Read More
What Is Social Fund Reform What is Social Fund Reform and when does it happen? Social Fund Reform addresses the need to simplify processes and ensure that the right support is targeted at those in genuine need, as part of the wider Welfare Reform agenda. The main change is that the discretionary Social Fund (Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants)… Read More
Universal Credit Press release 300,000 families better off under new benefit system The next step in the government?s radical welfare reform programme will begin early, in parts of Greater Manchester and Cheshire, from April. The newly unemployed will be the first to claim Universal Credit, which replaces a number of means tested benefits including Jobseeker?s Allowance, Income Support, Employment… Read More
Universal credit Goes Live As part of the welfare reform including the changes to Budgeting Loans and Crisis loans a new benefit has been lanched aimed at replacing many o fthe existing benefits and tax credits system. The Unversal Credit was launched at the begining af April 2013 in two pilot arears, these areas include Manchester and Chelsea. The… Read More