Category: Campaigns

By Posted on Posted in Campaigns, PIP, Welfare Reform

NAWRA has submitted a detailed response to the recent consultation on ‘Improving Disability Assistance in Scotland’. In time Disability Assistance will replace Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance as per devolved powers covered in Section 31 of Social Security Act (Scotland) 2018. The points covered in our submission include: It is welcomed from Scottish Government that Disability Assistance will be paid to aged 18 but we would extend this further for children and extend to aged 19 …

Improving Disability Assistance in Scotland Read more »

By Posted on Posted in Campaigns, Discrimination

The Equality and Diversity Forum have launched an online handbook to help advisers, and advice services more widely, to identify and challenge potential discrimination within the benefits system. The handbook includes a range of tools and practical help to make it easier for advisers to recognise discrimination issues and to help services to build equality rights into advice delivery.  It is an essential resource for everyone working in welfare rights. Currently in beta form, the handbook can be accessed and …

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By Posted on Posted in Campaigns, Universal Credit, Welfare Reform

The Equality and Human RIghts Commission have published their final  cumulative report on the impact of government Welfare Reforms.  The report suggests that children will be hit hardest with an extra 1.5 million being pushed into poverty. In addition, the report finds that the child poverty rate for those in lone parent households will increase from 37% to over 62% and households with three or more children will see losses of around £5,600.  They also identify significant and disproportionate impacts …

Impact of welfare reform Read more »

By Posted on Posted in Campaigns

NAWRA is a member of the Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform (SCoWR). Ahead of further Stage 2 consideration of amendments to the Social Security (Scotland) Bill on 22 February 2018, SCoWR produced a further briefing note for MSPs. This note focuses on amendments in Part 2, Chapter 2 onwards.  

By Posted on Posted in Campaigns, Universal Credit

NAWRA member, Richard Machin from Staffordshire University, has written an excellent piece for online journal ‘The Conversation’ entitled “A welfare adviser’s view on Universal Credit: a flawed system that emphasises process over people.” Richard highlights myriad problems with the rollout of Universal Credit and highlights NAWRAs position on implict consent.  Richard concludes his article by saying: Benefit advisers have long called for changes to the benefit system to make it easier to understand and access for claimants. The whole point of …

Universal Credit: A flawed system Read more »