NAWRA is proud to support Challenge Poverty Week in Scotland. The main aims of the week, which runs from 15-21 October 2017, are to: Highlight the reality of poverty and challenge the stereotypes that about exist about it; Demonstrate what is being done across Scotland to address poverty Increase public support for more action to solve poverty You can find out more by visiting the Poverty Alliance.
We have written to Damian Green MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to raise concerns about what we see as the DWPs failure to follow correct legal procedures on conversion of incapacity benefit claimants to employment and support allowance. The full text of our letter is reproduced below. “Our members have identified many former Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance claimants who have been migrated to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and only been awarded contributory ESA as the Department …
IB and ESA conversion – letter to Damian Green, MP Read more »
NAWRA has sent a formal response to the Work and Pensions Committee Universal credit update inquiry. Thank you to all the members who responded to our request for information – your help has been invaluable, as always. NAWRA has serious concerns about Universal Credit – in particular as the full service rolls out. We have called for a range of changes to be implemented if the full rollout is to have a chance of success. These include: Allowing alternative payment arrangements …
Our colleague, Dr David Webster (University of Glasgow) has alerted us to the little known fact that the National Audit Office (NAO) is currently carrying out a study of the DWP’s benefit sanctions regime. The terms of reference are at https://www.nao.org.uk/work-in-progress/benefit-sanctions/. The study will run until the autumn so there is time to send in relevant information and insights to the inquiry team. The audit manager is Colin Ross and his email address is Colin.ROSS@nao.gsi.gov.uk. There is also a contact …
NAWRA welcomes the recent announcement from the new Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, Stephen Crabb MP, to abandon further cuts to PIP. NAWRA hopes that his promises not to seek “alternative offsetting savings” in this Parliament will also be honoured. Let us not forget however that according to recent research by the Centre for Welfare Reform, vulnerable and disabled citizens have been the “number one target for cuts”. Indeed the present and former Governments have already presided over …
