Our Chair, Alan Markey (Coventry Independent Advice Service) has written NAWRA’s annual report 2021-22. Read it to find out more about our successful year of online conferences, consultation responses and plans for the future.
NAWRA members will meet on Zoom on 3 March 2022 (1.00pm-4.30pm) and 4 March 2022 (9.30am-1.00pm)
We will be hearing from a wide variety of welfare rights practitioners and academics. Dr Michael Orton (Warwick University) will lead a participatory session on the work of the Commission for Social Security and Fran Bennett (Oxford University) will present her recent paper on the policy challenges posed by the design of Universal Credit.
There will also be informative and useful sessions on Mind’s strategic litigation work, building and maintaining networks, and updater sessions on all the recent changes to the benefits system.
This meeting will also serve as NAWRA’s AGM and there will be an opportunity to hear more about our equality and diversity working group.
Join us on the evening of 3 March for an online social event and quiz.
NAWRA conferences are free to attend but open to members only.
Please check your email for information on booking a place.
NAWRA conferences are open to members only. Not a member? Find out more about joining
On 26 January 2022 the DWP announced that Citizens Advice in partnership with Citizens Advice Scotland will deliver the universal credit Help to Claim service from April 2022.
While under the current contract face to face support is available, the new contract is limited to just telephony and digital channels.
NAWRA believes that this is completely inappropriate for vulnerable people who are seeking help because they struggle with those channels.
NAWRA is also concerned at the Minister’s comment that those who are unable to access support via these channels will be sent to their local jobcentre where the staff ‘will identify the right support to meet their needs’.
Jobcentre staff are not qualified to give independent advice on whether or not to claim – advice that is particularly important as the government ramps up its ‘voluntary Move to UC’ campaign. It is essential that funding is provided so that independent advice is available to everyone who needs it.
NAWRA has therefore written to the Secretary of State – copied to the Work and Pensions Committee – to express our serious concerns about this development.
Would you like to join the NAWRA committee?
The NAWRA committee directs the policy and general management of the affairs of NAWRA. It consists of representatives from each of the English regions plus two from Wales, two from Scotland, one from Northern Ireland and one nominated by CPAG. The committee meets at least four times a year on Zoom.
The representatives of the English regions and Wales must be elected every two years at our AGM. Our conference online on 3 and 4 March 2022 acts as our AGM this year.
If you’re interested in joining the committee then you can read more about the role and complete the nomination form. The closing date for nominations is 11 Feb 2022.
NAWRA has submitted a response to the Scottish Government’s consultation on Adult Disability Payment regulations.
