Amazing work from Julia and colleagues showing how inadequate Local Housing Allowance is pushing people into rent arrears and food poverty 👇

@julia-rt.bsky.social · 4w ago

Frozen housing costs support is putting unsustainable pressure on renters' budgets: 48% of private renters getting UC across the UK have cut back on essentials in the last 6 months The no. of private renters we helped w/ housing benefit, who were also referred to foodbanks is up 79% since 21/22

Excellent new report from Ed showing the harm that poor housing can do and what needs to change 👇

Ed Pemberton@epemberton.bsky.social · 3mo ago

Today, alongside the @healthfoundation.bsky.social , we’ve published a major report looking at the link between poor health and housing. Too many people in the UK live in homes that are making them sick and it’s worsening health inequalities. www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

Great blog from Niamh on why the Timms Review must address the ongoing delays to PIP decisions 👇

Niamh Redgate@niamhredgate.bsky.social · 4mo ago

More than 710,000 disabled people are waiting for PIP decisions, with new claim wait times now at 20 weeks. These delays can push people into poverty and worsen health conditions. My new blog breaks down the backlog and why the Timms Review must not lose sight of delays and the harm they cause.

Great report from Victoria and @beccastacey.bsky.social on how Access to Work could support disabled people in the workplace better

Victoria Lee (née Anns)@victoria-j-lee.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Access to Work isn’t meeting its BIG potential! 🧵 New report out now: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

Great blog by Maddy showing the key things the Timms review should be considering as they review PIP 👇

Maddy Rose@maddyirose.bsky.social · 5mo ago

@citizensadvice.bsky.social helps 900 people a day with issues relating to the disability benefit PIP. That's a sign that the system isn't working as it should. The Timms review of PIP could be a chance to change that. We asked our advisers what it needs to get right: medium.com/p/5a3f881a08ee

The government wants to enhance contributory unemployment benefits - we’re good with that Contribution-based benefits can help the legitimacy of the welfare state. There is a catch though… www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

The government is keen for more disabled people to move into work, but what happens to those who do work? Becca and Victoria's brilliant report looks at the challenges many disabled people face when moving into and staying in work 👇

Becca Stacey@beccastacey.bsky.social · 7mo ago

The Equality Act should protect disabled people at work But @citizensadvice.bsky.social supported 5,393 people with health-related job discrimination in 2025 - roughly one every 1.5 hours Mine and @victoria-anns.bsky.social's new report digs into the barriers our disabled clients face at work /1

📢Young disabled people could face benefit cuts of more than £420 a month if government plans go ahead. Young people deserve real support - not cuts that could push them into poverty. New blog from me & @victoria-anns.bsky.social: medium.com/p/62015a6f0b12

The government must cancel plans to cut disability benefits for young people

This blog has been co-written by Maddy Rose, Senior Policy Researcher, and Victoria Anns, Policy Researcher.

medium.com

The absolute bloody vandalism of austerity in one chart. Good analysis of the overall picture here.

Nick Davies@njdavies.bsky.social · 10mo ago

NEW: @instituteforgovernment.org.uk have published pt1 of Public Services Performance Tracker 2025 covering local government finances and overall performance, adult social care, children's social care and homelessness Incredible work by @stuarthoddinott.bsky.social & @amberdellar.bsky.social

Excellent thread on what should guide any Jobcentre engagement with disabled claimants (many of these principles should be standard across the whole UC system - not just for those currently exempt from conditionality).

Kate Harrison@kslharrison.bsky.social · 10mo ago

DWP plans to introduce a ‘support conversation’ for disabled claimants who don’t currently meet a work coach. My new paper explores how this conversation can be done effectively and avoid causing harm 🧵 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

DWP plans to introduce a ‘support conversation’ for disabled claimants who don’t currently meet a work coach. My new paper explores how this conversation can be done effectively and avoid causing harm 🧵 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

📢 Benefit cuts don’t have widespread support

Many thanks to @cjayanetti.bsky.social for their write-up of this piece in the @bigissue.com tinyurl.com/2rvs3n4t

DWP plans will see more than 50,000 disabled people lose job support

DWP plans mean large numbers of disabled people will no longer qualify for a work allowance to support people looking for employment.

tinyurl.com

Are out-of-work benefit claims at a record high? My new post open.substack.com/pub/inequali... , and also my take on More or Less this morning at www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Are out-of-work benefit claims at a record high?

The official statistics are wildly misleading - I've now made some new estimates that show just how wrong they are

open.substack.com

The cuts to UC health will create an unacceptable two-tier system, disadvantaging future claimants. Read more about this in Victoria's new report 👇

Victoria Lee (née Anns)@victoria-j-lee.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Cuts to disability benefits weren’t totally averted! 🚨New report out today explaining why the Universal Credit Bill will harm disabled people and exploring who will be impacted by the cuts. www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

Come and join the best team going to do impactful work on welfare policy. This is a great opportunity to learn and develop research and influencing skills in a friendly and supportive organisation.

Craig Berry@craigpberry.bsky.social · 12mo ago

My team at @citizensadvice.bsky.social is recruiting for a Policy Research Assistant. Come and join us! www.jobtrain.co.uk/citizensadvi...

Brilliant new briefing from Sarah and Julia offering some possible solutions to the fact that UC's monthly assessment periods just don't work for many claimants 👇

Sarah Hadfield@drsarahhadfield.bsky.social · 12mo ago

New @citizensadvice.bsky.social briefing published with @julia-rt.bsky.social‬ on how Universal Credit can adapt to promote income stability for working households. We set out policy options for the UC review to consider to reflect the reality of low paid employment.

Great report from Jagna showing that UC incentives to work are often misguided and overly complex. Instead what we need is more investment in supporting people to find and stay in suitable work 👇

Jagna Olejniczak@jagnaolejniczak.bsky.social · last yr.

The narrative around Universal Credit has long centred around work incentives. This new briefing examines how effective UC is at encouraging employment – and how that focus may have overshadowed the deeper complexities of getting into work. 🧵 🔗 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

Brilliant in-depth report from Ed and Emily looking at health inequalities and work. Well worth a read!

Ed Pemberton@epemberton.bsky.social · last yr.

1) New report alert 📚! Written by@dremilylynn.bsky.social and myself, it looks at the relationship between health and work. It is the first report from our wider project on health inequalities, funded by @healthfoundation.bsky.social‬. 🔗 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

The changes to the disability cuts bill don't go back enough - cutting UC Health would cause untold damage. Victoria's blog explains why we're calling on MPs to vote against it once again 👇

Victoria Lee (née Anns)@victoria-j-lee.bsky.social · last yr.

We're still asking MPs to vote against the disability cuts bill tomorrow. New blog explaining why is out now: wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/3-reasons-wh...

Anti poverty organisations all unanimously urging MPs to vote against the UCPIP Bill this afternoon, and calling on the government to carry out proper reviews and consultation before legislating. This is too important to vote through on an act of faith. www.ucpipbill.co.uk/wp-content/u...

A long thread on why the concessions in and around the UCPIP Bill (ie the disability benefits cuts) are illusory, disingenuous and potentially makes things worse 🧵 There are 5 big myths to bust -fifth is the most difficult to untangle, but the most significant in my view, so please do bear with 🙂

After all the rumours we now know what's in the amendment. From November next year, new claimants who need help to cut up food, dress, wash, or use the toilet would be denied the lifeline that PIP provides. For young disabled people and people who become disabled in the future, it is utterly bleak

I think everyone would agree that eligibility to disability benefits should be decided based on need. The government's concessions further erode this principle. The 4 point rule is arbitrary. Restricting UC health based on age is unfair. And creating a 2-tiered dis ben system is unjustifiable.

Laura Hutchinson 🌸@lauralhutch.bsky.social · last yr.

Changes to UCPIP bill are result of campaigners & disabled people speaking out about the profound harm the govt was about to inflict. However, the bill remains illogical & inherently unfair. The govt should pause & come back with meaningful reform if serious about “fixing the foundations”.

Changes to UCPIP bill are result of campaigners & disabled people speaking out about the profound harm the govt was about to inflict. However, the bill remains illogical & inherently unfair. The govt should pause & come back with meaningful reform if serious about “fixing the foundations”.

The government's concessions on disability benefits cuts are a good start but do nothing to help those who will need disability benefits in the future. Anyone can become disabled at any time and future claimants are no less deserving of support than existing claimants

But, if the disability cuts go ahead, we expect Anita to lose her PIP daily living entitlement. And as a knock on impact, also lose her UC health. Even with an uplift to UC standard allowance, she’ll lose £678 each month and be plunged into poverty.

Great blog from Victoria showing the stark reality of how the disability cuts would affect people

Victoria Lee (née Anns)@victoria-j-lee.bsky.social · last yr.

How will the proposed disability benefit cuts impact disabled people? Today we’re sharing the story of one of the people we’ve helped: Anita*. The cuts could mean she loses over £8k per year (43% of her income)❗ New blog out now: medium.com/p/1ab8959922a1

In parliament today to brief MPs on the need for them to vote against the disability benefits cuts bill. Interesting to hear from parliamentary staffers that it's constituents contacting them that is having the most impact. Please email your MP now, even if you have already! It's not too late

UC & PIP bill proposes the biggest cuts to disability benefits since OBR was created. It would: ✂️cut benefits for 3.2m disabled ppl 📈Push 300,000-400,000 into poverty, including 50,000 children 📈 Drive 440,000 into severe hardship New joint briefing: www.ucpipbill.co.uk

Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill -

On Tuesday 1st July, MPs will be asked to vote on the UC & PIP Bill, which contains the biggest cuts to social security in a decade. This briefing from ten organisations including Scope, Citizens Advi...

ucpipbill.co.uk