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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸

Citizens Advice @citizensadvice.bsky.social · 2d

“No family should have to borrow money just to eat while waiting for support they’re entitled to.”

We're calling on the government to take action on one of Universal Credit's longest-standing problems: the 5 week wait.

Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4odsGnL

UK poverty crisis as 500,000 children in homes trapped in benefit debt cycle

Exclusive: Tens of thousands of families are forced to take out loans to cover the five-week wait until their first universal credit payment – but many struggle to pay it back

www.independent.co.uk

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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · 10d

Please please stop calling it the “two child benefit cap”. There is no such thing :

www.linkedin.com/posts/laura-...

📣📣There is no such thing as the “two child benefit cap” !!! Lots of discussion at the moment about what Labour will do to reduce child poverty. That’s great. It’s of such fundamental importance… | L...

📣📣There is no such thing as the “two child benefit cap” !!! Lots of discussion at the moment about what Labour will do to reduce child poverty. That’s great. It’s of such fundamental importance that...

www.linkedin.com

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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸

Craig Berry @craigpberry.bsky.social · Jul 30

Excellent briefing and thread from @jagnaolejniczak.bsky.social 👇

We looked into how our clients really experience the transition to work from the Universal Credit system, suggesting work incentives are helpful but not adequate, and wider barriers to employment are being overlooked

Jagna Olejniczak @jagnaolejniczak.bsky.social · Jul 30

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...

Work incentives aren't working: is the Universal Credit review asking the right questions?

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸

Alex Belsham-Harrris @alexbelsham-harris.bsky.social · Jul 22

The challenge of energy affordability is very real, but rising block tariffs aren’t the answer. People on low incomes with poorly insulated homes or who need more energy for health reasons could see rising bills, while those with multiple homes or can install solar panels avoid paying a fair share

Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot.bsky.social · Jul 22

Ed Miliband has been urged by more than 100 Labour MPs to explore overhauling UK energy bills.

He is understood to be considering a number of options for progressive energy pricing, inc discounts for the least intensive consumers – known as rising block tariffs

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

More than 100 Labour MPs urge Ed Miliband to explore radical energy bills overhaul

Living Standards Coalition writes to energy secretary calling on him to do more to help struggling households

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · Jul 16

The most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty is to abolish the two-child limit, which would cost £7,480 per child lifted out of poverty.

If it is not scrapped then one-in-three children will be in poverty by 2029-39, including half of children in large families 👉 buff.ly/oiV5Re2

Chart showing Estimated annual cost and reduction in the number of children in relative poverty after housing costs, various two-child limit options, 2029-30: UK

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Anne Pardoe @annepardoe.bsky.social · Jul 14

New paper from Citizens Advice on how to deliver tangible growth - which puts money in people’s pockets - in consumer markets.

TLDR: Consumer confidence is key & slashing hard won consumer protections without adequate safeguards isn’t the answer.

How to deliver tangible growth in consumer markets

UK households need tangible economic growth which puts money in their pocket. Consumer confidence is critical - cutting consumer protection is not the answer

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸

Citizens Advice @citizensadvice.bsky.social · Jul 8

The Universal Credit (UC) and Personal Independence Payment bill has its third reading on Wednesday.

Cuts to UC health look to be going ahead.

Here’s 3 reasons why that’s a bad idea ⤵️

Image shows a silhouette of a woman looking worried. Text overlay reads, "Cutting and then freezing the Universal Credit health element will leave many disabled people unable to afford their essentials."

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Tom Pollard @pollardtom.bsky.social · Jul 1

The cuts to Universal Credit for ill & disabled people that remain in this bill will be deeply harmful, but campaigners & MPs have forced a climbdown on huge swathes of the wider cuts that were originally proposed. You cannot deliver principled welfare reform to a predetermined savings target

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Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · Jul 1

6/15 The best summary of the UCPIP Bill and what it means that I have seen in the past 24 hours is from @lauralhutch.bsky.social & @tommacinnes.bsky.social of @citizensadvice.bsky.social

wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/these-are-no...

They call out the awful euphemism underpinning the entire exercise.

These are not reforms

Written by Laura Hutchinson and Tom MacInnes

wearecitizensadvice.org.uk

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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · Jul 1

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...

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Clare Moriarty @claremoriarty.bsky.social · Jul 1

If the UCPIP Bill becomes law it will cut PIP for over 400k disabled people & UC for over 700k people who are disabled or have a long-term health condition by 2030. Government’s own impact assessment says the cuts will plunge 150k people into poverty by the end of this Parliament

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Craig Berry @craigpberry.bsky.social · Jun 30

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 🙂

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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · Jul 1

If the UCPIP Bill passes, the arbitrary 4 point rule will be enshrined in law. It will prevent the Timms Review from being genuine co-production with disabled people.

Citizens Advice is urging MPs to vote for their constituents & against the Bill tday.

wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/these-are-no...

These are not reforms

Written by Laura Hutchinson and Tom MacInnes

wearecitizensadvice.org.uk

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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸

Kartik Raj @kartikraj.bsky.social · Jun 30

Strongly recommended reading on planned "reforms" to (primarily disability-related) UK social security.

This Medium post by @lauralhutch.bsky.social & @tommacinnes.bsky.social of @citizensadvice.bsky.social
.
10/10 for a cogent, pithy title.

wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/these-are-no...

These are not reforms

Written by Laura Hutchinson and Tom MacInnes

wearecitizensadvice.org.uk

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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · Jun 30

Exempting current claimants from harmful cuts does not mean profound harm will not be inflicted as result of UCPIP bill.

Citizens Advice is urging MPs to vote against the bill. These are not reforms. They are cuts to people who can least afford it.

wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/these-are-no...

These are not reforms

Written by Laura Hutchinson and Tom MacInnes

wearecitizensadvice.org.uk

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Reposted by Laura Hutchinson 🌸

Resolution Foundation @resfoundation.bsky.social · Jun 29

How are the cost of essentials affecting low-to-middle-income families across Britain?

On Monday, join our discussion with @claremoriarty.bsky.social @peterlevell.bsky.social and @lalithatry.bsky.social chaired by @mikebrewerecon.bsky.social

Sign up here ➡️ buff.ly/3NYLh0r

Graphic for event 'The price is tight' How are the cots of essentials affecting low to middle income families? The event is on Monday 30th June at 10am

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Luke Young @lukeyoung.bsky.social · Jun 27

Just spoke to @timesradio with a bit of myth busting on PIP and response to rebel deal.

Yes, big concessions from govt for current claimants but this is a political fix that creates unequal policy.

All it takes is illness or life event for any of us to need PIP. People will have less.

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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · Jun 27

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”.

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Victoria Anns @victoria-anns.bsky.social · Jun 26

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

Anita’s story

How cuts to disability benefits could impact millions

medium.com

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Maddy Rose @maddyirose.bsky.social · Jun 24

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...

www.ucpipbill.co.uk

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Louise Murphy @louisemurphy.bsky.social · Jun 24

7m families are affected by these benefit reforms; 3.2m will lose support.

Under a best-case scenario, we find that 105,000 more people would be in work by the end of the Parliament.

It is clear that any increases in employment will be far too small to fully offset the hit to family incomes.

Image showing: Number of families who are expected to lose and gain support as a result of Spring 2025 benefit changes: Great Britain, 2029-30

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Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · Jun 21

Very good shirt

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Victoria Anns @victoria-anns.bsky.social · Jun 18

Today, the government laid its Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill before parliament. But what's actually in the bill and what happens next?

New blog out now: wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/why-were-ask...