Benefit System Increases Homelessness

 Homeless Link has published a report looking at the links between the benefits system and homelessness. The report concludes that a lack of available, affordable accommodation will make it difficult to move people on from emergency accommodation after the pandemic. A combination of the frozen Local Housing Allowance and the benefits cap means that people simply cannot afford the property that is available.  Download a copy of the report from the Homeless Link website.

https://www.homeless.org.uk/sites/default/files/site-attachments/hl_homelessness%2Bbenefits-london_FINAL-WEB%20%281%29.pdf

Osborne Accused of Putting Universal Credit in 'Very Real Danger'

George Osborne is accused of putting universal credit in "very real danger" after freezing work allowances under the new benefits system for a further year to 2018. The chancellor said the generated savings would enable the government to invest £350 million in increasing the support on offer for childcare costs under the new benefits system.  But Alison Garnham, chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said “By cutting universal credit once again, the chancellor is in very real danger of torpedoing Iain Duncan Smith’s flagship policy. Freezing the work allowance will harm work incentives and hit low paid families hard. Two thirds of poor children live in working families; we should be redistributing help towards them, not away from them.” Read more on the CPAG website.

DWP Accused of 'Black Propaganda' In Universal Credit Debate

Glenda Jackson has attacked the DWP for embarking on a programme of "black propaganda" in a deliberate attempt to undermine the UK's benefits system. During a universal credit debate in the House of Commons, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn accused Iain Duncan Smith's department of a "bunker mentality" adding that "simple humility is not part and parcel of its make-up". Jackson was responding to the news that civil service chief Sir Bob Kerslake had informed the Public Accounts Committee that the business case for universal credit had still not been signed off by the Treasury, despite an assurance from DWP minister Esther McVey that it had. Read more on 24dash.