Carri Swann

That's not to say there's nothing the government could do to improve the welfare system. But the idea that costs are "out of control" compared to the past is wrong and leads to misdiagnosis.

Judgment header of R (LL and AU) v Trafford Council [2025] EWHC 2380 (Admin) (19 September 2025)

Really important High Court decision today, quashing a local authority’s council tax reduction scheme. The judgment contains many lessons about these schemes. Trafford's scheme was ultra vires, irrational, and unlawfully discriminatory, and breached the PSED @rightsnet.org.uk @nawra.bsky.social

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

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/...

Our Welfare Rights Conference is almost here!

📍 Manchester – 8th October
📍 London – 23rd October

Spaces are limited, book now to secure your spot:
bit.ly/4dH9gU8

Ignore requests from the state trying to claw back pension overpayments after someone has died - they have no legal right to do so Friends or relatives can ignore requests by the Government to return overpaid state pension payments in the event of the recipient's death, as there is no legal obligation to pay the money back.

Hi. You don’t have to pay this. This Money Savings Expert article sums it up well: www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2022/01....

Sorry for your loss

Law Commission’s latest law reform programme will include project to outline legal framework for public sector automated-decision making:

www.rightsnet.org.uk/now/post/68085

Cross-party commission urges UK government to scrap two-child benefit limit Exclusive: Poverty Strategy Commission says abolishing cap will tackle hardship and lift families out of ‘deep poverty’ A cross-party commission including former welfare ministers is urging the government to scrap the two-child benefit limit as part of an ambitious “once in a generation” plan to lift millions of people out of poverty. The Poverty Strategy Commission said billions of pounds of investment – including a boost to the rate of universal credit – was needed to reverse record levels of poverty in the UK, and tackle longstanding failures over rising hardship and destitution. Continue reading...

Cross-party commission urges UK government to scrap two-child benefit limit

AI tools used by English councils downplay women’s health issues, study finds Exclusive: LSE research finds risk of gender bias in care decisions made based on AI summaries of case notes

'Artificial intelligence tools used by more than half of England’s councils are downplaying women’s physical and mental health issues and risk creating gender bias in care decisions, research [led by Sam Rickman, LSE] has found.' 1/2

New government data on the impact of the two child limit: 469,780 households now affected, with 1,665,540 children in those households

Almost 40,000 more children affected since last year

It's a child poverty machine & it will cost us all more in the long term - get rid of it

🚨🚨🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨🚨🚨

The United Nations is calling for the UK Government to stop the Universal Credit (PIP) Bill because it will 'deepen the signs of regression' in disabled people's human rights.

tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/...

Updated #ChartOfTheDay: the UK sits just below the middle of the pack on social spending.
 
The UK spends ~23% of GDP on social protection according to the OECD. The DWP's lower figure of 10.8% only covers DWP benefits - not the NHS. Today’s chart uses the broader, more comparable OECD measure.

Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill 2024-25 - Progress of the bill https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10302/

This last change, for existing claimants, may actually have been removed as one of the first tranche of concessions…

For existing claimants, the value of health elements will be frozen at their current rates until 2029.

So no inflationary increases each April when other benefits (and other parts of UC) are uprated.

The Bill says it will be frozen in value until 2029

Specifically it cuts this element for most new claimants from £423 to £217 per month.

Specifically it cuts this element for most new claimants from £423 to £217 per month.

Specifically it cuts this element for most new claimants from £423 to £217 per month.

Yes, for most new claimants. A cut in support for this group (if not experienced as a drop in income by individual households)

Section 2 of the Bill still halves the LCWRA (‘health’) element of universal credit from April. Big cut for disabled people on the lowest incomes

Section 2 of the Bill still halves the LCWRA (‘health’) element of universal credit from April. Big cut for disabled people on the lowest incomes

Section 2 of the Bill still halves the LCWRA (‘health’) element of universal credit from April

Specifically it cuts this element from April, for most new claimants, from £423 to £217 per month.

Massive cut for disabled people on the lowest incomes

Section 2 of the Bill still halves the LCWRA (‘health’) element of universal credit

I’m voting against disability benefit cuts because I oppose them, but the process by which this Bill is being rushed through without necessary information or adequate scrutiny, is reason enough for MPs to vote against it on Tuesday.

This is not how we should make laws.

Today Govt confirmed changes it will make to planned cuts to disability benefits. But Govt will still ask MPs to vote for large, arbitrary cuts to disabled people’s incomes that will increase poverty. The Bill should be opposed. Here’s why. 1/7

More than 100 MPs sign Reasoned Amendment* declining to give a Second Reading to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill

www.rightsnet.org.uk/now/post/63537

* sponsored by the chairs of the Treasury, Work and Pensions, Education, Women and Equalities, and Housing Committees

Screenshot of Vicky's letter to the Prime Minister (page 1)

Screenshot of Vicky's letter to the Prime Minister (page 2)

(1/2) With a heavy heart, I have written to the Prime Minister to tender my resignation as a whip.

Whilst I will continue to support the government in delivering the change the country so desperately needs, I cannot vote in favour of the proposed reforms to disability benefits.

It was sobering to catch up with Debbie from St Ann's Advice Centre last week.

We discussed the devasting impact that disability benefit cuts would have on our community.

Hearing the harrowing stories of disabled service users underlined why these cuts must be opposed.