Benefits

Letters—The lack of Covid-19 testing is yet another Tory disaster

Cambridge university recently announced that it will be providing free weekly Covid-19 tests to all students living in college accommodation.

Universal Credit claimant has payments snatched

The government is snatching money from Universal Credit (UC) claimants with no explanation or warning. And claimants are finding it almost impossible to challenge the robbery.

Woman refugee in ‘extreme poverty’ found dead next to baby in Glasgow

Mercy Baguma was a victim of a brutal welfare system and of a racist immigration regime

Crash on the streets—how cruel Tory plans will fuel homeless crisis

Sackings and benefits sanctions have left ever more people struggling to pay their rent. The Tories’ plan to end a ban on evictions in September—meaning thousands could be thrown out

Protest over theft of TV licences from over-75s

A 40-strong protest took place last week at 10 Downing Street, called by the National Pensioners Convention, over the Tories' betrayal on free TV licences for over-75s.

Woman died weighing 3 stone after DWP stopped her benefits

A cancer patient has died weighing just three stone after the Department for Work and Pensions stopped her benefits.

Bosses couldn’t drive out Paul Williams

30 June 2020
Bosses at the Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have backed off from an attempt to victimise leading trade unionist Paul Williams.

Debt, cutting back on food, endless stress—the reality of life on Universal Credit

17 June 2020
Nearly two thirds of families who receive Universal Credit have been pushed into borrowing money to survive

Letters: Solidarity with Black Lives Matter movement in Ireland

16 June 2020
Almost 70 Black Lives Matter protesters have been issued with fines for attending the socially-distanced rallies in Derry and Belfast on Saturday 6 June.

How the benefits system abused Errol Graham

04 May 2020
Errol Graham, who died of starvation when his benefits were cut off, had become so mentally distressed that his family believe he pulled out two of his own teeth with pliers.

No change in cruel Universal Credit

27 April 2020
The government has refused to make the Universal Credit benefit regime any less punishing

‘Every day is a struggle’ on Universal Credit

07 April 2020
Hundreds of thousands of people have been forced to claim benefits as bosses throw them on the dole, writes Sadie Robinson

Cruelty of Tories’ benefit promises revealed as Universal Credit claims rise

26 March 2020
Nearly half a million people put in claims for Universal Credit (UC) in a nine-day period as the coronavirus crisis hit.

Court challenge to Universal Credit childcare cost rules to go ahead

10 March 2020
A woman has been given the go-ahead to take the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to court over Universal Credit (UC) rules.

Tories underestimate number killed by Universal Credit

11 February 2020
The government has investigated 69 suicides that could have been linked to problems with benefit claims over the last six years

The woman who is taking Universal Credit to court

04 February 2020
Hated benefits rules left Nichola Salvato in debt over childcare costs. Now, reports Sadie Robinson, she’s on a legal crusade to have them overturned

Universal Credit doc is just a propaganda whitewash

28 January 2020
A new BBC documentary is supposed to give an honest view of the benefits system. But it hides the real truth

5,000 disabled people get benefit payments—but only after their deaths

17 January 2020
Some 5,000 ill and disabled benefit claimants have died before being repaid thousands of pounds owed to them due to a government error.

Ten years of austerity - the brutal reality of Tory rule

17 November 2019
A decade of Tory rule has slashed key services, savaged spending and driven more people into poverty. And if they aren’t kicked out, life for working class people is set to get worse, report Sarah Bates and Tomáš Tengely-Evans