Latest Articles By Simon Collyer

BANK HOLIDAY - On Monday 29 May, Jobcentre Plus offices and phone lines are closed. To make sure people get their payment on a day when Jobcentre Plus offices are open, some payments will be paid early. If the expected payment date is Monday 29 May,...

DWP POSTAL ADDRESSES - always a popular post, we have reposted this useful information.  We get asked a lot about where to send mail to. This should help.  The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is modernising how it receives and proces...

WINTER FUEL PAYMENT -  The form to claim a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024 will be available at a later date. You can claim for winter 2023 to 2024 from 18 September 2023. If you were born before 26 September 1956 you could get...

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - Domestic violence exploded during the first two months of the COVID-19 outbreak. In the U.S., there was a 30% increase in spousal/partner abuse towards women, and the U.K. saw a similar increase as well – 25%. Simil...

HARDSHIP - Tory austerity and economic policy is failing ordinary people, the SNP has said after new figures revealed almost 3 million food parcels were handed out by food banks in the last 12 months, more than ever before. The damning figures, publi...

RENT AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE INCOMES A useful survey below.  Rank Region Median weekly income (£) Median weekly rent (£) % of income that goes to rent 1 North East 490.60 115.38 23.5% 2 Wales 446.20 121.15 27.2% 3 Yorkshire and the Humber 499...

IPPR  (the Institute for Public Policy Research) CRITISIZES BENEFITS SANCTIONS Postcode Lottery’ of benefit sanctions that hit one in 12 looking for work  Rate of universal credit claimants whose payments are cut or cancelled has...

JOBSEEKERS, who enrolled on a pre-employment programme embrace new careers after securing jobs with the NHS. The eight-week programme, designed to help people build employability skills and gain real work experience, is operated by Inspira and N...

Budget 2023 - Key points Taxation and wages Cap on amount workers can accumulate in pensions savings over their lifetime before having to pay extra tax (currently £1.07m) to be abolished Tax-free yearly allowance for pension pot to rise from £40,000...

HOUSING REBELLION 14 MARCH ACTION – see HfA website for more information https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exposed-profiteering-developers-home-planet-wreckers-tickets-567072227297  The event is part of the build-up to the Extinction Rebe...