Very important consultation on the migration of people onto universal credit from legacy benefits

Originally posted on Politics and Insights:
The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) has launched an important public consultation on the government’s proposals for moving all existing claimants of a working age income-related benefit to Universal Credit. From next year the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will begin the process of moving claimants in receipt of one…

Revealed: The next bill for the over 40s: Your social care tax

Originally posted on Westminster Confidential:
? pic credit: parliament.uk CROSS POSTED ON BYLINE.COM  Without huge coverage MPs from two influential Parliamentary committees yesterday proposed a new tax system to pay for the burgeoning cost of social care. The proposal could mean a new hike in national insurance contributions, some redistribution of money going to fund…

Serco, government contracts and the new minister for justice: what could possibly go right?

Originally posted on Politics and Insights:
https://twitter.com/RichardBurgon/status/1010117917671936001 The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is conducting a criminal investigation into Serco (and G4S) regarding electronic monitoring contracts – specifically concerning the tagging of prisoners. Although the case was opened and announced in 2014, the case is still ongoing, and is listed under ‘current cases’. Serco is reliant on…

The Price of Disability and Mental Health

Yesterday I completed almost 2 year of Psycho-dynamic Therapy, and the best part of this slightly scary but exciting experience is, it was my decision to leave. This may seem odd, but after dedicating more that 100 Tuesday afternoons to an intense examination of my life, I am now well enough to stop. I have […]

The Downing Street state pension robbery

CROSS POSTED ON BYLINE.COM The mantra  that we cannot afford to pay the 3.9 million 50s women their pensions until they are 65 and soon 66 is based on the premise that there is no money in the National Insurance Fund. The big question is why? I have already in a previous report for #Backto60  […]