ABZWorks Job Fair – Tuesday 9th June
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News
Hidden crisis of coerced debt (Scotland, 2026)
A new report from Scottish Women’s Aid reveals a hidden but serious problem across Scotland: coerced debt. This is a form of economic abuse where an abusive partner builds up debt in someone else’s name—often without their knowledge or through pressure and control. The research shows this is not rare, but a common tactic used
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Housing Benefit Bill Set to Hit Record £38.8bn as Rents Surge
Housing benefit spending in Britain is projected by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to increase by £913 million, reaching £38.8 billion in 2026–27. In real terms, this would be the highest level recorded since comparable figures began in 1970, representing a 40 per cent rise compared to 2018–19. Lord Best, co-chair of the
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What the SNP Promised on Welfare at the 2026 Scottish Election
The SNP’s 2026 Holyrood manifesto set out a clear direction on welfare: expand Scotland’s devolved benefits and use them to tackle poverty, particularly child poverty, rather than cut support. The headline pledge was to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40 per week, reinforcing its central role in anti‑poverty policy. This sits alongside a broader
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Carers Allowance overpayment reassessment exercise
The reassessment exercise covers cases from April 2015 to September 2025 in which earnings-related Carer’s Allowance overpayments arose due to guidance that did not accurately reflect the statutory position on averaging irregularly fluctuating earnings. The DWP will now review over 200,000 cases. Around 25,000 carers could see their debts reduced, cancelled entirely, or receive refunds
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NRNE Lived Experience Group
I am reaching out to ask for your support in sharing and helping us recruit new members for the NRNE Lived Experience Group. This group is a key part of the NRNE Partnership and brings together people with lived experience of No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) to connect, share experiences, and help shape how
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Universal Credit: LCWRA Changes from April 2026
From 6 April 2026, major changes apply to the Limited Capability for Work and Work‑Related Activity (LCWRA) element of Universal Credit, following the Universal Credit Act 2025 and the UC and ESA (Rates of Allowances) (Amendment) Regulations 2026. DWP guidance is set out in ADM Memo 04/26. Two LCWRA rates now apply LCWRA is no
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DWP Service Improvements: What Advisers Need to Know
✅ What advisers should know – claimant impact (DWP Follow‑up) Sixtieth Report of Session 2024-26 Response to Select Committee report on service performance Why this matters for claimants Bottom line:Improvements are promised, but advisers should expect continued variability in service quality and remain prepared to challenge decisions, escalate complaints, and support vulnerable clients assertively. Government
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State Pension age change
State Pension age change: what advisers need to know (from April 2026) From 6 April 2026, the UK State Pension age (SPA) is rising from 66 to 67. This is a planned and legislated change, but it is now live and beginning to affect clients approaching retirement. What is changing? Who is affected? A client
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New rules to support people arriving in Scotland
New help for people fleeing a crisis Social Security Scotland has introduced new, long-term rules to help people who come to Scotland because of a crisis in another country. These rules make it easier and quicker for people to get the support they need when they arrive. They replace the need for special emergency laws each
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