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No Recourse North East Multimedia Bulletin

Dear Partners, I hope you all are well, enjoyed the holidays, and are staying safe amid the disruptions caused by the beautiful snow we’ve seen over the past few days. The No Recourse North East Partnership has consistently provided a link between the latest research/policy updates and the frontline service workers, organisations, and decision-makers across […]

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Delivering dignity?

Early lessons from the introduction of Adult Disability Payment in Scotland 8 December 2025 When the Scottish Government introduced the Adult Disability Payment (ADP) in 2022 to replace Personal Independence Payment (PIP), it set out to do things differently. [i] Although the two benefits have the same eligibility criteria and are paid at the same rates, Social

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Poverty Alliance: 2026 Scottish Parliament election manifesto

In Scotland, we believe in justice and compassion. We want to see everyone with enough to live a decent life – and the opportunities to flourish – through an economic system that prioritises people and the planet. We know that this is possible. That is why the 2026 Scottish Parliament election is so important. With

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Insights into ADP: Evidence from CAS

Insights into Adult Disability Payment: Evidence from Citizens Advice Scotland Citizens Advice Scotland has today released the second edition of Insights into Adult Disability Payment: Evidence from Citizens Advice Scotland a short and important publication that both identifies the challenges facing disabled people across Scotland and explores solutions.     Key findings from the briefing include:   Our advice

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Legacy Benefits to End: Key Dates and What Advisers Need to Know

The UK Government has taken a significant step in completing the transition to Universal Credit (UC) with the introduction of SI 2025/1148, formally titled The Welfare Reform Act 2012 (Commencement No. 35) (Abolition of Benefits) Order 2025. This statutory instrument, made on 29 October 2025, sets out the timetable for abolishing remaining legacy benefits and

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Investing in Children: Early findings on the difference the Scottish Child Payment makes to child well-being

Published 8 December 2025 Recent years have seen a divergence in welfare of Scotland compared to other UK nations. The Scottish Government has used its devolved powers on social security to introduce a package of five Family Payments, the centrepiece of which is the new Scottish Child Payment (SCP). Introduced in February 2021, and increased

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Scottish Government Confirms Withdrawal of Two-Child Limit Payment Regulations Amid UK Policy Shift

Edinburgh, 16 December 2025 — The Scottish Government has confirmed it will not proceed with the planned Two-Child Limit Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026, following the UK Government’s decision to abolish the two-child limit on Universal Credit from April 2026. In a letter dated 3 December 2025, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville stated that

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Does The Scottish Child Payment Weaken Work Incentives?

Published 10 December 2025 The Scottish Child Payment (SCP), introduced in 2021, provides cash transfers for families with children receiving Universal Credit (UC) or related benefits. The eligibility link to UC can create a potential cliff-edge at that threshold of eligibility – the decision to work one more hour can potentially result in a large

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Building an Inclusive Social Security System: Responding to Communication Needs

Social Security Scotland has reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, dignity, and respect in response to the Scottish Commission on Social Security’s (SCoSS) scrutiny report on how the agency meets the expectations of Our Charter for people with communication needs. Key Findings from SCoSS The Commission found that clients with communication needs generally have better experiences

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Adviser Update: New Guidance on EU Settlement Scheme and Benefit Entitlement

Effective Date: 2 December 2025Reference: DMG Memo 15/25 What’s Changed? The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued updated guidance following the implementation of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 (BSAI Act). This simplifies decision-making for advisers handling claims from EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals. Key Points Benefits Affected Why This Matters

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