Dont turn back time – day of Action Nov 19th – Fawcett Society

On average, women earn less, own less, and are more likely to work and retire in poverty than men.

The government’s approach to cutting the deficit will widen the gap between women and men:

-Female unemployment is rising as jobs are cut in public service
-The benefits and services women rely on more are being slashed
-Women on low incomes are becoming poorer
-The pay gap looks set to widen
-Women’s access to vital support services is being undermined
-Increasing numbers of women are being forced to give up work as cuts to childcare support means their jobs no longer cover the family’s care costs

The government’s approach to cutting the deficit is turning back time on women’s equality. This can’t go on.

On November 19th, join us on the ‘DON’T turn back time’ March in London or host your own ‘DON’T turn back time’ tea party to help us tell David Cameron:

“DON’T TURN BACK TIME ON WOMEN’S EQUALITY!”

For more information and document downloads please see here

Help at hand for those with benefit concerns

 

BENEFIT advisers have rallied organisations and charities together for a day-long event to show help is at hand for disabled people worried about welfare reform.

Barrow District and Disability Association’s disability advice and benefit service is holding a day-long conference designed to help thousands of people in the area who are worried about the government’s changes to what they are entitled to claim.

Incapacity Benefit, Income Support paid because of an illness or disability and Severe Disablement Allowance are all being phased out.

North West Evening Mail | News | Help at hand for those with benefit concerns

Free information session for carers in Kidderminster

 

A FREE practical information session for unpaid and family carers is to be held in Kidderminster.

Worcestershire County Council‘s carers’ unit has organised Dementia Awareness sessions throughout the county.

Kidderminster’s will be delivered by Age UK between 10am and 2pm on Monday, November 21 at the town’s library.

Free information session for carers in Kidderminster (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Sunderland City Council double meals on wheels price

 

MEALS on wheels in a North city have doubled in price… provoking outrage from pensioners and carers.

Sunderland City Council said it is making the changes due to a decline in demand for the service, and even has an eventual aim of ditching the service altogether.

Residents will now get their grub from private providers, like cafes, in many cases ramping up the cost from around £2.50 to £5.

A £1 delivery charge may also apply.

Sunderland City Council double meals on wheels price – Sunday Sun

Welfare Reform Bill – Hansard text for 6th Oct 2011

 

Lord McKenzie of Luton: My Lords, Amendment 2 seeks to attach a clear but succinct purpose to the universal credit; that is,

"to support work for those who can and provide security for those who cannot".

Much of the focus of our discussion about the universal credit is on the former, helping people into work and closer to the labour market, but there is an obligation also to help those individuals and families for whom work is, for one reason or another, not currently reasonably practicable. We subscribe to the view of the importance of work in helping people out of poverty, in the development of their self-esteem and, as per Waddell and Burton, as being generally good for their health. This has the potential to translate at the macro level to the prospect of lower benefit costs, higher taxes and national insurance and, other things being equal, higher growth. That approach characterised the reforms, I will call them welfare reforms notwithstanding our discussion last Tuesday, of the previous Government and this Bill is a significant development of that trend. Of course, the Minister has been present in both of them.

Lords Hansard text for 6 Oct 201106 Oct 2011 (pt 0001)