Becca Stacey
@beccastacey.bsky.social
Employment, health and disability @citizensadvice.bsky.social | Social security and devolution @safety-nets.bsky.social | Views my own
There’s a risk that the Keep Britain Working plan will see good employers continuing to perform well and receiving more recognition for this. And that little will be done to change the behaviour of employers who are failing to support disabled workers.
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/our-response...
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/our-response...
Our response to the Keep Britain Working report
This week, the Keep Britain Working Review published their final report. This review has sparked an important discussion about how…
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 4:32 PM
There’s a risk that the Keep Britain Working plan will see good employers continuing to perform well and receiving more recognition for this. And that little will be done to change the behaviour of employers who are failing to support disabled workers.
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/our-response...
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/our-response...
Initial thoughts on the Keep Britain Working Review
(More reflections to follow in an upcoming blog)
(More reflections to follow in an upcoming blog)
November 5, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Initial thoughts on the Keep Britain Working Review
(More reflections to follow in an upcoming blog)
(More reflections to follow in an upcoming blog)
Great report showing what we see all too often at Citizens Advice: work being used against people at PIP assessments
Being able to engage in paid or voluntary work doesn’t cancel out someone’s care or mobility needs - this mindset just pushes disabled people further from the labour market
Being able to engage in paid or voluntary work doesn’t cancel out someone’s care or mobility needs - this mindset just pushes disabled people further from the labour market
Making the benefits system meaner has backfired.
The punitive PIP system is leaving disabled people too afraid to try work. It’s time to overhaul the broken assessment process.
Read our new report here: https://z2k.org/pip-report/
The punitive PIP system is leaving disabled people too afraid to try work. It’s time to overhaul the broken assessment process.
Read our new report here: https://z2k.org/pip-report/
Ending the Culture of Fear - Z2K
Ending the Culture of Fear: Reforming the PIP assessment system to get decisions right first time Much of the political and media debate about Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has focused on the idea that it’s too easy to qualify. A new report from Z2K – Ending the Culture of Fear: Reforming the PIP assessment system
z2k.org
November 3, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Great report showing what we see all too often at Citizens Advice: work being used against people at PIP assessments
Being able to engage in paid or voluntary work doesn’t cancel out someone’s care or mobility needs - this mindset just pushes disabled people further from the labour market
Being able to engage in paid or voluntary work doesn’t cancel out someone’s care or mobility needs - this mindset just pushes disabled people further from the labour market
Reposted by Becca Stacey
Great to see coverage of the 5 week wait in @the-independent.com, highlighting new Citizens Advice analysis of the huge scale of this issue
⚠️800,000 households repaying loans to DWP only needed because of 5 week wait for 1st UC payment
⚠️0.5M+ children growing up in households repaying these loans
⚠️800,000 households repaying loans to DWP only needed because of 5 week wait for 1st UC payment
⚠️0.5M+ children growing up in households repaying these loans
“No family should have to borrow money just to eat while waiting for support they’re entitled to.”
We're calling on the government to take action on one of Universal Credit's longest-standing problems: the 5 week wait.
Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4odsGnL
We're calling on the government to take action on one of Universal Credit's longest-standing problems: the 5 week wait.
Read more ➡️ https://bit.ly/4odsGnL
UK poverty crisis as 500,000 children in homes trapped in benefit debt cycle
Exclusive: Tens of thousands of families are forced to take out loans to cover the five-week wait until their first universal credit payment – but many struggle to pay it back
www.independent.co.uk
October 15, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Great to see coverage of the 5 week wait in @the-independent.com, highlighting new Citizens Advice analysis of the huge scale of this issue
⚠️800,000 households repaying loans to DWP only needed because of 5 week wait for 1st UC payment
⚠️0.5M+ children growing up in households repaying these loans
⚠️800,000 households repaying loans to DWP only needed because of 5 week wait for 1st UC payment
⚠️0.5M+ children growing up in households repaying these loans
Reposted by Becca Stacey
DWP plans to introduce a ‘support conversation’ for disabled claimants who don’t currently meet a work coach. My new paper explores how this conversation can be done effectively and avoid causing harm 🧵
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
A fresh start: transforming engagement with disabled benefits claimants through a case worker model
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
October 15, 2025 at 10:30 AM
DWP plans to introduce a ‘support conversation’ for disabled claimants who don’t currently meet a work coach. My new paper explores how this conversation can be done effectively and avoid causing harm 🧵
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
Reposted by Becca Stacey
Very encouraging to read that the Government is preparing to lift the two-child limit as part of its child poverty strategy, but it is disheartening that options short of scrapping it entirely are still being considered. Thread on why this would be the wrong choice for an ambitious strategy:
Rachel Reeves to lift two-child benefit cap in November budget
Exclusive: Officials exploring options to change rule that affected 1.7 million children in Great Britain last year
www.theguardian.com
October 1, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Very encouraging to read that the Government is preparing to lift the two-child limit as part of its child poverty strategy, but it is disheartening that options short of scrapping it entirely are still being considered. Thread on why this would be the wrong choice for an ambitious strategy:
Reposted by Becca Stacey
📢 Benefit cuts don’t have widespread support
September 29, 2025 at 8:54 AM
📢 Benefit cuts don’t have widespread support
Reposted by Becca Stacey
Some fantastic insights and policy ideas in @beccastacey.bsky.social's new report. We can't simply will more disabled people into work, there needs to be greater support - and the benefits system might be going in the wrong direction 👇
The govt wants to get more disabled people into work, but isn't making full use of the tools at its disposal
In my new report for @citizensadvice.bsky.social I've looked at how our social security system could do more to make sure that when disabled people want to work, work really does pay /1
In my new report for @citizensadvice.bsky.social I've looked at how our social security system could do more to make sure that when disabled people want to work, work really does pay /1
September 26, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Some fantastic insights and policy ideas in @beccastacey.bsky.social's new report. We can't simply will more disabled people into work, there needs to be greater support - and the benefits system might be going in the wrong direction 👇
Reposted by Becca Stacey
Great to see @beccastacey.bsky.social's research covered here by @cjayanetti.bsky.social in the @bigissue.com
www.bigissue.com/news/employm...
www.bigissue.com/news/employm...
DWP plans will see more than 50,000 disabled people lose job support
DWP plans mean large numbers of disabled people will no longer qualify for a work allowance to support people looking for employment.
www.bigissue.com
September 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Great to see @beccastacey.bsky.social's research covered here by @cjayanetti.bsky.social in the @bigissue.com
www.bigissue.com/news/employm...
www.bigissue.com/news/employm...
Reposted by Becca Stacey
At least 50,000 disabled people could lose access to financial employment support if the government goes ahead with plans to scrap the WCA benefit assessment, according to a new report from Citizens Advice
The true figure is likely to be higher
By me, for Big Issue www.bigissue.com/news/employm...
The true figure is likely to be higher
By me, for Big Issue www.bigissue.com/news/employm...
DWP plans will see more than 50,000 disabled people lose job support
DWP plans mean large numbers of disabled people will no longer qualify for a work allowance to support people looking for employment.
www.bigissue.com
September 26, 2025 at 10:45 AM
At least 50,000 disabled people could lose access to financial employment support if the government goes ahead with plans to scrap the WCA benefit assessment, according to a new report from Citizens Advice
The true figure is likely to be higher
By me, for Big Issue www.bigissue.com/news/employm...
The true figure is likely to be higher
By me, for Big Issue www.bigissue.com/news/employm...
Reposted by Becca Stacey
Important and thoughtful new report from @beccastacey.bsky.social on how the benefits system could be better at making work pay for disabled people
+ great to see this coverage in @bigissue.com from @cjayanetti.bsky.social 👇👇👇
+ great to see this coverage in @bigissue.com from @cjayanetti.bsky.social 👇👇👇
September 26, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Important and thoughtful new report from @beccastacey.bsky.social on how the benefits system could be better at making work pay for disabled people
+ great to see this coverage in @bigissue.com from @cjayanetti.bsky.social 👇👇👇
+ great to see this coverage in @bigissue.com from @cjayanetti.bsky.social 👇👇👇
The govt wants to get more disabled people into work, but isn't making full use of the tools at its disposal
In my new report for @citizensadvice.bsky.social I've looked at how our social security system could do more to make sure that when disabled people want to work, work really does pay /1
In my new report for @citizensadvice.bsky.social I've looked at how our social security system could do more to make sure that when disabled people want to work, work really does pay /1
September 26, 2025 at 7:13 AM
The govt wants to get more disabled people into work, but isn't making full use of the tools at its disposal
In my new report for @citizensadvice.bsky.social I've looked at how our social security system could do more to make sure that when disabled people want to work, work really does pay /1
In my new report for @citizensadvice.bsky.social I've looked at how our social security system could do more to make sure that when disabled people want to work, work really does pay /1
Reposted by Becca Stacey
Cuts to disability benefits weren’t totally averted!
🚨New report out today explaining why the Universal Credit Bill will harm disabled people and exploring who will be impacted by the cuts.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
🚨New report out today explaining why the Universal Credit Bill will harm disabled people and exploring who will be impacted by the cuts.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
Not so Universal: the two-tiered health element. How the Universal Credit Bill will create a two-tiered system for disabled people.
Briefing by Victoria Anns on how the Universal Credit Bill will create a two-tiered system for disabled people.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
September 2, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Cuts to disability benefits weren’t totally averted!
🚨New report out today explaining why the Universal Credit Bill will harm disabled people and exploring who will be impacted by the cuts.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
🚨New report out today explaining why the Universal Credit Bill will harm disabled people and exploring who will be impacted by the cuts.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
Reposted by Becca Stacey
New @citizensadvice.bsky.social briefing published with @julia-rt.bsky.social on how Universal Credit can adapt to promote income stability for working households. We set out policy options for the UC review to consider to reflect the reality of low paid employment.
August 7, 2025 at 12:37 PM
New @citizensadvice.bsky.social briefing published with @julia-rt.bsky.social on how Universal Credit can adapt to promote income stability for working households. We set out policy options for the UC review to consider to reflect the reality of low paid employment.
Reposted by Becca Stacey
The narrative around Universal Credit has long centred around work incentives.
This new briefing examines how effective UC is at encouraging employment – and how that focus may have overshadowed the deeper complexities of getting into work. 🧵
🔗 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
This new briefing examines how effective UC is at encouraging employment – and how that focus may have overshadowed the deeper complexities of getting into work. 🧵
🔗 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
Work incentives aren't working: is the Universal Credit review asking the right questions?
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
July 30, 2025 at 10:03 AM
The narrative around Universal Credit has long centred around work incentives.
This new briefing examines how effective UC is at encouraging employment – and how that focus may have overshadowed the deeper complexities of getting into work. 🧵
🔗 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
This new briefing examines how effective UC is at encouraging employment – and how that focus may have overshadowed the deeper complexities of getting into work. 🧵
🔗 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
Reposted by Becca Stacey
🚨 New report alert 🚨
We’ve launched our first local deep dive research into health inequalities - starting in Chapeltown, Leeds.
What does geography have to do with health & work? Quite a lot, it turns out. 🧵
We’ve launched our first local deep dive research into health inequalities - starting in Chapeltown, Leeds.
What does geography have to do with health & work? Quite a lot, it turns out. 🧵
July 15, 2025 at 8:36 AM
🚨 New report alert 🚨
We’ve launched our first local deep dive research into health inequalities - starting in Chapeltown, Leeds.
What does geography have to do with health & work? Quite a lot, it turns out. 🧵
We’ve launched our first local deep dive research into health inequalities - starting in Chapeltown, Leeds.
What does geography have to do with health & work? Quite a lot, it turns out. 🧵
Reposted by Becca Stacey
1) New report alert 📚! Written by@dremilylynn.bsky.social and myself, it looks at the relationship between health and work. It is the first report from our wider project on health inequalities, funded by @healthfoundation.bsky.social. 🔗 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
July 10, 2025 at 10:01 AM
1) New report alert 📚! Written by@dremilylynn.bsky.social and myself, it looks at the relationship between health and work. It is the first report from our wider project on health inequalities, funded by @healthfoundation.bsky.social. 🔗 www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
Reposted by Becca Stacey
Everything about this awful policy is wrong. How it was conjured up, how the people affected were silenced, how it was justified, how the impact assessment was manipulated, how the Bill was rushed through Parliament, and how it was completely forgotten after the news cycle moved on after last week
🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨
The Government's Universal Credit Bill has passed, rushing it through in one day, without a committee stage where Disabled people's voices could have been heard.
It's clear: the government views Disabled lives as nothing more than a cost-cutting exercise
The Government's Universal Credit Bill has passed, rushing it through in one day, without a committee stage where Disabled people's voices could have been heard.
It's clear: the government views Disabled lives as nothing more than a cost-cutting exercise
July 9, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Everything about this awful policy is wrong. How it was conjured up, how the people affected were silenced, how it was justified, how the impact assessment was manipulated, how the Bill was rushed through Parliament, and how it was completely forgotten after the news cycle moved on after last week
Great blog from @victoria-anns.bsky.social on why the government’s benefits cuts are not only deeply harmful, but also contradict the government’s own agenda
One area where this is really stark, is the Work Allowance ⬇️/1
One area where this is really stark, is the Work Allowance ⬇️/1
We're still asking MPs to vote against the disability cuts bill tomorrow.
New blog explaining why is out now:
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/3-reasons-wh...
New blog explaining why is out now:
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/3-reasons-wh...
July 9, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Great blog from @victoria-anns.bsky.social on why the government’s benefits cuts are not only deeply harmful, but also contradict the government’s own agenda
One area where this is really stark, is the Work Allowance ⬇️/1
One area where this is really stark, is the Work Allowance ⬇️/1
More important evidence on why the PIP cuts are so misguided
- Many would need to reduce or give up work if they lost PIP
- Losing PIP would worsen people's health, pushing them further from work
- Not everyone can work due to the severity of their conditions - cutting PIP doesn't change this
- Many would need to reduce or give up work if they lost PIP
- Losing PIP would worsen people's health, pushing them further from work
- Not everyone can work due to the severity of their conditions - cutting PIP doesn't change this
📣 The government should ditch its proposals to reform PIP eligibility – which will cause misery and hardship for many people with mental health problems.
Our latest research sets out why 👇
🔗 www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/publciations/lead-shoes-instead-of-a-life-ring
Our latest research sets out why 👇
🔗 www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/publciations/lead-shoes-instead-of-a-life-ring
June 5, 2025 at 1:52 PM
More important evidence on why the PIP cuts are so misguided
- Many would need to reduce or give up work if they lost PIP
- Losing PIP would worsen people's health, pushing them further from work
- Not everyone can work due to the severity of their conditions - cutting PIP doesn't change this
- Many would need to reduce or give up work if they lost PIP
- Losing PIP would worsen people's health, pushing them further from work
- Not everyone can work due to the severity of their conditions - cutting PIP doesn't change this
Reposted by Becca Stacey
Its time for change in Jobcentres, but how do we do it? My new paper proposes a vision for Jobcentre reform. The central idea is to introduce case workers, who would be service users’ main point of contact and offer ongoing pastoral and practical support 🧵
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
The case for case workers: reimagining the Jobcentre service
Discussion paper by Kate Harrison on the future of jobcentres and work coaches
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
June 5, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Its time for change in Jobcentres, but how do we do it? My new paper proposes a vision for Jobcentre reform. The central idea is to introduce case workers, who would be service users’ main point of contact and offer ongoing pastoral and practical support 🧵
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
Reposted by Becca Stacey
New blog on the Fair Repayment Rate, in effect since 30 April.
It's lowered deductions + raised UC incomes for many - BUT must be the first, not the only, step govt. takes to tackling deductions.
⚠️ We now need action on the causes of deductions, crucially the 5 week wait.
It's lowered deductions + raised UC incomes for many - BUT must be the first, not the only, step govt. takes to tackling deductions.
⚠️ We now need action on the causes of deductions, crucially the 5 week wait.
A fair first step
The Fair Repayment Rate — and what’s left to do to tackle the hardship caused by Universal Credit deductions
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk
May 29, 2025 at 2:14 PM
New blog on the Fair Repayment Rate, in effect since 30 April.
It's lowered deductions + raised UC incomes for many - BUT must be the first, not the only, step govt. takes to tackling deductions.
⚠️ We now need action on the causes of deductions, crucially the 5 week wait.
It's lowered deductions + raised UC incomes for many - BUT must be the first, not the only, step govt. takes to tackling deductions.
⚠️ We now need action on the causes of deductions, crucially the 5 week wait.
Excellent new report from @maddyirose.bsky.social @scollerton.bsky.social @victoria-anns.bsky.social
A must-read analysis on why disability benefit cuts are arbitrary, driven by savings costs rather than improving outcomes, and will cause hardship in ways the government has not yet grasped
A must-read analysis on why disability benefit cuts are arbitrary, driven by savings costs rather than improving outcomes, and will cause hardship in ways the government has not yet grasped
The Pathways to Work Green Paper sets out plans to cut billions from health and disability benefits.
Instead of getting people into work, these cuts will push hundreds of thousands into poverty.
Our new report looks at the impact of cuts to PIP, UC health & scrapping the WCA (🧵)
Instead of getting people into work, these cuts will push hundreds of thousands into poverty.
Our new report looks at the impact of cuts to PIP, UC health & scrapping the WCA (🧵)
Pathways to Poverty: How planned cuts to disability benefits will impact the people we support
Pathways to Poverty: How planned cuts to disability benefits will impact the people we support
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
May 28, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Excellent new report from @maddyirose.bsky.social @scollerton.bsky.social @victoria-anns.bsky.social
A must-read analysis on why disability benefit cuts are arbitrary, driven by savings costs rather than improving outcomes, and will cause hardship in ways the government has not yet grasped
A must-read analysis on why disability benefit cuts are arbitrary, driven by savings costs rather than improving outcomes, and will cause hardship in ways the government has not yet grasped
Reposted by Becca Stacey
Want a 3yr quali postdoc job leading the UK fieldwork for an amazing international project on how it feels to claim benefits? And also to do important work on benefits and mental health?
Then see this job ad! Closing date being changed to 8th June www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/114985-...
Then see this job ad! Closing date being changed to 8th June www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/114985-...
Postdoctoral Research Associate in Welfare Experiences & Mental Health
www.kcl.ac.uk
May 21, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Want a 3yr quali postdoc job leading the UK fieldwork for an amazing international project on how it feels to claim benefits? And also to do important work on benefits and mental health?
Then see this job ad! Closing date being changed to 8th June www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/114985-...
Then see this job ad! Closing date being changed to 8th June www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/114985-...
New briefing out today from me + @craigpberry.bsky.social shows government's claim disabled people affected by cuts will be better off in work is false
For many, full-time work would only bring a small income boost + in some cases, leave people worse off
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
For many, full-time work would only bring a small income boost + in some cases, leave people worse off
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
Work won’t cut it: income from employment and benefits for disabled people
Briefing by Craig Berry and Becca Stacey comparing income from benefits and employment for people affected by cuts to Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit health element
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
May 20, 2025 at 11:10 AM
New briefing out today from me + @craigpberry.bsky.social shows government's claim disabled people affected by cuts will be better off in work is false
For many, full-time work would only bring a small income boost + in some cases, leave people worse off
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...
For many, full-time work would only bring a small income boost + in some cases, leave people worse off
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...