Emma J
@emmahaslanded.bsky.social
Here to promote an idea I call Universal Credit Scottish Mitigations, catchy name huh? See pinned thread and new blog https://ucscottishmitigations.blogspot.com/
Pinned
Emma J
@emmahaslanded.bsky.social
· Feb 15
Once upon a time the Scottish and UK Governments promised to work together to scrap the bedroom tax at source - through Universal Credit www.gov.scot/policies/soc.... That didn’t happen because they were both busy with other things. 1/x
Reposted by Emma J
Huge respect to the papers for finding both an 88 year old worried about the tax bill on her 6 bedroom Kensington house and a 20 year old fretting about only being able to save £12k a year tax free.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
November 29, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Huge respect to the papers for finding both an 88 year old worried about the tax bill on her 6 bedroom Kensington house and a 20 year old fretting about only being able to save £12k a year tax free.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
If the Scottish Government had proceeded with its plan to mitigate the!2 child limit, these payments would not have been subject to the benefit cap. I hope the UK Government will make the necessary data available to the SG so that it can mitigate the cap for those households affected.
November 26, 2025 at 2:29 PM
If the Scottish Government had proceeded with its plan to mitigate the!2 child limit, these payments would not have been subject to the benefit cap. I hope the UK Government will make the necessary data available to the SG so that it can mitigate the cap for those households affected.
Reposted by Emma J
💼 With less than 24 hours to go until the Budget, we're thinking about the options available to the Chancellor.
Hear from our Chief Economist @chrisbelfield.bsky.social on three key policies that will make a lasting impact on reducing poverty. 🔽
Hear from our Chief Economist @chrisbelfield.bsky.social on three key policies that will make a lasting impact on reducing poverty. 🔽
November 25, 2025 at 4:30 PM
💼 With less than 24 hours to go until the Budget, we're thinking about the options available to the Chancellor.
Hear from our Chief Economist @chrisbelfield.bsky.social on three key policies that will make a lasting impact on reducing poverty. 🔽
Hear from our Chief Economist @chrisbelfield.bsky.social on three key policies that will make a lasting impact on reducing poverty. 🔽
Fascinating. Another good reason to scrap the 2 child limit
A child poverty strategy with the 2-child limit in place would *not* be a credible child poverty strategy. *All* of the growth in child poverty since the 2011/12 low point is for children in scope of this policy.
November 24, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Fascinating. Another good reason to scrap the 2 child limit
Reposted by Emma J
Is scrapping the two-child limit enough to tackle poverty? blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Is scrapping the two-child limit enough to tackle poverty? | British Politics and Policy at LSE
It looks like the two-child limit will be scrapped at the 2025 Budget. But that will still leave child poverty at 28 per cent, double what it was in the 1970s.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
November 23, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Is scrapping the two-child limit enough to tackle poverty? blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
It’s the UK budget this week and the Scottish Budget in January. If Rachel Reeves announces the abolition of the 2 child limit on Wednesday then we need to hold John Swinney to this promise. www.gov.scot/news/fm-remo...
November 22, 2025 at 1:37 PM
It’s the UK budget this week and the Scottish Budget in January. If Rachel Reeves announces the abolition of the 2 child limit on Wednesday then we need to hold John Swinney to this promise. www.gov.scot/news/fm-remo...
Reposted by Emma J
NEW: Rachel Reeves signals she intends to remove the two-child cap *in full*
"I don't think a child should be penalised because they're in a bigger family through no fault of their own," she tells BBC.
"I don't think a child should be penalised because they're in a bigger family through no fault of their own," she tells BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 3:05 PM
NEW: Rachel Reeves signals she intends to remove the two-child cap *in full*
"I don't think a child should be penalised because they're in a bigger family through no fault of their own," she tells BBC.
"I don't think a child should be penalised because they're in a bigger family through no fault of their own," she tells BBC.
Reposted by Emma J
This is not the time for half measures.
@Alex__Clegg explains why the Government should fully repeal the two child limit on benefits, as part of their upcoming Child Poverty Strategy ⤵️
@Alex__Clegg explains why the Government should fully repeal the two child limit on benefits, as part of their upcoming Child Poverty Strategy ⤵️
November 8, 2025 at 11:01 AM
This is not the time for half measures.
@Alex__Clegg explains why the Government should fully repeal the two child limit on benefits, as part of their upcoming Child Poverty Strategy ⤵️
@Alex__Clegg explains why the Government should fully repeal the two child limit on benefits, as part of their upcoming Child Poverty Strategy ⤵️
Reposted by Emma J
Plus 5 week wait, young person penalty, sanctions - the list is long. The whole system causes destitution by design.
November 1, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Plus 5 week wait, young person penalty, sanctions - the list is long. The whole system causes destitution by design.
The Scottish Government is sleepwalking its way into a very tricky situation. If UK only partially scrap the 2 child limit it will be very hard for Scottish Government to introduce a benefit to make good the gap left. This is why they should have sought a Universal Credit solution all along.
I can’t envisage a child poverty strategy which garners any credibility without fully scrapping the two-child limit.
Unconvinced? Check out (even better share) this summary of the peer-reviewed evidence base @kittyjstewart.bsky.social @aaronreeves.bsky.social
largerfamilies.study/publications...
Unconvinced? Check out (even better share) this summary of the peer-reviewed evidence base @kittyjstewart.bsky.social @aaronreeves.bsky.social
largerfamilies.study/publications...
November 1, 2025 at 5:40 PM
The Scottish Government is sleepwalking its way into a very tricky situation. If UK only partially scrap the 2 child limit it will be very hard for Scottish Government to introduce a benefit to make good the gap left. This is why they should have sought a Universal Credit solution all along.
2 child limit going is welcome news. I hope they’ll do something about the benefit cap (ideally scrap it) at the same time otherwise some of the families hit by the 2 child limit won’t see the benefit.
May 25, 2025 at 8:37 AM
2 child limit going is welcome news. I hope they’ll do something about the benefit cap (ideally scrap it) at the same time otherwise some of the families hit by the 2 child limit won’t see the benefit.
This is why I want the SG to work with UKG to mitigate the bedroom tax, benefit cap and 2 child limit all at source through Universal Credit.
March 31, 2025 at 5:27 PM
This is why I want the SG to work with UKG to mitigate the bedroom tax, benefit cap and 2 child limit all at source through Universal Credit.
Reposted by Emma J
No Labour government should be doing this
No Labour MP should be voting for it
No Labour MP should be voting for it
March 26, 2025 at 3:46 PM
No Labour government should be doing this
No Labour MP should be voting for it
No Labour MP should be voting for it
Reposted by Emma J
This is the exact opposite of tackling child poverty. This is creating and accelerating child poverty.
"Overall, the DWP assessment says the welfare cuts will push an additional 250,000 people - including 50,000 children - into relative poverty."
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/spring...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/spring...
Spring Statement 2025: More Than 3 Million To Be Hit By 'Catastrophic' Welfare Cuts
Government says average loss per person will be £1,700.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
March 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM
This is the exact opposite of tackling child poverty. This is creating and accelerating child poverty.
This will cause cuts to Scotland’s budget, making it harder to maintain a system built on dignity and fairness, and making funding the 2 child limit mitigation harder too.
What fresh hell is this?
‘Even those with extreme disabilities in the unfit to work category are likely to lose money. Meanwhile many will be taken out of PIP payments which are not linked to work at all- but are there to help with the additional cost of disabilities.’
www.itv.com/news/2025-03...
‘Even those with extreme disabilities in the unfit to work category are likely to lose money. Meanwhile many will be taken out of PIP payments which are not linked to work at all- but are there to help with the additional cost of disabilities.’
www.itv.com/news/2025-03...
www.itv.com
March 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
This will cause cuts to Scotland’s budget, making it harder to maintain a system built on dignity and fairness, and making funding the 2 child limit mitigation harder too.
Reposted by Emma J
Welfare spending out of control? Alex has you covered.
This morning the justice secretary pointed to a “huge rise in the welfare budget” as justification for targeting benefit spending to make fiscal savings. So how big has the rise in welfare spending been?
March 5, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Welfare spending out of control? Alex has you covered.
@kirstymcneill.bsky.social hi Kirsty I saw a post about working with SG to tackle poverty. Is there any chance UKG could be persuaded to step up and mitigate the 2 child limit at source through universal credit? Would be the best approach for claimants, but SG seem to think you wouldn’t.
February 24, 2025 at 12:36 PM
@kirstymcneill.bsky.social hi Kirsty I saw a post about working with SG to tackle poverty. Is there any chance UKG could be persuaded to step up and mitigate the 2 child limit at source through universal credit? Would be the best approach for claimants, but SG seem to think you wouldn’t.
@torstenbell.bsky.social hi Torsten, can I appeal to you as a fellow policy wonk? The Scottish Government have launched their consultation on the 2 child limit. It clearly shows that mitigation at source through UC would be best but reject this as an option for being too slow. Is that right?
February 22, 2025 at 10:48 AM
@torstenbell.bsky.social hi Torsten, can I appeal to you as a fellow policy wonk? The Scottish Government have launched their consultation on the 2 child limit. It clearly shows that mitigation at source through UC would be best but reject this as an option for being too slow. Is that right?
I’m reading the Scottish Government’s consultation on mitigating the two child cap. www.gov.scot/binaries/con...
It clearly makes the case for mitigating at source but says this “could” mean slower progress for delivering the change. Would it not be a good idea to test this with UK government?
It clearly makes the case for mitigating at source but says this “could” mean slower progress for delivering the change. Would it not be a good idea to test this with UK government?
February 21, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I’m reading the Scottish Government’s consultation on mitigating the two child cap. www.gov.scot/binaries/con...
It clearly makes the case for mitigating at source but says this “could” mean slower progress for delivering the change. Would it not be a good idea to test this with UK government?
It clearly makes the case for mitigating at source but says this “could” mean slower progress for delivering the change. Would it not be a good idea to test this with UK government?
Another reason to mitigate the bedroom tax, benefit cap and bedroom tax all at source in Scotland is take up rates. Take up is good for the bedroom tax but only 57% for the benefit cap mitigation. researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN...
February 16, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Another reason to mitigate the bedroom tax, benefit cap and bedroom tax all at source in Scotland is take up rates. Take up is good for the bedroom tax but only 57% for the benefit cap mitigation. researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN...
Reposted by Emma J
Spat on, attacked, humiliated, betrayed by government & terrified of the future: inside the brutalised lives of our disabled community
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social Big Read comes with a content warning as it’s deeply distressing
This demands your attention www.heraldscotland.com/news/2493865...
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social Big Read comes with a content warning as it’s deeply distressing
This demands your attention www.heraldscotland.com/news/2493865...
Spat on, abused and terrified: Scotland’s brutalised disabled community reveal all
Our Writer at Large learns about the reality of life for disabled people in 2025. WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT
www.heraldscotland.com
February 16, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Spat on, attacked, humiliated, betrayed by government & terrified of the future: inside the brutalised lives of our disabled community
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social Big Read comes with a content warning as it’s deeply distressing
This demands your attention www.heraldscotland.com/news/2493865...
My @heraldscotland.bsky.social Big Read comes with a content warning as it’s deeply distressing
This demands your attention www.heraldscotland.com/news/2493865...
Once upon a time the Scottish and UK Governments promised to work together to scrap the bedroom tax at source - through Universal Credit www.gov.scot/policies/soc.... That didn’t happen because they were both busy with other things. 1/x
February 15, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Once upon a time the Scottish and UK Governments promised to work together to scrap the bedroom tax at source - through Universal Credit www.gov.scot/policies/soc.... That didn’t happen because they were both busy with other things. 1/x
Reposted by Emma J
4.3 million children are in poverty
UK govt won’t see progress on child poverty by 2029 even with high economic growth 📢
Our analysis shows under our central scenario only Scotland will see child poverty rates fall by 2029 in part due to social security policies 1/5
UK govt won’t see progress on child poverty by 2029 even with high economic growth 📢
Our analysis shows under our central scenario only Scotland will see child poverty rates fall by 2029 in part due to social security policies 1/5
January 29, 2025 at 7:50 AM
4.3 million children are in poverty
UK govt won’t see progress on child poverty by 2029 even with high economic growth 📢
Our analysis shows under our central scenario only Scotland will see child poverty rates fall by 2029 in part due to social security policies 1/5
UK govt won’t see progress on child poverty by 2029 even with high economic growth 📢
Our analysis shows under our central scenario only Scotland will see child poverty rates fall by 2029 in part due to social security policies 1/5