Matt Cole
@mdcole.bsky.social
Information Officer for Advice NI but responsible for my own opinions. Welfare rights with an emphasis on social security. If in doubt, quote the regs.
Reposted by Matt Cole
Most households currently subject to the two-child limit have at least one adult in work.
Of the minority of households not in work, more than nine-in-ten have a child under three or a disabled family member with additional care needs, making any return to the labour market challenging.
Of the minority of households not in work, more than nine-in-ten have a child under three or a disabled family member with additional care needs, making any return to the labour market challenging.
January 5, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Most households currently subject to the two-child limit have at least one adult in work.
Of the minority of households not in work, more than nine-in-ten have a child under three or a disabled family member with additional care needs, making any return to the labour market challenging.
Of the minority of households not in work, more than nine-in-ten have a child under three or a disabled family member with additional care needs, making any return to the labour market challenging.
Reposted by Matt Cole
Tax and benefit measures announced this Parliament so far benefit children the most.
This is due to the abolition of the two-child limit, the expansion of Free School Meals to children in families receiving UC in England, and the above-inflation increases to the UC standard allowance.
This is due to the abolition of the two-child limit, the expansion of Free School Meals to children in families receiving UC in England, and the above-inflation increases to the UC standard allowance.
January 5, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Tax and benefit measures announced this Parliament so far benefit children the most.
This is due to the abolition of the two-child limit, the expansion of Free School Meals to children in families receiving UC in England, and the above-inflation increases to the UC standard allowance.
This is due to the abolition of the two-child limit, the expansion of Free School Meals to children in families receiving UC in England, and the above-inflation increases to the UC standard allowance.
Reposted by Matt Cole
Thanks @lbc.co.uk for publishing my article on the Universal Credit & PIP Bill:
- Why it still poses an unacceptable threat to disabled people in the future
- MPs still being asked to vote without clear information about the full impact of planned changes. www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
- Why it still poses an unacceptable threat to disabled people in the future
- MPs still being asked to vote without clear information about the full impact of planned changes. www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Concessions have been made – but the Welfare Bill still risks long-term harm to disabled people
The concessions offered by the UK government to stave off a rebellion in their ranks are welcome, but fall short.
www.lbc.co.uk
June 30, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Thanks @lbc.co.uk for publishing my article on the Universal Credit & PIP Bill:
- Why it still poses an unacceptable threat to disabled people in the future
- MPs still being asked to vote without clear information about the full impact of planned changes. www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
- Why it still poses an unacceptable threat to disabled people in the future
- MPs still being asked to vote without clear information about the full impact of planned changes. www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Reposted by Matt Cole
As Parliament prepares to vote tomorrow on cuts to PIP and UC-Health, the Govt consultation on longer-term changes to the benefits system also closes.
A thread on the good, the bad and the messy included in the consultation...
www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
A thread on the good, the bad and the messy included in the consultation...
www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
The good, the bad and the messy • Resolution Foundation
This week marks an important moment for this Government’s welfare reform plans: as Parliament prepares to vote on major legislation to make cuts to PIP and UC-Health, the consultation on longer-term c...
www.resolutionfoundation.org
June 30, 2025 at 10:09 AM
As Parliament prepares to vote tomorrow on cuts to PIP and UC-Health, the Govt consultation on longer-term changes to the benefits system also closes.
A thread on the good, the bad and the messy included in the consultation...
www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
A thread on the good, the bad and the messy included in the consultation...
www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...
Reposted by Matt Cole
The Health and Disability Green paper will deliver tiny income gains at the cost of major losses for those with health problems or a disability.
Restricting PIP qualification to save £5bn would mean between 800,000 & 1.2 million people losing support of between £4,200 & £6,300 per year by 2029-30.
Restricting PIP qualification to save £5bn would mean between 800,000 & 1.2 million people losing support of between £4,200 & £6,300 per year by 2029-30.
March 18, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The Health and Disability Green paper will deliver tiny income gains at the cost of major losses for those with health problems or a disability.
Restricting PIP qualification to save £5bn would mean between 800,000 & 1.2 million people losing support of between £4,200 & £6,300 per year by 2029-30.
Restricting PIP qualification to save £5bn would mean between 800,000 & 1.2 million people losing support of between £4,200 & £6,300 per year by 2029-30.
Reposted by Matt Cole
"the scale & depth of poverty & insecurity...is acting as a tightening brake on economic growth & opportunity"
Spot on from @jrf-uk.bsky.social's @paulkissack.bsky.social - fixing these foundational issues should be a precursor to meaningful growth not a reward for it www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Spot on from @jrf-uk.bsky.social's @paulkissack.bsky.social - fixing these foundational issues should be a precursor to meaningful growth not a reward for it www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Reeves' 'growth promise' won't help children in poverty - it could make it worse
As the nation went to the polls last year for a General Election, one in five people in the UK were living in poverty, including nearly one in three children.
www.lbc.co.uk
January 29, 2025 at 9:00 AM
"the scale & depth of poverty & insecurity...is acting as a tightening brake on economic growth & opportunity"
Spot on from @jrf-uk.bsky.social's @paulkissack.bsky.social - fixing these foundational issues should be a precursor to meaningful growth not a reward for it www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Spot on from @jrf-uk.bsky.social's @paulkissack.bsky.social - fixing these foundational issues should be a precursor to meaningful growth not a reward for it www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Reposted by Matt Cole
There’s something vile on this beach near Belfast and it’s been growing for nearly 50 years.
You’ll never eat sweetcorn again.
youtu.be/zf4UMqTHERI?...
You’ll never eat sweetcorn again.
youtu.be/zf4UMqTHERI?...
December 3, 2024 at 10:26 PM
There’s something vile on this beach near Belfast and it’s been growing for nearly 50 years.
You’ll never eat sweetcorn again.
youtu.be/zf4UMqTHERI?...
You’ll never eat sweetcorn again.
youtu.be/zf4UMqTHERI?...
Reposted by Matt Cole
Low-paid workers bear the brunt of the UK’s labour market insecurity.
Job loss, low (or no) income replacement when off sick, and the earnings volatility associated with zero-hours contracts, are all more commonly experienced by the lowest-paid workers.
Read more:
https://buff.ly/47fIM9h
Job loss, low (or no) income replacement when off sick, and the earnings volatility associated with zero-hours contracts, are all more commonly experienced by the lowest-paid workers.
Read more:
https://buff.ly/47fIM9h
September 17, 2024 at 12:07 PM
Low-paid workers bear the brunt of the UK’s labour market insecurity.
Job loss, low (or no) income replacement when off sick, and the earnings volatility associated with zero-hours contracts, are all more commonly experienced by the lowest-paid workers.
Read more:
https://buff.ly/47fIM9h
Job loss, low (or no) income replacement when off sick, and the earnings volatility associated with zero-hours contracts, are all more commonly experienced by the lowest-paid workers.
Read more:
https://buff.ly/47fIM9h