More news & blogs
Read the latest news & blogs on how we are working to create a London free from poverty
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‘My brother didn’t die so people could be treated like this’
'We’re not just fighting for an extra £20 a week for people, we’re fighting to ensure that the Government treats all people with dignity and respect, regardless of their status in society.' Read Ella's piece on the campaign #IncreaseDisabilityBenefits and the impact the discriminatory move by Government has had on millions of people.
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A social security system for the long-term, not just COVID-19
Our Social Security system should act as a safety net. With the outbreak of COVID-19, the number of people needing its support has risen by over a million, and the cracks that have been there for years are suddenly at the forefront of a lot more people’s attention.
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Z2K Covid-19 – Emergency Social Security & Housing Actions
The arrival of Coronavirus in the UK has become an unprecedented crisis. Huge numbers of people are expected to become ill, and many more unable to work as they self-isolate to protect themselves and others.
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Z2K gives evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee on behalf of the DBC
Z2K's Marc Francis gave evidence to the newly formed Work and Pensions Committee on behalf of the DBC. He explained the inadequacies of the current assessment process for disability benefits, and how many unwell people could be left without benefits for months on end due to COVID-19
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Why Universal Credit was flawed from the start
The Lords Economic Affairs Committee has just held an inquiry into Universal Credit (UC). As Z2K outlined in our response to this inquiry, 10 years on and many delays later, UC is failing to deliver on its original aims because these aims were either misconceived or subject to bad design decisions.
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Universal Credit: Inside the Welfare State – or at least that bit DWP wants you to see
Why the total absence of disabled and ill people from BBC’s 3-part documentary Universal Credit: Inside the Welfare State accurately reflects Government’s attitude towards people living in the most vulnerable situations
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The grim reality of homelessness, sofa-surfing and the sharp end of renting in London
At Z2K we’ve begun a new project looking to amplify the voices of some of our clients. Rose and John co-write this piece detailing John's experiences of homelessness, sofa-surfing, and sharp end of renting in London.
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DWP abuses the power they have over peoples’ Universal Credit journals
Many people receive incorrect Universal Credit payments as a result of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) maladministration. As Liz* and Emma* have experienced, it can be difficult to identify maladministration when the DWP retrospectively correct their errors on peoples’ Universal Credit journals.
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Anti-poverty charity, Z2K, welcomes Stephen Timms as Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee
We are looking forward to working with the Committee to ensure that the Government delivers on its commitment to reduce poverty through the tax and benefits system, and to ensure that those who truly can’t work are given the help they need.
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£20 a week to live on: what happens when the double whammy of Universal Credit and the Benefit Cap hits
For some people, the double whammy of moving to Universal Credit and being hit by the Benefit Cap, leaves them destitute and poverty stricken. Alex* is a prime example of this as he was left with just £20 per week to live on.
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Why the ASA ruling on the DWP Universal Credit advertisements is a massive win for advice workers and the thousands of people they help navigate the benefits system
"To spend £225k of public money - according to the government’s own figures – on a deceitful PR exercise when people are literally starving is unforgivable, and they must be held to account." Raji reflects on the ASA ruling on the DWP Universal Credits Ads and what needs to happen next.
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Universal Credit stats – Obscuring the true extent of poor decision making
"This opacity of the Universal Credit behemoth is making it far easier for the DWP to mislead the public, and deflect criticism of its shortcomings." Our caseworker Andy on how Universal Credit stats are obscuring the true extent of poor decision making
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