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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · 15h

Agreed, pushing people towards work is inappropriate for so many people. A case worker could help people access health and wellbeing support. It should also be entirely optional so that people don't have to take part if it's not right for them

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Reposted by Kate Harrison

Jagna Olejniczak @jagnaolejniczak.bsky.social · 17h

Excellent thread on what should guide any Jobcentre engagement with disabled claimants (many of these principles should be standard across the whole UC system - not just for those currently exempt from conditionality).

Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · 17h

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...

A fresh start: transforming engagement with disabled benefits claimants through a case worker model

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · 17h

For more on the barriers to work that disabled people face, see this brilliant paper by @beccastacey.bsky.social www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publi...

Making Work Pay for Disabled People

Report by Becca Stacey on the financial barriers to work for disabled people

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · 17h

The Pathways to Work green paper does little to address the lack of accessible work and training opportunities or the lack of trust in DWP, among other challenges. For truly effective support, govt will need to tackle the systemic issues that make work inaccessible for many disabled people

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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · 17h

I propose five principles for the support conversation: 1) Make the conversation voluntary. 2) Be empathetic and supportive. 3) Offer flexible and tailored support. 4) Look beyond work, at health and wellbeing. 5) Offer ongoing support to those who want it, not a ‘one-off’ conversation

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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · 17h

This paper builds on my previous work proposing a case worker model for Jobcentres. Case workers would be claimants’ main point of contact and refer them for specialist support, as well as ongoing pastoral and practical support bsky.app/profile/kslh...

Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · Jun 5

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...

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

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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · 17h

The ‘support conversation’ is meant to help disabled people move into work, but the govt offers little detail on how this will be done. My paper argues that using a case worker approach would offer a consistent, trust-based relationship and allow more holistic support beyond employment support

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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · 17h

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...

A fresh start: transforming engagement with disabled benefits claimants through a case worker model

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

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Reposted by Kate Harrison

Craig Berry @craigpberry.bsky.social · 16d

📢 Benefit cuts don’t have widespread support

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Reposted by Kate Harrison

Becca Stacey @beccastacey.bsky.social · 19d

Many thanks to @cjayanetti.bsky.social for their write-up of this piece in the @bigissue.com tinyurl.com/2rvs3n4t

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.

tinyurl.com

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Reposted by Kate Harrison

Ben Baumberg Geiger @benbgeiger.bsky.social · 28d

Are out-of-work benefit claims at a record high? My new post open.substack.com/pub/inequali... , and also my take on More or Less this morning at www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Are out-of-work benefit claims at a record high?

The official statistics are wildly misleading - I've now made some new estimates that show just how wrong they are

open.substack.com

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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · Sep 2

The cuts to UC health will create an unacceptable two-tier system, disadvantaging future claimants. Read more about this in Victoria's new report 👇

Victoria Anns @victoria-anns.bsky.social · Sep 2

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...

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

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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · Aug 8

Come and join the best team going to do impactful work on welfare policy. This is a great opportunity to learn and develop research and influencing skills in a friendly and supportive organisation.

Craig Berry @craigpberry.bsky.social · Aug 7

My team at @citizensadvice.bsky.social is recruiting for a Policy Research Assistant. Come and join us!

www.jobtrain.co.uk/citizensadvi...

Policy Research Assistant:Blended between office and home (England and Wales)

www.jobtrain.co.uk

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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · Aug 8

Brilliant new briefing from Sarah and Julia offering some possible solutions to the fact that UC's monthly assessment periods just don't work for many claimants 👇

Sarah Hadfield @drsarahhadfield.bsky.social · Aug 7

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.

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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · Jul 30

Great report from Jagna showing that UC incentives to work are often misguided and overly complex. Instead what we need is more investment in supporting people to find and stay in suitable work 👇

Jagna Olejniczak @jagnaolejniczak.bsky.social · Jul 30

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...

Work incentives aren't working: is the Universal Credit review asking the right questions?

www.citizensadvice.org.uk

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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · Jul 10

Brilliant in-depth report from Ed and Emily looking at health inequalities and work. Well worth a read!

Ed Pemberton @epemberton.bsky.social · Jul 10

1) New report alert 📚! Written [email protected] 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...

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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · Jul 9

The changes to the disability cuts bill don't go back enough - cutting UC Health would cause untold damage. Victoria's blog explains why we're calling on MPs to vote against it once again 👇

Victoria Anns @victoria-anns.bsky.social · Jul 8

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...

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Reposted by Kate Harrison

Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · Jul 1

Anti poverty organisations all unanimously urging MPs to vote against the UCPIP Bill this afternoon, and calling on the government to carry out proper reviews and consultation before legislating.

This is too important to vote through on an act of faith.

www.ucpipbill.co.uk/wp-content/u...

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Reposted by Kate Harrison

Craig Berry @craigpberry.bsky.social · Jun 30

A long thread on why the concessions in and around the UCPIP Bill (ie the disability benefits cuts) are illusory, disingenuous and potentially makes things worse 🧵

There are 5 big myths to bust -fifth is the most difficult to untangle, but the most significant in my view, so please do bear with 🙂

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Reposted by Kate Harrison

Tom MacInnes @tommacinnes.bsky.social · Jun 27

After all the rumours we now know what's in the amendment. From November next year, new claimants who need help to cut up food, dress, wash, or use the toilet would be denied the lifeline that PIP provides. For young disabled people and people who become disabled in the future, it is utterly bleak

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Reposted by Kate Harrison

Victoria Anns @victoria-anns.bsky.social · Jun 27

I think everyone would agree that eligibility to disability benefits should be decided based on need.

The government's concessions further erode this principle.

The 4 point rule is arbitrary. Restricting UC health based on age is unfair. And creating a 2-tiered dis ben system is unjustifiable.

Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · Jun 27

Changes to UCPIP bill are result of campaigners & disabled people speaking out about the profound harm the govt was about to inflict.

However, the bill remains illogical & inherently unfair.

The govt should pause & come back with meaningful reform if serious about “fixing the foundations”.

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Reposted by Kate Harrison

Laura Hutchinson 🌸 @lauralhutch.bsky.social · Jun 27

Changes to UCPIP bill are result of campaigners & disabled people speaking out about the profound harm the govt was about to inflict.

However, the bill remains illogical & inherently unfair.

The govt should pause & come back with meaningful reform if serious about “fixing the foundations”.

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Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · Jun 27

It's now more important than ever to write to your MP and tell them that the only acceptable outcome is for ALL of the cuts to be stopped

Kate Harrison @kslharrison.bsky.social · Jun 27

The government's concessions on disability benefits cuts are a good start but do nothing to help those who will need disability benefits in the future. Anyone can become disabled at any time and future claimants are no less deserving of support than existing claimants

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Reposted by Kate Harrison

Victoria Anns @victoria-anns.bsky.social · Jun 26

But, if the disability cuts go ahead, we expect Anita to lose her PIP daily living entitlement. And as a knock on impact, also lose her UC health.

Even with an uplift to UC standard allowance, she’ll lose £678 each month and be plunged into poverty.

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