Welfare Rights during a pandemic

From the very start of the year we had to hit the ground running, keeping up with a relentless stream of statutory, and non-statutory changes to social security rules. We introduced a new section on our website where we posted articles that were specific to what residents were experiencing: Are you unable to work because you are shielding? Has your employer made you redundant? Are you unable to work due to sickness? Within the first few months of 2020/21 we had written and started delivering a completely new e-training programme, which was a steep learning curve for both trainers and delegates who were used to our in-person courses.

There remain significant uncertainties for current and future benefit recipients: the migration onto Universal Credit, future planned cuts to payments, and the spectre of more demand for welfare support as Government furlough and self-employment schemes end. In addition, there are also huge unknowns regarding the long-term health and financial impacts of Covid on ill and disabled people, and Carers.

Our Impact Report 2020/21 can be downloaded here