Latest news with #CPAG
Daily Record
12-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
People needing help with certain daily tasks could be due up to £441 every month
The majority of Adult Disability Payment awards are issued by Social Security Scotland for between two and 10 years. Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is a devolved benefit that provides extra money to people with a disability or long-term health condition which affects their everyday life. The benefit is similar in structure to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and is made up of two parts - daily living and mobility. Claimants may be able to qualify for one or both parts, however, it's important to be aware that how much someone is awarded depends on how their condition affects their ability to do everyday activities and get around. The daily living component of ADP is worth up to £441.60 every four week pay period while the mobility element is worth up to £308.20. Someone in receipt of the higher rates of both components receives £749.80 every four weeks from Social Security Scotland. Daily living part of ADP You may qualify for the daily living part if you need help with: preparing food taking nutrition (eating and drinking) managing therapy or monitoring a health condition washing and bathing managing toilet needs or incontinence dressing and undressing communicating verbally reading and understanding signs, symbols and words engaging socially with other people face to face making budgeting decisions How much financial support you will be paid Daily living If you are awarded the daily living part you will get either: £73.90 a week for the standard award £110.40 a week for the enhanced award Social Security Scotland guidance adds that if you are terminally ill you will automatically get the enhanced daily living award. Mobility part You may qualify for the mobility part if you need help with planning and following a journey or moving around. If you're awarded the mobility part you will get either: £29.20 a week for the standard award £77.05 a week for the enhanced award As part of the application process, Social Security Scotland will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they will look at: whether you can do it safely how long it takes you how often your condition affects this activity whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment How you are assessed Adult Disability Payment consultations do not involve face-to-face assessments unless this is preferred by the claimant and will be conducted by in-house Social Security Scotland staff - find out more about this on the CPAG website here. The latest statistics from Social Security Scotland show that at the end of January, some 433,055 people were receiving ADP. Of that overall figure, 145,090 (34%) were new applicants and 287,960 (66%) existing PIP claimants had their award transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The data also shows that the average time to process a new claim for ADP is now 42 working days, just over eight weeks. This means people making a new claim in June could have an award decision before the end of August, although it's important to be aware that some applications can take shorter or longer to process. The Scottish Government estimates that ADP will support 612,000 people by 2028/29, providing financial support of almost £4.5 billion. Award periods When a person is awarded ADP, Social Security Scotland will set a review date, this is to ensure the financial support meets the needs of the claimant. Awards can be issued for anywhere between 24 months and 10 years, however, some people may be given an 'indefinite award' with no review date. Social Security Scotland reviews take place at a time when a person's needs are likely to have changed, to ensure that their payment continues to be at the right level. It's important to be aware that payments will continue while a review is taking place and they do not need to re-apply during the process. ADP Indefinite Awards You may be given an indefinite award with no review date for ADP if: Your needs are highly unlikely to change You are awarded the enhanced rate of both the daily living and mobility components of ADP Guidance on states: 'This means your award will not be reviewed in the future unless you tell us that something has changed.' The Scottish Government says that this meets the principles of 'dignity, fairness and respect'. How to apply for ADP People can apply ADP, over the phone, by post or in-person. To find out more or apply, visit the dedicated pages on here or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
Epoch Times
10-06-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
1 in 6 Pupils Miss School Because They Lack Money, Survey Suggests
One in six of all secondary school pupils have said they have missed class because they lacked money for food, transport, or trips, or otherwise did not have something they needed to attend, a survey by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) suggests. The CPAG's findings, Nearly one in four (23 percent) said they missed school because they did not have money to pay for meals, and 26 percent said they did not attend because they couldn't afford to pay for transport to get to school. More than a quarter (27 percent) said they lacked money to go on school trips. Almost half (47 percent) of pupils who missed school did so because they did not have the correct uniform or kit. FSM children were more than three times as likely to give this reason for missing school than their peers, the report said. Finances also influenced pupils' subject choices, with 16 percent saying concerns about cost prevented them from selecting a particular subject. Related Stories 6/7/2024 5/27/2025 The non-profit organisation commissioned polling firm Survation to undertake the study, which surveyed 1,701 state school secondary pupils living in the UK between April 17 and May 1. Its findings come amid wider concerns over the impact of poverty on children. According to the latest Recommendations First among CPAG's recommendations was abolishing the two-child benefit cap. The group also called for the expansion of free school meals to more families in England, access to free public transport for young people, and cash support to help with the cost of uniform and kit. Responding to the report, a government spokesperson said the Labour administration was committed to tackling child poverty through the Child Poverty Taskforce and broader reforms. The spokesperson said, 'This government has inherited a system with baked-in inequalities, which we're tackling head-on through our Plan for Change by rolling out free breakfast clubs in every primary, providing mental health support in every school, and investing over £3 billion in Pupil Premium to support those children who need it most.' The government also plans to reduce school uniform costs through new legislation, which along with free breakfast clubs 'could put £500 a year back into working parents' pockets.' Two-Child Limit The CPAG's recommendations come amid renewed calls to abolish the two-child benefit limit, which a In August 2024, the government Earlier this week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's official spokesman said the government was 'not going to rule anything out' in its plans to tackle child poverty, after Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson—who is one of the leads on the Child Poverty Taskforce—had said that scrapping the limit was not off the table. Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer speaks with pupils as he visits Whale Hill Primary School in Eston, England, on June 11, government's child poverty strategy was due to be published this spring, but has been pushed back to autumn so it can be aligned with the chancellor's Budget. The two-child limit was introduced seven years ago and restricts means-tested Child Tax Credit or Universal Credit to the first two children. Access to Child Benefit—which is not means tested—remains uncapped, with parents able to claim for Child Tax Credit/Universal Credit and Child Benefit at the same time. Reform Would Scrap Cap The two-child cap is unpopular with the opposition, as well as some in the Labour Party. Last year, Labour Labour's move to restrict winter fuel payments for pensioners has also proven unpopular. Its implementation saw the number of seniors eligible for help with energy bills Starmer has since Reinstating support for low-income families has emerged as a key campaign issue for Reform UK. On Tuesday, Nigel Farage MP Reform is currently in the lead in voting intention surveys, polling ahead of Labour, the Conservative Party, and the Liberal Democrats. PA Media contributed to this report.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How much money could families get if Labour scraps two-child benefit cap?
Scrapping the two-child benefit cap could lift up to 470,000 children out of poverty, according to the latest estimates, by allowing low-income families to claim an extra £3,513 per year in universal credit for every extra child. After months of firm support for maintaining the limit, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has appeared to leave the door open to the possibility of lifting the limit, put in place by the Conservative government in 2017. 'We'll look at all options of driving down child poverty,' Sir Keir said last week, in response to questions on whether he would scrap it. It came after mounting pressure from his own MPs and Reform leader Nigel Farage, who committed to scrapping the limit if he were PM. There are 1.2 million families with three or more children in the UK and around 370,000 of these are households on universal credit (UC). Families receiving UC - who are on low or no income - receive an extra £339 each month for their first child born before 2017, and £292.81 for first or second children born after 2017. This amounts to £7,581 per year for families with two children. But in most cases, parents are unable to claim UC benefits for any further children. There are rare exemptions, for example, in the case of twins, or adopted children. Most families can still claim general child benefit payments for more than two children, which amounts to £897 per child per year. But if the government scrapped the two-child benefit cap, families on UC could claim a further £3,513 per year for every extra child. However, there is an upper limit to how much families can claim in benefits with an overall cap of £22,020 a year, or £25,323 for households in London. The number of children living in poor households has been steadily increasing over the past decade, with 4.5 million children - around 1 in 3 - now living in poverty. Poverty can be defined in several ways but the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) uses 'relative low income' as a marker, referring to people in households which earn below 60 per cent of the median income of £36,700 in 2024, or £14,680. Some of these children are going without essentials, according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, such as food, heating, clothing or basic toiletries. Removing the two-child benefit cap could lift 350,000 out of poverty, according to analysis from researchers at the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG). A further 700,000 children could see their lives improved with the extra cash, their research has found. Meanwhile, the Resolution Foundation has estimated that around 470,000 children could be taken out of poverty by lifting the cap, or 280,000 if the limit was extended to three children. Since the Labour government came into power in July last year, some 37,000 more children have been pushed into poverty by the two-child limit, according to CPAG estimates. 'No road to better living standards, economic growth and wider opportunities starts with record child poverty. The policy must go - and sooner rather than later,' said CPAG's CEO Alison Garnham. Since the cap applies to families receiving UC, the children affected are in low-income households. And 6 in 10 families affected by the two-child limit have at least one parent in work, CPAG found. The estimated cost of removing the two-child limit, extending it to three children, or removing a household cap varies. Getting rid of the cap could cost the government £3.5bn in 2029/30, according to estimates from think tank the Resolution Foundation earlier this year. Meanwhile, CPAG suggests that the move would cost £2bn. The Independent's own calculations suggest that extending the limit to three children could cost at least £1.3 bn a year; assuming that 370,000 households claim an extra £3,513 of UC each year. Consecutive governments have refused to commit to removing the cap, despite its unpopularity with voters. Last year, Sir Keir enforced the whip on seven Labour MPs who voted against their party to oppose the two-child benefit cap. The current Labour government had consistently maintained that they would not take action to remove the cap, due to tight resources in the budget; yet Sir Keir's statements last week appeared to open up the possibility of a U-turn.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
16 per cent of pupils have skipped school after being 'priced out the system'
Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are being forced to skip school because their parents cannot afford meals, uniforms and trips, according to a new study. The survey, which was commissioned by Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), found that 16% of children of secondary school age have skipped a day of school because they did not have something they needed. This figure increased to 26% for children eligible for free school meals. The Government has been urged to expand the free school meals scheme across England (Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire) The charity is calling for the Government to expand the free school meals scheme to more families across England. The poll of some 1700 school children between the ages of 11 and 18 found that 47% of those who missed days of school did so because they did not have the right uniform. It was also found that 26% had missed school because they did not have enough money to attend school trips. A member of staff at a secondary school in Scotland told researchers: 'We sometimes receive calls to the school to say a certain pupil can't come in today because they maybe only have one uniform and that's in the washing and it's not dry, so they'll be off today.' A secondary school pupil in England said: 'I miss (out on) enrichment week and trips, it's too much (money).' The issue was highlighted by teachers and students (Image: PA) Sainsbury's set to axe three key services in UK stores 'by early summer' UK facing youth unemployment crisis as young people not prepared for work Asda urgently recalls item in which a child could become 'tangled or trapped in' Kate Anstey, head of education at CPAG, said: 'Children in poverty aren't getting the real deal at school because they don't have money to participate – or even get to the school gates. 'From not being able to afford meals or uniform to poor mental health, lack of money at home means young people are missing school – effectively priced out of the system. 'Government must do more to support living standards for families so kids aren't locked out of learning – including scrapping the two-child limit and expanding eligibility for free school meals.' A Government spokesperson said: 'We are determined to reduce child poverty through wide-ranging action as part of our Child Poverty Taskforce, breaking the unfair link between background and opportunity. 'This Government has inherited a system with baked-in inequalities, which we're tackling head-on through our Plan for Change by rolling out free breakfast clubs in every primary, providing mental health support in every school, and investing over £3 billion in Pupil Premium to support those children who need it most. 'Through our Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are also changing the law to limit the number of branded items schools can require, which alongside free breakfast clubs could put £500 a year back into working parents' pockets.'
Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Children missing school over uniform and trips costs, miserable study shows
Some 16% of pupils aged 11-18 have missed school at least once because their parents couldn't afford something they needed to attend, such as branded uniform or kit Some 16% of pupils aged 11-18 have missed school at least once because their parents couldn't afford something they needed to attend, polling shows. This rises to 26% among pupils who receive free lunches, according to the Child Poverty Action Group's (CPAG) poll. Almost half (47%) of young people who missed school said they did not have the correct uniform or kit. More than a quarter (26%) skipped school because they couldn't afford transport to get to school, while 27% didn't turn up because of a lack of money for going on trips. Children who receive free school meals (FSM) were more than twice as likely to be sent home from school for not having the right uniform or kit as their peers (8% compared to 3% of all pupils). More than one in five (21%) young people in receipt of FSM have missed school because of mental health challenges, such as feeling anxious or depressed, compared to 17% in families who aren't eligible. One secondary school staff member told CPAG they sometimes receive calls from parents to say a pupil can't come in because they 'only have one uniform and that's in the washing and it's not dry'. And a student told the charity: 'A lot of people lose confidence over their financial embarrassed about how they're poor, they tend to be quieter.' Another pupil said: 'I sometimes have to buy my friends their food because they don't have any money in their accounts.' And one student added: 'All the trips are too expensive and a lot of parents can't afford them even when they work, especially if they have more than one child attending school.' More than two-thirds (68%) of secondary pupils in the UK attend schools that still require branded uniforms, although this varies across the nations, according to CPAG. The government is bringing in legislation in England to restrict the number of branded items to three in secondary schools or four if one item is a tie. It comes as Keir Starmer comes under mounting pressure to reverse the two-child benefit limit, which could lift thousands of kids out of poverty. Bridget Phillipson on Tuesday said scrapping the controversial two-child benefit limit is "on the table". CPAG demanded the Tory-era policy be ditched and also called for an expansion of free school meals. The Mirror is campaigning for free school meals for all primary school children. Kate Anstey, head of education at CPAG, said: 'Children in poverty aren't getting the real deal at school because they don't have money to participate – or even get to the school gates. From not being able to afford meals or uniform to poor mental health, lack of money at home means young people are missing school – effectively priced out of the system. 'Government must do more to support living standards for families so kids aren't locked out of learning – including scrapping the two-child limit and expanding eligibility for free school meals.' A government spokesperson said: 'We are determined to reduce child poverty through wide-ranging action as part of our Child Poverty Taskforce, breaking the unfair link between background and opportunity. 'This government has inherited a system with baked-in inequalities. 'Through our Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, we are also changing the law to limit the number of branded items schools can require, which alongside free breakfast clubs could put £500 a year back into working parents' pockets.' ::: Survation surveyed 1,701 state secondary school students aged 11-18 living in the UK between April 17 and May 1.
