The government announcement on support for renters over the winter is the top news - and my pick of the articles on it is Shelter's response. Tweet of the week The two-child limit is certainly the worst social policy enacted in my lifetime. Unique to UK. If anyone can identify the mendacious bastard that came up with the idea. Please tell me. He/she will surely rot in hell. … [Read more...]

My pick of last week's news is the Emerging from Lockdown survey. Tweet of the week Appalled at how hard it still is for our poorest communities to withdraw their hard-earned low wages from cash machines w/o incurring a charge. £1.50 might not seem much to some but can you imagine trying to withdraw your last £10 for electricity and seeing it reduced to £8.50.😢 — Father Grant Naylor … [Read more...]

My picks of last week's news are Mum found dead beside starving baby and My working week: 'I advise a client on universal credit who can't pay their bills or support their kids' Tweet of the week Am reading @GlasgowCC proposals for funding cuts to law centres & advice agencies. Proposed cuts range from approx. 40% to 100% (i.e. zero funding). At this point in the pandemic I cannot … [Read more...]

The big news this week was the eleventh-hour extension of the eviction ban in England for one month. My pick of the articles is the Toynbee Hall report on what needs to be done to resolve the problem, not just postpone it: Understanding relationships between landlords and their tenants during COVID-19. Tweet of the week Just over 1 in 3 adults who were unable to afford an unexpected … [Read more...]

My pick of last week's news is MAT's response on Ongoing support for consumers affected by coronavirus. But anyone interested in high-cost lending should also read my summary of Kerrigan v Elevate. Tweet of the week Their defence is literally: we gave all the right grades, just not necessarily to the right people pic.twitter.com/d7T8DVZ9k3 — Chris Cook (@xtophercook) August 14, … [Read more...]

Another busy week with a wide variety of articles. Tweet of the week The no of newly benefit capped households on #universalcredit rose by a massive 665% between Feb & May; at a time when the things people can do to escape the cap (get a job; move to a cheaper house) were basically impossible https://t.co/v0JvzWKzxy — Ruth Patrick (@ruthpatrick0) August 6, 2020 Debt … [Read more...]

A bumper set of reading this week. My top picks have to be two from the FCA - the urgent call for inputs in the next week about Ongoing support for consumers affected by coronavirus: mortgages and consumer credit and the massive Guidance for firms on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers.  Tweet of the week What family carers do - extraordinary, powerful letter in today’s … [Read more...]

My pick of last week's news is the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute's report on Making free debt advice accessible to people with mental health problems. Tweet of the week A reader gets her current Amigo loan wiped and a cash refund of just over £25,000 https://t.co/ZwLirOh7NO pic.twitter.com/2gbBKJVtRG — Debt Camel (@DebtCamel) July 25, 2020 Debt news Portfolio letter … [Read more...]

My pick of the week's news - at last the draft Debt Respite Scheme Regulations have been published - better known as the Breathing Space. Tweet of the week Today’s advice. 1. Never use google or other search engines to find debt advice. 2. If you do, scroll past the top results that have Ad by them. They pay google to be there. They may be crooks, they may mis-sell you things, at best … [Read more...]

My pick of last week's news is How the gambling industry got its claws into children. If you are interested in benefits policy, Testing times: Universal credit and the habitual residence test is excellent. Tweet of the week Mounting evidence, including today's research from @NAOorguk, shows that there is "nothing compassionate" about #UniversalCredit. If it's to act as a lifeline in … [Read more...]