Compensate successful benefit appellants for additional costs of benefit loss
- Final Signatures: 16
The Government should provide compensation for additional costs such as late charges, bank charges and interest charges, incurred by people while waiting for a mandatory reconsideration (MR) or appeal for benefits, if they win the appeal or MR.
In order to be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) you must earn an average of £120 a week in a single job. This is almost 13.5 hours at minimum wage, which many people do not earn from a single job. I want SSP to be extended to anyone earning over £120 a week, even if from multiple jobs.
Change Universal Credits and How Student Loans Decrease Payments To Hardship
- Final Signatures: 16
Student finance help students with loans and this will be paid back to the government. Maintenance loans for students are counted as unearned income, every £1 in loan, £1 is deducted from UC payment. However, if someone works and has earned income then they are deducted 63p from every £1 earned.
Create an nationally recognised card for carers
- Final Signatures: 14
Many disabled adults and children need a carers support to access visitor attractions throughout the UK. Many organisations accept proof of caring by producing copies of blue badges or disability benefits, however a carers card does not exist nationally.
Require negative Covid test results for entering workplaces
- Final Signatures: 14
Regular testing needs to be offered for those attending workplaces that are currently open for business to stop the virus spreading out of control. Staff should be required to show a negative test result before being able to enter the workplace.
Apply regional weighting to Universal Credit payments
- Final Signatures: 14
There is a 'National Living Wage' and also 'London Living Wage', while the benefit system is uniform. People living in London who are affected by poverty especially during these times have the same benefit applied as someone living up north.
Stop requiring couples to make joint claims for Universal Credit
- Final Signatures: 20
Currently, the law states that people must apply jointly to universal credit if they live together. This is an antequated system which assumes your partner will be able, and willing to support you in your time of need, placing the burden on them rather than the system.
Increase flat rate of Child Maintenance to £21.15 p/w
- Final Signatures: 20
The current "flat" rate of Child Maintenance is £7 per week for non-resident parents earning £7 to £100, or getting benefits. We believe too many paying parents are allowed to pay minimal amounts due to flimsy & inadequate child maintenance formulas & inaccurate assessments on affordability.
Benefits for all those made unemployed since March 2020 should be increased to match the furlough scheme, and payments should be backdated to March 2020 or whenever they lost their job, whichever is later.
I would like the Government to ensure that the eligibility criteria for legal aid to ensure that all single parents are eligible, regardless of their income or the case being heard. I think this will help to ensure that it is accessible to everyone who needs it.