Ending hunger and hardship could benefit the economy – new research by Trussell Trust
Trussell has published new research with WPI Economics .The research models the savings the Scottish and UK Governments could deliver by taking policy action.
Policy choices in Scotland include:
- Taking action to reduce the disability employment gap. This would lift 36,000 people out of hunger and hardship, reducing costs to the economy, public services, and the public purse by £230 million
- Ensuring everyone can access the financial support they’re eligible for would lift 100,000 people in Scotland out of facing hunger and hardship, reducing costs to the economy, public services, and public purse by £800 million.
- Removing the two-child limit, which would lead to a reduction in costs to the economy, public services and public purse of £115 million, and ensure 27,000 fewer people in Scotland are prevented from facing hunger and hardship.
- Increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40 a week, which would lift 84,000 Scots out of hunger and hardship with a reduction of costs to the economy, public services, and the public purse of £435 million.
You can read the full Scotland report below or via this link:scotland_summary_report_final.pdf
Managed Migration update
The DWP Local Partnership for North East Scotland District held a "Move to UC" event this week to provide updates on the current situation with managed migration from legacy benefits to UC. Here are the highlights from the event:
- Universal Credit Rollout Timeline: The DWP plans to move all legacy benefit claimants to UC by March 2026, completing the UC rollout and closing all legacy benefits by this date.
- The DWP said that it is increasing the volume of migration notices issued each month and that therefore, final migration notices will be issued in September 2025, allowing more time for people to fully transfer by March 2026.
- This process is a random selection and so unable to anticipate potential local demand for assistance. Jobcentre staff are also unaware of when or how it will impact their individual offices within Fife.
- The managed migration of income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), or incomed-related ESA and Housing Benefit, started in September 2024. All claimants will receive their letters by September 2025.
- An enhanced support journey is in place for customers migrating from ESA to UC. This will include contact with claimants from the DWP if no UC claim is made by week 12 of the migration notice. This contact will begin with a text message, followed up by a maximum of 3 telephone calls before other engagement means will be considered.
- If a customer has a corporate appointee in place for their ESA claim, this will be automatically transferred over to the UC claim without further verification. If it is not in place then verification steps under the UC claim will need to be completed.
- All tax credits awards have ended as of April 2025, completing the migration of Tax Credits claimants to UC.
Fife residents are also currently undergoing the following managed migration process from DWP to Social Security Scotland replacement benefits; this is expected to conclude by the end of 2025.
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA)
- Attendance Allowance to Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP)
May holiday and change to payment dates
Due to the bank holiday on Monday 5th May, benefit payments due on that day will be paid in advance. The DWP and Social Security Scotland have confirmed that their payments will be available in customers' accounts on Friday 2nd May.
There is another bank holiday later this month and so all benefit payments due on Monday 26th May will be paid on Friday 23rd May.
Debt deductions from Universal Credit
As from 30th April, The Fair Repayment Rate (FRR) comes into force which will limit the amount of money able to be deducted from Universal Credit for debt repayment. The maximum amount was 25% of the Standard Allowance, but the FRR has reduced this to 15%.
Social Security Scotland- research survey
Researchers in Social Security Scotland are running a short survey for people who support clients, use their website, attend stakeholder events or work in partnership with them. It gives you a chance to tell them about your experience of dealing with Social Security Scotland over the past year.
You can take part in the survey online.
A dark mode-friendly version of the survey is also available.
The survey will close on Friday 16 May. Completing the survey will take around 10 to 15 minutes.
As always, please get in touch with Sheena Watson or Audrey Whyte if you would like more information on any of this week’s content. We would also value any contributions you would like to make towards future editions.
