In the @bigissue.com I argue that a social security system designed around suspicion of claimants is ineffective & inefficient. "By centring its reforms around building trust and treating people with dignity and respect, the government has an opportunity to build a system we can all be proud of."

Great to be at powerful @turn2us.org.uk report launch in Parliament today, alongside @jrf-uk.bsky.social colleagues! Our social security system should be there for all of us when we need support, and treat people with compassion, dignity and respect #StopTheStigma

We’re excited to keep working with our supporters, alongside MPs and the government to create a social security system we can all be proud of. Together we can #StoptheStigma and #FixtheSystem @terryjermymp.bsky.social

We’re so grateful to everyone who came to our campaign launch this morning. It was encouraging to see so many showing support for a social security system that treats everyone with dignity and respect. Find the report on our website: www.turn2us.org.uk/stop-the-sti... @stevedarlingmp.bsky.social

Great to represent @ifanuk.bsky.social in Parliament this morning at the launch of @turn2us.org.uk new campaign. A brilliant event for a campaign that is desperately needed. Our social security system should be there for all of us when we need it. #stopthestigma #fixthesystem

🚨 Today we at @turn2us.org.uk are in parliament to launch our new report and campaign to #StopTheStigma and fix the system. Almost all of us will need our social security system at some point in our lives, but our society's distrust of claimants has been baked into its policies and practice...(1/6)

I'm getting really really fed up at constant reassertion that welfare spending is "out of control" when it is the same as the average for the past few decades. One reason disability benefit costs have risen is because core support has fallen.

Packed event at Labour Party Conference, where we put our findings on the impact of stigma to the Minister for Social Security & Disability. Dehumanising processes are creating a culture of fear. If the government wants more effective employment support, they need to first rebuild trust in DWP.

Last night along with @thefabians.bsky.social we hosted our panel event on stigma. It was great to hear the Minister, and so many of the audience questions emphasise that humanising the system is critical to any reform. Too often people are met with suspicion and control instead of support. #Lab25

I’m Sam the Policy & PA officer at Turn2us and I’ll be doing a takeover of our BlueSky account for #Lab25 We’re excited to be heading to Liverpool. Join us later today for our panel event with @thefabians.bsky.social 7PM at The Bluecoat: fabians.org.uk/social-insec...

This Sunday at the Labour Party Conference, we will put our latest research findings and recommendations to Stephen Timms, the Minister for Social Security and Disability. Join us for a discussion with our panelists Professor Sara Davies, Katherine Sangster and @thomasjlawson.bsky.social

This week @turn2us.org.uk released new research with Uni of Bristol, demonstrating how stigma towards claimants has broken our social security system. Alex's story brings to life how damaging and nonsensical it is to treat people with such suspicion and contempt. This isn't working.

Turn2us will be at the Labour Party Conference with the @thefabians.bsky.social, where we will put these findings to the Minister for Social Security and Disability, Stephen Timms.   Join us on the day at Bluecoats at 7pm, Sunday 28th Sept: fabians.org.uk/social-insec...

We have today published new research with the @bristoluni.bsky.social which demonstrates the extent to which stigma has been embedded into the design of our social security system: bit.ly/47XWX5e

Social Insecurity: How to Restore Trust in the System Sunday 28 | 19.00 | Bluecoat | @turn2us.org.uk

Gross snobbery, but what shines through is a system broken by a focus on control rather than support. When we're going through the demoralising search for a new job, the last thing we need is our time wasted or to be treated like a criminal. Look out for new @turn2us.org.uk research next week...

A few days left to apply for our new Social Change Manager role at @turn2us.org.uk - driving forward our systemic change ambition to reduce the stigma associated with needing financial support. If you're an inspiring, action-focused changemaker - please apply! www.turn2us.org.uk/about-us/job...

✊ Change happens when we stand together to demand it. Join our free Get Organised meetings for #ScotlandDemandsBetter! www.povertyalliance.org/events-page/

Tomorrow MPs will vote again on plans to cut over £200 a month from people too ill to work. Like our NHS, our social security system should be there for all of us when we need it. Now is your last chance to ask your MP to stop the cuts: act.turn2us.org.uk/page/173933/...

Section 2 of the Bill still halves the LCWRA (‘health’) element of universal credit

Calling economists, analysts & researchers! If you have experience in Excel spreadsheet creation or data analysis, these charities could use your help: 📈 Map data & make an impact with Hackney Foodbank 🔢 Help Leukaemia Care understand its reach Find out more here 👇 pbe.co.uk/get-involved...

So relieved to see Labour MPs standing firm in their solidarity here. Cuts to UC & PIP are simply to make short term savings and will work against DWP’s wider reform ambitions. It’s time for the government to admit that weakening our social security system is shortsighted and wrong.

This could be the fatal blow these cuts-posing-as-reforms deserve Supporting more disabled people into work is a welcome aspiration, but cutting benefits for this group to meet an imposed savings target, with no meaningful consultation, is neither supportive of nor justified by that objective

UPDATE- I’m told there are 99 signatures

Our Chief Exec ‪@thomasjlawson.bsky.social‬ speaking about these nonsensical cuts to our social security system. "There is no moral justification for cutting the support that allows sick and disabled people to meet their basic needs, live independently, and fully take part in society."

Apparently the government regrets making a financial instead of 'moral case' for its huge cuts our social security system. 🤔 Newsflash: There is no moral case for cutting critical support that enables sick and disabled people to live independently, afford the essentials and access work.

(4/4) How we talk about social security matters. We’re asking MPs and journalists to use our Talking About Social Security guides, to ensure their messages help build up our social-security system and avoid fueling harmful stigma: www.turn2us.org.uk/about-us/new...

(3/4) The government must scrap the cuts and work with disabled people to create a social-security system that we can all trust and be proud of. Write to your MP and ask them to oppose the cuts: act.turn2us.org.uk/page/172350/...

(1/4) Like our NHS, our social-security system should be there for all of us when we need it. Yet, this week, the government is expected to bring forward legislation that will cut vital support and push more people, especially those who are disabled, into poverty.

Powerful letter from @carers-uk.bsky.social calling on the government to delay planned cuts to support for disabled people & carers, and change course to implement measures that 'alleviate rather than exacerbate' carer poverty. www.carersuk.org/news-and-cam...

On Wednesday I was back with my Southwark Council team, celebrating the Securing the Future of Council Housing being shortlisted for the LGC's Campaign of the Year! And what a day for it - the Chancellor's social housing investment was yet another HUGE win for our campaign to #SaveCouncilHousing 🎉🏘️

(1/5) In her spending review the Chancellor promises renewal, renewal that will be felt in people’s everyday lives. Every day at Turn2us we see the severe impact that financial insecurity has on the millions of people we support...

SR response from Turn2us: "...It is fantastic to have this investment in the NHS, social housing, local transport and free school meals. However, cutting critical disability support will simultaneously deepen child poverty, worsen health conditions and create further barriers to employment...."

A quick thread on how planned cuts to disability benefits will affect voters in Labour-Reform battlegrounds. (1/4)

LSE researchers have found that 1 in 10 working-age adults are juggling low income, debt, insecure tenancies, high rents AND problems accessing NHS care 🤯😣 The Spending Review will need to reflect these challenges facing our country if the government wants to increase families' financial security.

The government has committed to end the need for food banks and reduce child poverty. Free school meals are great, but at the same time the government is cutting critical social security support which will increase child poverty. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

At least 54 MPs are set to oppose the cuts to disability benefits. As a society, protecting people who are too sick to work and supporting Disabled people to live independently is the right thing to do. Write to your MP: act.turn2us.org.uk/page/172350/...

This could set a really worrying precedent - as a charity we need to be able to communicate about the problems facing our communities and our country without fear of bans by agencies like Transport for London.

"Sarah deserved to trust the Government to apply its own rules correctly. Instead, a Government mistake landed her in £11,000 of unexpected debt." Baroness Lister on how we must tackle the unfairness of overpayment debt caused by DWP mistakes ✍️ www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

Strongly recommend this engaging book for anyone in government, civil society or beyond - whether you’re interested in the local, national or global. It manages to both challenge and inspire - sowing an urgency for change ✊ (Other outlets are available - I listened to Danny read it on xigxag 😊)

The government's proposed welfare reforms will lead to significant income loss for many and increase poverty. Talia Boshari shares an overview of our new rapid health impact assessment of the Pathways to Work Green Paper. Read more ⬇️ https://bit.ly/45jDg6D

Heartening words from Work & Pensions Committee Chair, @debbieabrahamsmp.bsky.social. “They have worked all their life and acquired a disability or a long-term condition, and they need that help. I would hope that if it happened to you or I, there would be a system there that is compassionate.”

Reforms to social security will inevitably involve challenging debates. But whatever we're arguing, we can all ensure the language we use avoids fuelling harmful misconceptions and stigma. This week our team at @turn2us.bsky.social have published practical guides for parliamentarians and journos

(1/3) If we want to rebuild trust in the system, we need to change the way we talk about benefits. Most of us will need support from our social security system at some point in our lives. At its best, social security helps people through these moments, helps them to rebuild. However...

Most of us will need support from our social security system at some point in our lives. But the way politicians and the media talk about it makes people feel 'worthless'. We can all make sure our language doesn’t contribute to harmful stigma. Read my piece in the @bigissue.com today:

(1/7) The government has chosen to cut critical support from sick and disabled people to meet arbitrary fiscal rules. We agree that we need to get the system working; every day we hear from people who can’t afford essentials or who are scared to try work and risk losing all their support.

The government is making reckless cuts to critical support for sick and disabled people to meet their arbitrary fiscal rules. Rather than increasing employment, these cuts will deepen poverty, worsen physical & mental health and further damage trust in our social security system. So shortsighted 🤦🏻‍♀️

“They’re not only halving the incapacity element of universal credit, they’re then freezing it for the rest of this parliament – that’s quite a big change, actually.” @pjtheeconomist.bsky.social on the scale of changes to disability benefits in the #SpringStatement2025. #PoliticsLive

Today’s Green Paper contains a welcome acknowledgement that the basic rate of benefits is inadequate. Steps have been announced to increase it, but it’s not quite as good as it seems for 2 reasons….