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Samuel Thomas

@smlthms.bsky.social

129 followers 230 following 128 posts

Policy at Z2K, previously advice at Z2K & Shelter Scotland, views own

Samuel Thomas @smlthms.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

It suggests that ‘the culture around benefits has changed and claiming has become easier’. In reality, award rates are no higher today than when PIP was introduced. Source: Resolution Foundation (2/5)

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Samuel Thomas @smlthms.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

While social security legislation was absent from the King’s Speech, the Conservatives’ ‘Alternative King’s Speech’ includes a ‘Welfare Reform Bill’. 🧵(1/5)

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Samuel Thomas @smlthms.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

🚨 Yesterday's PIP statistics show that waiting times for mandatory reconsiderations have hit the highest level since PIP was created Combined with poor decision-making and lengthy tribunal delays, these backlogs are massively prolonging hardship for disabled people

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Samuel Thomas @smlthms.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Bit frustrating to see this in the homelessness strategy DHP budget is a tiny fraction of total LHA shortfall - and even within that only 1/5 of DHP awards are to cover LHA gap. It's nowhere close to making up for the freeze

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Samuel Thomas @smlthms.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

Budget docs show that the impending cut to UC-Health - framed as a 'cost neutral' rebalancing with the rate of the UC standard allowance - actually amounts to a net £2bn cut by 2030/31

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Samuel Thomas @smlthms.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Claims for disability benefits are now falling, according to the OBR forecast

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Samuel Thomas @smlthms.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Keep seeing versions of this narrative, but it isn't really true Surely the 'scramble to raise revenue' has been primarily caused by the reported OBR productivity downgrade to the rumoured tune of c.£20bn, not the PIP U-turn that cost a quarter of this

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Samuel Thomas @smlthms.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

The government is not proposing to change this either. The green paper made this explicit – it simply says that the government will ‘improve communication’ around ongoing awards. (6/7)

Paras 170-173 of the Pathways to Work Green Paper are excerpted

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Samuel Thomas @smlthms.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Looks like this govt's version of WCA abolition is significantly less generous than previous govt plan, which would have awarded health element to those getting any element of PIP

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