Samuel Thomas

Policy @z2k_trust, previously advice @shelterscotland, views own

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

https://t.co/pxuQCamHWd

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

Some good news today on welfare reform

Auto-recording health & disability benefit assessments is an important move towards increasing accountability and trust

Hopefully just a first step in overhauling the broken assessment system

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

Really interesting new report from the OBR that suggests future forecast welfare spending could be lower than anticipated

Finds previous OBR forecasts likely overestimated future losses due to fraud & error - will be corrected in next forecast

[Office for Budget Responsibility @OBR_UK]

Welfare trend report 2026 now published.

This edition examines the drivers of recent trends in welfare fraud and error, with a particular focus on the pandemic and the move to universal credit.

Read the full report on our website: https://t.co/ENV0ulu2VM

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

New benefit cap stats out today

We don't talk enough about the benefit cap as a cost of renting issue

Households are most likely to be capped in London & South East England - where rents are highest

1 in 5 capped households are single people pushed over the cap purely by rent

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

@mostly_sleepy @KShabby16334956 But I guess if this support was cheaper, then it would give people more options than the current system?

I agree that it certainly doesn't resolve separate issue of impact of LCWRA cut though

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

This actually sounds quite sensible

Giving disabled people the option to swap cash for support where this is right for them - rather than forcibly withdrawing this and plunging hundreds of thousands into poverty - could be a clever fix

[Chris Smyth @Smyth_Chris]

People on sickness benefits would be able to swap cash payments for job coaching or mental health therapy, under plans being explored to get welfare reforms past Labour MPs

Early stage, but first concrete proposals discussed since last year’s rebellion

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

@nightingales2_2 Would definitely be critical that it is a genuine choice. Versions of this proposal that forcibly remove payments would undoubtedly just deepen poverty & make people's health even worse

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

@mostly_sleepy @KShabby16334956 I imagine the support would still have to be partly subsidised so it was cheaper than a private provider - otherwise as you say, no one would bother

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

@KShabby16334956 Definitely - my read is that this proposal would allow access to extra support, not require payment for existing support. I guess it's just speculation at this stage though, hard to say for sure

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

@StefBenstead Certainly not! My read of this is that exchanging payment would allow access to additional support, not that it would make this a requirement for accessing existing support - which would obviously be a terrible idea

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

Completely untrue suggest these people have been awarded PIP with 'no evidence on file'

It's very common that people with serious disabilities and health problems are still undergoing investigation or awaiting diagnosis - often for years

[Helen Whately MP @Helen_Whately]

150,000 people get sickness benefits worth £5,000 a year - but the government has no idea why.

No diagnosis, no evidence on file - the government just hands out the money. Your money. £770 million of it.

This has to stop.

https://t.co/LZj3JIBWGf

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

The full report is here:

https://t.co/elljsnyuWT

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

Today @Z2K_trust is publishing new research on PIP reassessments, setting out why the system is failing disabled people and the public purse. 🧵

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

The goal: a system that is proportionate, efficient, and humane – for disabled people and the public purse.

Read more in The Guardian ⬇️
https://t.co/xqc1M14eE1

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

Register here: https://t.co/9CYRTqTRUE

[Samuel Thomas @sml_thms]

📢 Webinar: The Cost of Unnecessary PIP Reassessments

Join us as we launch new Z2K research that reveals the scale and costs of unnecessary PIP reassessments, and sets out a plan for change.

🗓️ 16 June, 11am
🎤 With campaigner Roxie + Q&A
👇 Link below