23/01/2012

Press notice 

* Defend Child Benefit for all

* Oppose all benefit caps and sanctions 
Cap greedy landlords, not low-income people!

called by
Single Mothers’ Self-Defence, WinVisible, Zacchaeus 2000 Trust

Meet opposite Parliament – Lords’ entrance
Old Palace Yard, Abingdon St SW1 – Westminster tube
All welcome

There have been two very successful vigils attended by over 30 people – people with disabilities, single mothers, claimants and other activists. The Royal College of Nursing joined the vigil last Tuesday. Alex Callaghan, who leads their policy work on the social determinants of health, had photos taken for Nursing Times. 

•  Monday 23 January, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds plans to raise his amendment to keep Child Benefit out of the benefit cap which will be taken from the poorest families.  See SMSD & Global Women’s Strike press release: http://globalwomenstrike.net/content/press-release-child-benefit-all-%E2%80%93-mothers-earn-it-children-need-it 

Baroness Hollis and Lord Ramsbotham will raise amendments proposed by Zacchaeus 2000, protecting people forced to repay overpayments made in error, and consideration of claimants’ circumstances before sanctions.

• Wednesday 25 January,  last day of Report stage.
• Tuesday 31st January, 3rd reading of the Bill where it will be passed or not as a whole by Lords.

Government defeats so far:

• no cut to Housing Benefit for having a spare room.
•   to keep benefit entitlement for young people who are severely disabled, so they have financial independence coming into adulthood;

• increasing to two years the one-year time limit on National Insurance-based sickness benefit for people who are recovering;
•  entitlement for terminally-ill people – the government wanted to force people who have longer than six months to live, to attend work-focussed interviews to get benefit.

Please join us again, and publicise it on Facebook, Twitter and email lists.  If you can’t come, you can ring and write to the Lords (0207 219 3000, fax 020 7219 5979).  More info and email addresses are here.

Press coverage:
Morning Star reports from 17 January Vigil
Guardian video and report – watch here.
Guardian blog
BBC interview with Baroness Meacher explaining the three votes
The Commissioner for Children says the Bill contravenes the UN Convention
The Londonist report
Photos

THINGS YOU CAN DO
Come and raise your concerns on the Vigils

• Bring placards with your organisation’s name and issues you are concerned about
• Lobby the Lords – support amendments to keep Child Benefit out of the benefit cap, extend concessions for women fleeing domestic violence, ensure immediate benefit payments for people coming out of prison, and Zacchaeus 2000 amendments to protect claimants from unliveable benefit repayments, sanctions and bailiffs
• Lobby your MP; contact them to make an appointment or write to them about your personal situation – find your MP here. If you are unable to come on the day, ring them or write, for Lords’ addresses see here; and sign the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust e-petition against the benefit caps here.

More info:
smsd@allwomencount.net  0207 482 2496  PaulNicolson@z2k.org  07961177889
win@winvisible.org