The Government is planning a major overhaul of disability benefits assessment - a system that has been described by critics as "cruel". http://news.sky.com/story/government-to-overhaul-cruel-disability-benefits-system-10638235

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/39367 Child Support Agency overhaul needed for sake of children and non-resident parents Responsible department: Department for Work and Pensions The current legislation for the CSA doesn't allow for living costs of the non resident parent. I've argued this point many times over the phone with the CSA who are not interested in the devastating consequences this can have for the children or as in most cases, the father as a result of this shockingly awful government agency. This agency needs a serious overhaul and needs to put children first. That means a fair assessment of the non-resident parents income to include living costs. At the very least I would expect the government to make special allowances for low income earners, to include specifically ignoring any overtime worked, as in most cases overtime is needed to make ends meet anyway. And the government needs to involve and get the ideas of non-resident parents in this overhaul, as they are the ones suffering with the way things are currently done.

I have just received a copy of the following Press Release from CCR-Public Sector: MoJ begins bailiffs law meetings Tuesday, 19th March 2013 The Ministry of Justice has confirmed to CCR-Public Sector, that meetings have started in London, between the various interested parties, to move forward implementation of the government's proposals for bailiff law and certification overhaul. The working groups have started and include: · Debtor Group · Advice Sector · Enforcement Industry Group · Local Authority Group · Interdepartmental Working Group · The Enforcement Law Reform Group. Each working group has a selection of representatives, drawn from a wide range of government departments, enforcement companies and the debt advice sector, including Citizens Advice. Implementation of all changes, as the MoJ has previously said, will be in 2014. An official spokeswoman told CCR-PS last Friday: "The working groups will be meeting over a number of weeks, at the MoJ in London, to look in fine detail at the government's intentions, which have been based largely on the more than 200 responses to last year's bailiff consultation. It is the government's intention to rein in 'aggressive bailiffs' and ensure vulnerable debtors are treated fairly." MoJ minister responsible for bailiffs, Helen Grant MP, is heading the government team.