City Link-closure

City Link web site

City Link -The parcel service 

City Link's departure from the parcel delivery market is sad for may of its customers and staff The timing of it over the Christmas market when as they point out no comment can be made due the the Market's being closed was sad. The timing over the Christmas period from a customer viewpoint is as annoying I would have thought
A tough time for Redundancy or Unemployment,

City Link History and issues

Founded in 1969, City Link was acquired by restructuring specialist Better Capital in April 2013. It invested £40m but E&Y said City Link had incurred substantial losses over several years and the money could not help it turn the firm around. The delivery sector had become too competitive and prices were being squeezed.City Link also had issues with its delivery and I.T system

City Link Staff comments

Stefan Thorrington in Exeter, Devon City LinkI have five vans in City Link colours and five drivers who have all been working flat-out up until Christmas Eve to make sure everything was delivered. We didn't have any warning about this whatsoever - drivers even knew which routes they were going to cover on Saturday. Last night I was pondering what to do. None of the managers at the depot knew about this - they were under a lot of pressure to deliver everything by Wednesday. 

However, I do think someone must have known what was going on. I don't know what's going to happen now. The main question is do I get paid?

Paul Horner, Kirkcaldy I'm a sub-contractor at a local City Link depot in Fife and have been there for three years. I'm totally and utterly gutted. This has happened after they spent money on new uniforms and new scanners. ( Most companies have scanners in this sector) Everyone thought we had turned a corner and things would be getting a lot better, but obviously not. I found out on Christmas Day. I'm still pretty numb. I've just told my fiancée (I couldn't bring myself to tell her yesterday). She's distraught. I just hope I get paid at the end of the month because, like all the other sub-contractors, I need money to live on, to pay for the van and the diesel. (Administrators would be expected to look at payment to employees with urgency-particularly politically)

Irfan Khan, Beckton, London We have 20 drivers and a fleet of vans that need paying up. We have probably lost £70,000 in unpaid invoices.( A significant amount in respect to one depot) We haven't got the capital to pay it so we'll probably sell the vans, and the drivers probably won't get paid. We just don't know what's going to happen. We've worked until midnight nearly every day last week up to Christmas. I have not slept since finding out, I've been going crazy.

Geoffrey Goddard, Teddington I work for City Link as an infrastructure engineer in the Heathrow office, I have been employed as a permanent employee for six months now. ( Redundancy Payment's maybe) I almost half expected it but we hoped we could turn the company around. I could see a few faults. There were lots of layers of management, there were basics which needed doing and no engineers on the ground. They weren't getting the fundamentals right.

Simon Judd, Essex I'm a sub-contractor with City Link, now find I have a liveried van and no work. I doubt if I'll get paid for my last two weeks' work, nearly £2,000. They've got rid of most employed drivers at my depot, and presumably nationwide. Just have to hope I can find some work elsewhere, after getting the van made white! I worked for the company for eight or nine years but recently became a self-employed driver for them. Most drivers at this depot are self-employed, so I don't know about the figure of 2,727 people, it depends how they're counted.

City Link employees by location
Location	Total employees
Aberdeen	19
Ashford	24
Bangor	16
Basingstoke	25
Beckenham	23
Beckton	32
Belfast	23
Bicester	28
Birmingham	70
Bournemouth	32
Bristol	50
Cardiff	44
Carlisle	28
Chelmsford	48
Coventry	404
Cowes	4
Durham	56
Edinburgh	22
Edmonton	36
Epsom	22
Exeter	41
Gatwick	42
Glasgow	75
Glenrothes	22
Gloucester	32
Guildford	24
Hatfield	116
Heathrow	132
Leeds	1
Leeming	34
Leicester	1
Lincoln	25
London City	19
London West Central	43
Maidstone	48
Manchester	67
Milton Keynes	91
Morley	74
Motherwell	27
Newcastle	45
Newmarket	1
Northampton	47
Norwich	44
Nottingham	48
Peterborough	63
Plymouth	58
Preston	52
Reading	2
Rotherham	34
Scunthorpe	28
Shrewsbury	38
Southampton	33
Stafford	40
Swansea	30
Swindon	73
Warrington	115
West Bromwich	56

Twitter -Job search

Twitter job Search

Introduction

Twitter has in the last two years become a significant way of searching for work. In this article we look at how Twitter is being used as a mechanism by DWP and recruitment companies in the U.K to promote Job opportunities. We look at how your Search through Twitter may work

DWP JobCentre plus & Twitter

In the last year most of the Job Centres throughout the U.K have started Tweeting out job adverts on a daily basis. There are a number of ways you can search.
One method is to go to twitter and search by typing out the name of your local U.K DWP Job Centre and follow the job centre on your own twitter account.
This does not mean that the local Job centre will look at your Universal Job Match account and say wow Mr Smith you have followed our "Twitter account " Therefore you have completed your Job Search and all is well. Rather, it provides you with the leads and you follow them up. its a faster way than the weekly or daily local newspaper in producing the Job leads.
However, there is also often a need to be registered with the recruiters advertising the job. However, Key word may be of use. Certainly is a relatively new method of Job Search.

TwitJobSearch

 Tweet job search Certainly Twit Job Search has the advantage of providing information quickly and can be found on many Job search. Many companies use Twitter as a suitable method of communication and thus we can see on the map the location of the map. Very hands. Again there are options for looking at the town and as with all search options looking for the key words that may work with the type of work we are seeking.

Key Words on Twitter

Each Job advertised may have key words included in it. If you can find the type of Job you are seeking then look for the key words that are being highlighted and see if these are the key words being used by Twitter or Google etc. Key words may be the future for your Job search in the Search engines.




 Written by John Fairest Written BY John Fairest John Fairest author I am writing this post to support those wondering how they can use twitter for Job search and their future emplyment

DWP-Christmas- & Stats for Year

...

Department of Work and Pensions

DWP Payment dates over Christmas New Year

Payment dates at Christmas and the new year from DWP the Department of Work and Pensions. This takes into consideration the Banks holidays of Christmas and New Year.

Payment due date	When you’ll be paid
24, 25, 26 December 2014	24 December
1 January 2015	31 December 2014
2 January 2015 (England and Wales)	2 January 2015

The Department of Work and Pensions ( DWP) have produced a number of statistics over the last year.

The ONS videos

Their results on Unemployment figures can be see on a monthly basis when the ONS produces their stats.

The ONS figures come out middle of the month. Here are a sample of the videos from the year.
We have produced videos on this and feedback throughout this year

The Real DWP results

But as I have often said this has not been the entire story as they do not take into consideration the figures for Universal Credit and ESA etc. [caption id="attachment_1331" align="alignleft"
 Indeed the figures for Sanctions also make interesting viewing throughout the year as featured here. The Appeals as you see in the presentation add to an interesting story. These figures are available as are the success rates of the Appeals

Vacancies and Unemployment

Vacancies and Unemployment in the U.K

The vacancies throughout the year have changed. As I pointed out in a previous post the ratio has gone from 3.8 to 2.8 This makes the bargaining power of the potential employee look bettter. However is that a reality for the Job seeker. Ask most job -seekers looking for vacancies under £20.000 and they would probably say no.

Vacancies in Industries

A short while back i did some research into the stats.  Vacancies by industry[/caption] I have a few pages for employers on further information in this area but the figures would also indicate which sectors of the economy have grown and which are struggling. The image seen here shown many of the sectors that are featured on the Stats. But this sort of information is not as well published as the ONS monthly Stats.

  John Fairest author
I wonder why?

Over 50 Unemployed

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• source Gov.uk
• A quarter of women and one in six men who reach state pension age have not worked since they were 55
• Almost half (47%) of all unemployed people between 50 and 64 have been out of work for a year or more, compared with 33% for those aged 18-24
• There are "positive effects" on younger staff when more people aged 55-64 are employed, research has suggested
• Those aged 50-64 have an average job tenure of 13 years, compared with seven years for those aged 25-49

Source: Department for Work and Pensions

Frightening statistics but many who find themselves out of work at this stage of their lives find it harder to re enter the labour market. Particularly if they are in lower skilled jobs as they will find that the youth may be fitter than them,have more energy or other aspects of their lives that don't fit into some business cultures.

Part 1 During the recent recession the focus has been on Youth unemployment. But the Job Centre has an issue with this group of Job seekers.
There is the anticiption that the over 50 will not have the I.T training but often this group have the skills
The other issue is that they will rely on savings to survive. followed by part 2

The Princes initiative for the over 50's has highlighted the issue on Prime
Their web site goes on to say
"Helping older people back into the labour market could also lead to a potential £88 billion boost to the UK GDP. Most importantly securing employment for older people will transform their lives and offer them the opportunity of a brighter, more secure future."

BBC-

"Unemployed over-50s will be offered "career reviews" and help using computers as part of plans to get more people in that age group into work.

The trial will also include seven "older worker champions" across the UK.

An estimated 1.2 million over-50s are unemployed and "willing to work" - and ministers said if they all found jobs it would "add £50bn to the economy".

Employment Minister Esther McVey told the BBC it was "wrong" so many skilled people were "locked out" of work.

Long-term unemployment in the wider population fell 16% in the past year - but joblessness among the over 50s fell by 3.5%.

'Challenge stereotypes'

The trial, to be launched in April, will include training in CV and interview skills, the internet and social media, as well as "career reviews" with an expert to identify skills from previous work and any training needs.

"Champions" will be appointed in seven areas of the UK, at a cost to the government of £250,000. These Job Centre staff will focus on "going out to smaller and medium-sized businesses to ensure they recognise the benefits of hiring older workers".

Ms McVey said it was about "challenging outdated stereotypes".

"The plight of unemployed older workers has gone under the radar for too long. There's something fundamentally wrong with so many skilled and experienced people finding themselves locked out of the workplace simply because of their age," she told BBC Radio 5 live.

She pointed to "record numbers" of people getting into work since 2010, adding that in the past year more than 250,000 people over 50 had found jobs.

Ms McVey said it was not a question of older workers taking the place of younger employees.

"More jobs are being created in the UK than anywhere else in Europe... We've just got to make sure that everybody is a part of that growth."

December unemployment and vacancies stats

December Unemployment Stats were published along with the highlights

Today we also point out that the figures published on vacancies per industry. This as a rule is not published and promoted. However there is value in observing this information to give a clear where the potential value for future skills and opportunities

• Comparing the estimates for August to October 2014 with those for May to July 2014, employment continued to rise and unemployment continued to fall. These changes maintain the general direction of movement since late 2011/early 2012.
• There were 30.80 million people in work. This was 115,000 more than for May to July 2014 and 588,000 more than for a year earlier.
• The proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 in work (the employment rate), was 73.0%, higher than for May to July 2014 (72.8%) and higher than for a year earlier (71.8%).
• There were 22.54 million people working full-time, 560,000 more than for a year earlier. There were 8.25 million people working part-time, 28,000 more than for a year earlier.
• There were 1.96 million unemployed people. This was 63,000 fewer than for May to July 2014, the smallest quarterly fall since July to September 2013. Comparing August to October 2014 with a year earlier, there were 455,000 fewer unemployed people.
• The unemployment rate was 6.0%, lower than for May to July 2014 (6.2%) and lower than for a year earlier (7.4%). The unemployment rate is the proportion of the economically active population (those in work plus those seeking and available to work) who were unemployed.
• There were 9.06 million people aged from 16 to 64 who were out of work and not seeking or available to work (known as economically inactive). This was little changed compared with May to July 2014 and with a year earlier.
• The inactivity rate was 22.3%, unchanged from May to July 2014 and from a year earlier.
• Comparing August to October 2014 with a year earlier, pay for employees in Great Britain increased by 1.4% including bonuses and by 1.6% excluding bonuses.

This months figures can be seen here on the ONS stats

Vacancies against the number of Unemployed are featured here

note that there were 3.8 at the beginning of the year and this has gone down 2.8 

This is significant

This indicates that there has been a potential reduction in competition for each vacancy

But for Recruiters and Career advisers the industrial vacancies information also provides key data in terms of demand. If you are looking for a job the potential demand gives us clear ideas about where the growth may be found

Additional statistics were also recently publised indicating the vacancies per industry. More information is available with history relating to those industries

VACS02: Vacancies by industry. VACS02: Vacancies by industry. (142 Kb Excel sheet) This table shows vacancies by industry according to Standard Industrial

A guide to Earnings

Ex Offenders-can achieve

Lets encourage, inspire and motivate them
Ex offenders often feel that they have hit the bottom rung of life and lost value
Retraining into a new field where they can find acceptance is a key way of moving forward
Check out the videos on this page that may well encourage and motivate either you or someone else.
They are U.K videos produced by the DWP



There is a future and if you have the right attitude and the right motivation then you have the opportunity to make a difference.

  Reformed Development

Kemi's brief story appears on the site as well as on the DWP video and encourages us to look at how offenders can look at the future and fresh opportunities

 

LETS'S INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE THEM

Sanctions -delays-Food banks-U.K

As I read the article below I was struck by the key issue that Food is a vital need within our society and so much more so than during the winter.

The timing of the article / report being made public just prior to Christmas and the winter period I feel is no suprise.

I Have highlighed key comments and my own comments have been added in italics

"An income squeeze, benefit delays and excessive utility bills are blamed by a cross-party group of MPs for a huge rise in the use of food banks.

The inquiry, by Conservative and Labour MPs and church leaders, says many families are one unexpected bill away from financial crisis.

They urge quicker benefit payments, the extension of free school meals and a living wage to reduce hunger.

Ministers called the report a serious contribution to an important debate.

The all-party parliamentary inquiry into hunger in the UK was set up to understand the extent and spread of hunger, food poverty and to investigate its underlying causes.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

Too many people... face the choice of putting money in the gas meter or food on the table”

Hunger and Food Poverty report

The inquiry found it difficult to calculate the exact number of food banks in the UK as so many are independent and run by individual groups.

But it did ascertain the number of Trussell Trust food banks has grown from a handful to 420 in the past 10 years. And it heard suggestions there may be at least as many food banks operating independently.

The growth in food bank use is mirrored across Europe and the US, the report said.

It acknowledged UK families on low incomes "have been hit disproportionately hard" by rising living costs and this has eroded the value of their income.

"Too many people living in low-income households often face the choice of putting money in the gas meter or food on the table," it said.

"In addition, they face in many cases a premium on the basic goods and services they buy."

Severe hardship

The report stressed "benefit delays have been a key reason" for people turning to food banks.

It heard much evidence that lengthy delays in the administration and receipt of benefit payments have caused severe hardship for new claimants."

These delays are an issue for many hard working Job seekers and indeed those on low incomes including those on zero hour contracts and part timers

"It concluded: "Benefit-related problems were the single biggest reason given for food bank referrals by almost every food bank that presented evidence to us.

Continue reading the main story

Hunger in the UK

4 million

people at risk of going hungry

272

food banks across big cities and towns

• 500,000 children live in families that can't afford to feed them
• 3.5 million adults cannot afford to eat properly

Source: All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Hunger in the UK, Poverty and Social Exclusion project

Getty Images

"The inquiry is concerned that there are avoidable problems occurring in the administration of social security benefits, which have a particularly detrimental impact on poor and vulnerable claimants."

RICHMOND'S FOOD BANK USERS

• Benefit delays 26%
• Benefit changes 14%
• Low income 15%
• Debt 11%
• Domestic violence 13%
• Homeless 8%
• Sickness 4%
• Unemployment 4%
• Other 5%

Source: Richmond Food Bank

Why are there problems with the administration of the Welfare benefits?

These delays are likely to be on new claiments

It heard the Department for Work and Pensions does not currently collect information on the time taken for benefit payments to be made and said some people were waiting up to 16 weeks for a claim.

This is a 4 mnth delay of which those claiming may well be entitled to payments. Ad that to the issue that such payments may not be entitled to back payment but may be new claiments, How many of us could survive without any money for this length of time

'Too long to survive'

The department measures the average number of days taken between an application and a decision being made on a claim.

"Whilst the department aims for this process to be concluded within 16 days, we heard that for some claimants even this length of time is too long to survive without money," it said.

This is 16 working days therefore over 3 weeks

The authors want benefits to be delivered within five days of a legitimate claim and for more discretionary payments to be made when delays occur.

They also highlight the impact of high utility bills and say the poorest often pay for gas and electricity through prepayment meters, face higher energy costs and are unable to get the best deals.

They also looked at hunger in schools, with some schools estimating up to a quarter of pupils arrive hungry each morning.

While low parental income is an important factor, children often go hungry because of lack of organisation at home, they added.

They want free school meals to be extended to more children of low-income parents and for a campaign to decrease the number of children arriving at school hungry.

The MPs also recommend a national organisation be set up to end the destruction of edible food and ensure more of this goes to those who need it.

On Sunday, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, backed the report, saying more help was needed to prevent families in the UK going hungry.

He said food was being wasted in "astonishing" amounts while hunger "stalks large parts" of the country.

The archbishop said he was left more shocked by the plight of the UK's hunger-stricken poor than those suffering in African refugee camps, because it was so unexpected.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said benefits sanctions - for infractions such as missing interviews or failing to take part in a work-related activity - were partly to blame and should not always be imposed "overnight".

Reality is Mr Clegg they are are regularly applied and the over turning procedure takes longer than it should. They are not used as a last resort they are used as a first resort what ever the circumstance.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "Whilst it is of course necessary to have sanctions in the benefit system, I think we should introduce a sort of traffic light system so that some of the sanctions are not imposed quite as 'overnight' as they sometimes are.

"That might help alleviate some of the problem."

'Safety net'

A government spokesman welcomed the report's recognition that the reasons behind demands for emergency food assistance were "complex".

"As a country we have enough food to go around, and we agree that it is wrong that anyone should go hungry at the same time as surplus food is going to waste.

"There is a moral argument as well as a sustainability one to ensure we make the best use of resources.

FOOD BANK FAVOURITES

• Milk - UHT or powdered
• Sugar (500g)
• Fruit juice (carton)
• Soup
• Pasta sauces
• Sponge pudding (tinned)
• Tomatoes (tinned)
• Cereals
• Rice pudding (tinned)
• Tea Bags/instant coffee
• Instant mash potato
• Rice/pasta
• Tinned meat/fish
• Tinned fruit
• Jam
• Biscuits or snack bars

The spokesman said it was important to remember "this country has been through the deepest recession in living memory, and sticking to this government's long-term economic plan is the best way to improve living standards".

He said the plan was working and the economy growing while the welfare system provided a vital safety net.

"In addition, the UK has a proud tradition of civil society and faith groups providing support for people in need, and it is right that their impressive work is recognised in the report.

"Under tough circumstances, communities have shown that by pulling together to help each other, we can build a bigger, stronger society." "

Housing-Private and Council-the crisis

 Social Housing is a massive issue as featured in this Panorama documentary. The waiting list far exceeds the demand. Private landlords are thriving. Councils are becoming like agents. Havering Council is such an example. But temporary accomodation is a massive issue and the Stats highlight this issue. In London the Issue is worse. In London the Council's look at moving people to outside of London West Midlands etc. Often Private Accomodation in these categories may often suffer from Damp as featured within the documentary The Benefit cap is highlighted by the Newham and Stoke issue
 
 The DWP stats on Benefit Cap Highlight the issue.London outstrips the remainder of the Country very clearly

The CAP per region highlights the issue we can see here how the figures rise and to the levels they rose to. We alse see the regional differences

It is clear that the CAP has had a direct effect On the London and South East This is born out on all the Media productions.The conclusion has to be that those on low incomes, Zero hour contract, part time workers face an uncertain future unless Housing options for low income earners are tackled. Temporary Accomodation soon becomes long term accomodation

Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn sums up the issue well and leaves us with something to consider for the New Year and the future General Election
What is your M.P saying

Remote Advice Guidance Support U.K

The Following videos highlight a way of providing information, guidance and advice in a practical way

Introduction

The Purpose of the Videos is to discover

1. How a client can benefit from Remote Support, Advice and Guidance
2. Discover information that they can return to and ask questions about the information they are being provided with
3. Client and Provider can Jointly look and discuss action required and review progress and needs
4. The Videos show the Experience from both computers at the same time and how both sides see the same process
5. The differences between the views

Remote computer-Trainee or Client

Can take control or disconnect when they wish

• Share with their Adviser what they know  and what they need to know

Can engage and chat with Adviser

The Facilitator-Adviser or Guide

• The Adviser is able to see both screens
• The Adviser can take over from the client as well as has both chat boxes on screen.
• Can engage by chat or speak to the client assessing the need and requirements
• If there are issues at the Advisers computer the client does not see the issue
•  The Adviser can see his own screen 
• If the client requires the adviser can see some technical issues at the client end 

EU Immigration -David Cameron responds to statistics

Highlights of the speach

EU migrants to the U.K will not be able to for 4 years

• Access Universal Credit, JSA or Tax Credits
• Wait for social Housing for 4 years
• Will be deported if they are job less after 
• All EU immigrants have to have a job offer before they come to the U.K

This in many ways is a direct responce to yesterdays statistics
-

1. Net long-term migration to the UK was estimated to be 260,000 in the year ending June 2014, a statistically significant increase from 182,000 in the previous 12 months. 

While net migration has increased since the most recent low of 154,000 in the year ending September 2012, it remains below the peak of 320,000 in the year ending June 2005.

583,000 people immigrated to the UK in the year ending June 2014, a statistically significant increase from 502,000 in the previous 12 months. There were statistically significant increases in immigration of EU (up 45,000) and non-EU (up 30,000) citizens.

An estimated 323,000 people emigrated from the UK in the year ending June 2014. Long-term emigration has been relatively stable since 2010. 

There was a statistically significant increase in immigration for work (up 45,000 to 247,000), driven by increases for non-EU citizens (up 14,000), EU2 citizens (up 11,000) and EU15 (up 10,000). Estimated employment of EU nationals (excluding British) resident in the UK was 16% higher in July to September 2014 compared to the same quarter in 2013.

National Insurance Number (NINo) registrations to adult overseas nationals increased by 12% to 668,000 in the year ending September 2014 from the previous year. Romanian citizens had the highest number of registrations (104,000), followed by Polish citizens (98,000).

> The Romanian citizens rights changed at beginning of the year

32,000 Romanian and Bulgarian (EU2) citizens immigrated to the UK in the year ending June 2014, a statistically significant increase from 18,000 in the previous 12 months.

>Based on the changes in their EU status

Immigration for study remained stable (176,000) in the year ending June 2014.

The statistically significant increase of 30,000 in immigration of non-EU citizens to 272,000 was in part driven by an increase in immigration to accompany/join others up 19,000 to 54,000. This follows a steady decline in non-EU immigration since the recent peak of 334,000 in the year ending September 2011. 

1. Work and study visas grants continued to rise in the year ending September 2014, by 6% (+9,500) and 3% (+6,100) respectively. These trends reflected higher levels of both skilled work visas granted and university sponsored applications.

> Visas are not required by EU citizens

There were 24,300 asylum applications in the year ending September 2014, an increase of 2% compared with the previous 12 months (23,800), but low relative to the 2002 peak (84,100).

There is a catch 22 that many EU citizens come to the U.K looking for work and often take the work that is at the lower end of the pay scale that fits within the Working Family Tax Credit eligibility

Secondly this may all take a long time to implement. 

U.K Welfare Reforms Update

Although this was a Northern Island Conference the speaker spoke about the reality of the changes from a pilot of Universal Credit and the National results It makes stark viewing and reflection

The speaker then continues with even more
 




Here is the slide that is referred to - Note 5 weeks minimum to
The Mandatary reconsideration of ESA and UC with an average 8 week delay is very poor
2 months of direct debits - how would you be affected

The Rowntree Slide makes us reflect on the Housing situation Nationally

Benefits and welfare and the real situation

The Welfare challenge

The Institute for Fiscal Studies says"



Working-age benefit spending has always been sensitive to the unemployment rate. But the rapid growth of housing benefit and tax credits over the couple of decades (documented in thisbriefing note published today) means that slow earnings growth now has the potential to push up spending too. Much of the hoped-for savings from the introduction of ESA have failed to materialise, and it is an open question whether the personal independence payment will be any different. Mr Osborne wants further cuts to social security spending to help reduce the deficit. He may end up having to make cuts just to stay on track."

The gov .uk Stats for your area-
Benefit stats

The BBC quote the Institute of Fiscal studies

Explaining why spending had in fact reduced by £2.5bn in real terms, it said:

• All of the £5bn rise in the cost of pensioner benefits could be explained by the rising cost of state pensions. It said this was partly down to the ageing population, but also the "more generous" entitlements of a new generation of pensioners who had recently retired
• There had been an "unanticipated" rise in housing benefit spending of £1bn, despite cuts of £2bn, which was down to the growth of the private rental sector, rising rents and slow earnings growth
• This slower earnings growth meant spending on tax credits had not come down as quickly as expected, reducing costs by less than £3bn compared with a forecast saving of £4.6bn
• "Significant delays" in the replacement of disability living allowance with the "less generous" personal independence payment had led to a £1.6bn increase in spending, rather than a £1.2bn cut
• Switching from the Retail Prices Index to the Consumer Prices Index measure of inflation for up-rating benefits had not saved the expected £4bn

Note the challenge of the Tax Credit - this will become the Universal Credit in due cource. The slow earnings growth has made a difference

Many may agree with Edd Balls and Rachel Reeves. They wrote: "A key cause of the Tories' overspending is their failure to make the economy work for working people, leaving thousands more reliant on housing benefit."

So how are the Welfare Reform changes affecting people

The changes to council tax benefit have also hit Blackpool particularly hard, as the council decided to pass on most of the 10% shortfall in government grant to its residents.

Mike Clague, a former RAF chef whose 19th floor flat has such a spectacular view, is having to find £15 a month extra.

"It doesn't sound much," he says. "But on top of all the other bills, it's a lot."

Ann Morris gives out school uniforms to those who cannot afford them

He has had to cut back on food as a result. Chocolate has become a once-a-week treat.

In Blackpool even those on jobseeker's allowance (JSA) have to find an extra £206 a year.

Many people have not yet paid anything.

"We recently had a huge influx of clients for non-payment of that money," says Julia Hannaford of Blackpool Citizens Advice.

"In one week we saw 40 people."

For those that are paying, the extra outgoings have stretched household budgets. Half the council tenants in Blackpool are behind with their rent.

In two or three cases, the local housing association has now obtained suspended possession orders, the first stage in the eviction process.

Sanctions

Elsewhere in the North West there are already some striking memorials to the first six months of the benefits changes: the houses that no one wants.

In Sefton, on an estate once known as Beirut, there are roads where dozens of people have moved out.

One resident of Daley Road points out 10 empty houses in her street.

One of the empty houses in Daley Road

"They don't even bother to board them up anymore," she tells me.

"It's all because of the bedroom tax. Nobody wants a three bedroom place anymore."

On this part of Merseyside, community workers also report that, since April, more people are having their benefits temporarily stopped.

JSA claimants, for example, now have to prove that they are job hunting, by applying online.

But not all are computer literate.

Ann Morris, a development worker in Litherland, says that as a result many parents can no longer afford to buy school uniforms.

She and her colleagues have set up a uniform bank to help.

"They all want their kids to go back to school with new uniforms. But some have benefit sanctions, so they just don't have the money," she says.

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I never thought I'd see the day that we'd all get in and share a bath. A treat is getting in the bath first.”

Carol WilsonBenefit claimant

'Blind Scouse'

Carol Wilson, a carer from the Tuebrook area of Liverpool, was herself sanctioned earlier in the year.

She lost one week's Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), as a result of being in hospital.

Since April she has also had to find £80 a month as a result of having a spare room, and £9 a month extra for council tax.

Along with all claimants, she has also been affected by the 1% cap on annual benefits increases.

She, her partner, and her son now share their bath-water to try to economise.

"I never thought I'd see the day that we'd all get in and share a bath. A treat is getting in the bath first."

And she stretches a pot of stew, known as scouse, so that it lasts for three days.

"You just add potatoes each day. When the meat runs out, it's known as "blind scouse".

Blind scouse is certainly making a comeback in Liverpool at the moment, she says.

Coping

All along the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has insisted that the changes are not about saving money, but about encouraging more people into work.

Indeed since claimants were warned about the cap on total benefits back in April, the DWP says more than 15,000 have been helped to find jobs.

"Since April we have made great strides delivering our reforms," a DWP spokesman told the BBC.

"The rollout of universal credit and personal independence payments have begun, reforms to housing benefit are making the system fairer and the benefit cap is now in place across the country."

The government also says it has cut income tax for 25 million people, saving a typical taxpayer £700 a year.

It claims the typical household will also save £600 as a result of council tax being frozen for five years.

And even among those hit by benefit cuts, there are those who support the principles of the reforms.

"I do think it's right that people should be in work if they can be," says Carol Wilson.

"And I don't think being on benefits should be too comfortable.

"Whilst I would like more, the country is in a crisis. And I cope with what I have," she says.

The Welfare Reform

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