6% of UK children now rely on foodbanks. What does that say about the state’s responsibility toward children and other vulnerable members of society? Is the current welfare state fit for purpose? Or are we sleepwalking into the slow erosion of what remains of it? In this month’s Debt Talk podcast, hosted by Ripon Ray, three distinguished experts joined the conversation on “Foodbanks & the Welfare State.” Helen Barnard from the Trussell Trust spoke about how poverty in the UK runs far deeper than it appears. The prevalence of child poverty reflects the shameful state of public affairs in Britain, where turning to foodbanks has become the norm for many families. The lack of food at home doesn’t just affect individuals—it also places added pressure on public services, including health and social care. Dan White from Disability Rights UK highlighted how already marginalised communities, particularly disabled people, have been further targeted by current government policies. Discrimin...

On this month's Debt Talk podcast, Ripon Ray explored: 'The welfare state, deficit budget & debt '. Trussell Trust, a network of food banks in the UK, gave out nearly 3 million emergency food parcels to people facing financial hardship, and it has noticed a 37% rise in accessing its service compared to the previous year. The question for this month's panellists is: have we moved away from support provided by the state and diverted to the third sector? To assist Debt Talk, panellists for this month were the following: Helen Barnard - policy director of Trussell Trust, explained the welfare state's history and purpose and how the UK has significantly shifted away from its initial cause. Food banks are now playing the state's role because the current welfare system is not providing sufficient support to meet the needs of vulnerable and low-income households. The trust is seeing people with disability and working people seeking help because the current social se...

If you are a non-British national, trying to ascertain your rights in the United Kingdom can be a difficult process, perhaps more so than if you are a British national.   In addition, your immigration status will also affect the support that you may receive from the Welfare State.    For example, non-payment of an unforeseen medical bill may have negative consequences for decisions relating to applications for British Citizenship. Britain is currently negotiating an exit from the European Union as a direct result of the implementation of Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union. Thus far European Economic Area (EEA) citizens have the right to settle in the UK if they have already lived in the country for five years. Many of the EEA nationals are, to a degree, entitled to welfare support so long as they meet a number of tests, including the draconian Habitual Residence test. Once the tests have been met, they are entitled to benefits on the same ter...