6 h. ago DOGE policies, massive fumbles causing tech crashes across agencies

Agencies like Social Security considering further cuts to IT staff

Events

9 h. ago Belgian prince loses legal battle to receive social security benefits on top of royal allowance

Prince Laurent had argued that his work entitled him to the same benefits as independent entrepreneurs but a court in Brussels disagreedA Belgian prince has lost a legal battle to claim social security benefits on top of his royal allowance, with a court ruling his claim – the first of its kind in the country’s nearly 200-year history – “unfounded”.Prince Laurent, the youngest of three children of the former king and queen, had argued that his work entitled him to the coverage granted to independent entrepreneurs – and that he was acting out of “principle” rather than for money. Continue reading...

Events

10 h. ago Elon Musk suffers abysmal approval rating... as DOGE nerds trigger Social Security cyber crash

Washington was rocked last week amid reports that President Donald Trump's 'first buddy' Elon Musk was heading out the door.

Events

25 h. ago Easter bank holiday payment date changes for State Pension, PIP and other benefits

Full list of DWP, HMRC and Social Security Scotland payments which may land early in bank accounts next week.

Economics

48 h. ago Doge’s attack on social security causing ‘complete, utter chaos’, staff says

Understaffed agency sent into ‘death spiral’ as employees warn Musk-led cuts will lead to structural collapseOffice closures, staffing and service cuts, and policy changes at the Social Security Administration (SSA) have caused “complete, utter chaos” and are threatening to send the agency into a “death spiral”, according to workers at the agency.The SSA operates the largest government program in the US, administering social insurance programs, including retirement, disability and survivor benefits. Continue reading...

Events

62 h. ago ‘Hands Off’ protests take off across US and Europe to oppose Trump agenda – live

Protesters gather at more than a thousand events across the US and in cities abroad, such as London, Berlin and ParisHundreds of protesters gathered in central London on Saturday as part of global demonstrations against Donald Trump’s administration.Crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square with banners that read “No to Maga hate” and “Dump Trump”. The rally is one of hundreds of so-called “Hands Off” demonstrations around the world – including in cities across the US, Paris and Berlin.We see the foundations of our society, social security, Medicare, Medicaid, the very safety nets that people have fought for, for generations, to ensure that our country lives up to its promise, are being targeted by the billionaires and the oligarchs and the corporations.This insidious rise of authoritarianism is fueled by corrupt billionaires and mega corporations who believe that they have the right to control every aspect of our lives, our healthcare, to our schools, to our thoughts, to our very free sp...

Politics

63 h. ago ‘Hands Off’ protests take off across US and in Europe to oppose Trump agenda – live

Protesters gather at more than a thousand events across the US and in cities abroad, such as London, Berlin and ParisHundreds of protesters gathered in central London on Saturday as part of global demonstrations against Donald Trump’s administration.Crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square with banners that read “No to Maga hate” and “Dump Trump”. The rally is one of hundreds of so-called “Hands Off” demonstrations around the world – including in cities across the US, Paris and Berlin.We see the foundations of our society, social security, Medicare, Medicaid, the very safety nets that people have fought for, for generations, to ensure that our country lives up to its promise, are being targeted by the billionaires and the oligarchs and the corporations.This insidious rise of authoritarianism is fueled by corrupt billionaires and mega corporations who believe that they have the right to control every aspect of our lives, our healthcare, to our schools, to our thoughts, to our very free sp...

Politics

64 h. ago ‘Hands Off’ protests take off across US to oppose Trump agenda – live

More than a thousand events expected in a show of defiance against US president’s ‘authoritarian overreach’Hundreds of protesters gathered in central London on Saturday as part of global demonstrations against Donald Trump’s administration.Crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square with banners that read “No to Maga hate” and “Dump Trump”. The rally is one of hundreds of so-called “Hands Off” demonstrations around the world – including in cities across the US, Paris and Berlin.We see the foundations of our society, social security, Medicare, Medicaid, the very safety nets that people have fought for, for generations, to ensure that our country lives up to its promise, are being targeted by the billionaires and the oligarchs and the corporations.This insidious rise of authoritarianism is fueled by corrupt billionaires and mega corporations who believe that they have the right to control every aspect of our lives, our healthcare, to our schools, to our thoughts, to our very free speech under...

Politics

67 h. ago US protests live: Demonstrations planned across US to oppose Trump agenda

More than a thousand events to be held across the country in a show of defiance against Trump’s ‘authoritarian overreach’Several congressional members are expected to make apperances and deliver speeches at the Hands Off protest in Washington DC today.They include Democrats Jamie Raskin and Glenn Ivey of Maryland, Maxwell Frost of Florida, Katherine Clark of Massachussetts and Don Beyer of Virginia, as well as Ilhan Omar of Minnesota.This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history. Trump, Musk and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy and our basic rights – enabled by Congress every step of the way.They want to strip America for parts – shuttering social security offices, firing essential workers, eliminating consumer protections and gutting Medicaid – all to bankroll their billionaire tax scam. They’re handing over our tax dollars, our public services and our democracy to the ultra-rich.I...

Politics

3 d. ago Social Security Administration planning to lay off thousands more staff in DOGE cuts despite long wait times and web crashes

Cuts could be made across variety of departments, including communications, personnel, legislative affairs, and retirement and disability policy.

Events

5 d. ago Social Security's acting leader faces calls to resign over decision to cut Maine contracts

The Social Security Administration’s acting commissioner is facing calls to resign after he issued an order that would have required Maine parents to register their newborns for Social Security numbers at a federal office rather than the hospital

Politics

6 d. ago Scottish Labour under 'pressure' over Holyrood vote on UK Government welfare cuts

EXCLUSIVE: MSPs will be forced to take a position on the Labour Government plan to save billions from the social security budget.

Politics

6 d. ago Social Security Administration probes origin of website portal outage

The Social Security Administration says it is investigating the root cause of website outages that have affected the “my Social Security” portal where recipients access their benefits

Events

7 d. ago New devolved benefit payment rates due this month for pensioners, disabled people and families

Social Security Scotland will deliver 18 benefits and one-off payments by the end of this year.

Economics

8 d. ago New DWP payment rates for people on State Pension or benefits starting next week

Full list of new rates for people on payments delivered by DWP, HMRC and Social Security Scotland.

Economics

9 d. ago Immigration officials look to collect social media handles from those seeking benefits. Is this new?

U.S. immigration officials are asking the public and federal agencies to comment on a proposal to collect social media handles from people applying to benefits such as green cards or citizenship, to comply with an executive order from President Donald Trump

Politics

1 week ago Rachel Reeves must rethink fiscal rules as social security cuts will inflict real pain

Writing for the Record, Stephen Boyd of IPPR Scotland urges Rachel Reeves to consider alternative means to raise badly needed revenues for public services.

Events

1 week ago Musk tells grandmothers not to worry about Social Security and insists only DOGE can save America

ANALYSIS: Musk tried to present a more professional face to DOGE in a softball interview. But his claims still don’t stand up to scrutiny, Richard Hall writes.

Events

1 week ago Musk defends Doge on Fox News with false claims: ‘Almost no one has gotten fired’

Doge members, including Airbnb co-founder, aired their vision for federal government to be ‘Apple Store-like’Elon Musk and seven members of his so-called “department of government efficiency” sat down for a rare interview on Thursday evening on Fox News, defending their efforts amid public backlash and concern over cuts to key government agencies.Over the course of an hour-long sit down with host Bret Baier, Musk and team members repeatedly attempted to assuage fears over Doge’s targeting of agencies such as the Social Security Administration. Musk also downplayed the number of government employees his initiative has targeted in cuts, saying it was a small percentage of the overall government workforce and others left voluntarily. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Musk defends Doge and cuts on Fox News: ‘Almost no one has gotten fired’

Doge members, including Airbnb co-founder, aired their vision for federal government to be ‘Apple Store-like’Elon Musk and seven members of his so-called “department of government efficiency” sat down for a rare interview on Thursday evening on Fox News, defending their efforts amid public backlash and concern over cuts to key government agencies.Over the course of an hour-long sit down with host Bret Baier, Musk and team members repeatedly attempted to assuage fears over Doge’s targeting of agencies such as the Social Security Administration. Musk also downplayed the number of government employees his initiative has targeted in cuts, saying it was a small percentage of the overall government workforce and others left voluntarily. Continue reading...

Events