As we get ever more accustomed to austerity, with the granny-taxing budget of last week only the latest attack on living standards, it is perhaps worth revisiting the welfare discussion anew.

Rachel works 22 hours a week in a pharmacy but after rent, bills and childcare she often has only £10 left for food and other household essentials for her and her two-year old son Luca. She skips her own meals to be able to give food to Luca, and is constantly worried about money. Rachel has been told she'd be better off on benefits, but she wants to work.

Yo Dave! I know you're a bit busy, but I was wondering if you could help me out with something? I like to think I'm fairly clever and that my comprehension is pretty good but I'm having a bit of trouble with the blog post you wrote here on Thursday.

Today marks an historic step in the biggest welfare revolution in over 60 years. My government has taken bold action to make work pay, while protecting the vulnerable. Past governments have talked about reform, while watching the benefits bill sky rocket and generations languish on the dole and dependency. This government is delivering it. Our new law will mark the end of the culture that said a life on benefits was an acceptable alternative to work.

The House of Lords has passed the Welfare Reform Bill, having withdrawn its only remaining objection to the government's flagship piece of legislation...

David Cameron's former "family champion" Emma Harrison has denied any wrongdoing over reports she received £1.7 million from leasing out properties -...

David Cameron's former "family champion" Emma Harrison has denied any wrongdoing over reports she received £1.7 million from leasing out properties -...

Ed Miliband appeared to be having fun at prime minister's questions today, having found an issue to beat David Cameron with. The Labour leader used...

The Commons has voted to overturn objections to the so-called "Bedroom Tax" from the House of Lords for a second time, in the latest twist in the long...

If they say that a week is a long time in politics, then the last three have felt like an eternity. For anyone following the final parliamentary stage...

I have watched many of my fellow disabled activists fight against the injustices that are being doled out by the government, the right wing press and now, sadly, the general public.

Tory MP Sam Gyimah has apparently ducked an invitation to live on benefits for a week, after being challenged to do so during a debate on BBC Radio FI...

The government's Welfare Reform Bill has been defeated once again in the Lords over the so-called "bedroom tax". Peers have attempted to force conces...

The House of Lords is packed as peers consider their next response to the long-running saga surrounding the Welfare Reform Bill. Labour are trying to...

The government will try to push the Welfare Reform Bill through Parliament by declaring all of the Lords amendments to it null and void under the "fin...

PMQs was particularly rowdy this week, partly because of the bruisers on the order paper and partly due to the looming showdown with the Lords on the ...

The Government has been defeated for a seventh time in the Lords on the Welfare Reform Bill, this time over the amount paid to children who are receiv...

On Saturday afternoon I, along with a couple of hundred other people, spent two hours sitting in the middle of the road at Oxford Circus. Why? To draw attention to the cruelty of the government's assault on disabled people in the Welfare Reform Bill, which finishes its journey through parliament this coming week.

Iain Duncan Smith has pledged to overturn the House of Lords' amendments to his Welfare Reform Bill, including the vote to cancel charges for single p...

The government has suffered another defeat on its Welfare Reform Bill in the House of Lords - and this time by an unprecedented majority. Peers vo...

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has hit out at bishops trying to block his welfare reforms, accusing them of ignoring the concerns of or...