Benefits Newscast – May 2025

In the May Benefits Newscast from The Benefits Training Company, David, Will and Charlotte discuss:

Fair repayment rate;
PIP beyond State Pension age;
What Advanced Customer Support does;
Severe Disability Premiums;
ADHD & higher rate mobility component of DLA;
All migration letters to be sent by September 2025 in Great Britain.

You can listen to the Newscast and a transcript here: https://www.benefitstraining.co.uk/benefits-newscast/

An introduction to the UK Pensions system

A free seminar from the Pensions Policy Institute, kindly sponsored by Phoenix Group.

Time: 12:00 – 13:00
Date: Tuesday 13 May 2025
Location: Central Hall Westminster, Dinsdale Young Room, Storey’s Gate, London, SW1H 9NH

Pensions are important, but can be very confusing.

We can help with this

The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) would like to invite you to join us for an introduction to the UK Pensions System. This seminar, which is free to attend and kindly sponsored by Phoenix Group, is open exclusively to all staff working within Parliament who have an interest in pension policy.

There is no getting away from it, the current UK Pensions system can be confusing. This seminar, delivered by the PPI’s Senior Leadership Team, will provide a high-level overview of the current system, and the issues faced by industry, policymakers, and those saving for and in receipt of income in retirement.

Specific topics which will be covered include:

The State Pension – historical background and where we are today
Automatic enrolment – historical background and where we are today
Adequacy
Retirement income – comparisons with the rest of the world
Private pensions – what is available, where we are today with CDC, industry challenges and the changing landscape
The Gender Pensions Gap – differences and explanations
Investment – Mansion House, Illiquids, ESG
New developments – Dashboards, Small Pots, and Lost Pensions

Why choose this seminar? Our Independence sets us apart: The PPI focuses on the facts. The Knowledge Sharing Seminars will be delivered from the PPI’s independent perspective and will provide you with the facts on the UK Pensions System.

We hope you can join us, and we look forward to unravelling the world of pensions for you!

Please feel free to forward this invite to colleagues within Parliament who may be interested in attending this free seminar.

Click here to book your place

The Pensions Policy Institute: is an educational research institute. Our aim is to improve information and understanding about pensions policy and retirement income provision through research and analysis, discussion, and publication.

Phoenix Group: You may be aware of Phoenix’s customer brand, Standard Life, who together with their other brands make Phoenix one of the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business.

Becoming British: how migrants qualify for permanent residence and citizenship

House of Commons Library Talk

Session outline

People who move to the UK can often make it their permanent home after a while by applying for indefinite leave to remain and then British citizenship. We’ll discuss how this works, how long it normally takes and recent announcements in this area from both the Labour government and Conservative opposition.

Time: 10:30 – 11:30
Date: 8 May 2025
Location: Online
Registration: https://parliament.learningpool.com/mod/facetoface/view.php?f=3477

Bank of England Briefing Session in Glasgow for Scottish MPs’ Staff

The Bank of England would like to invite the staff of MPs based in Scotland to attend a briefing session on the work of the Bank on Tuesday 27 May from 11.00-13.00 at a venue in the centre of Glasgow.

Senior Bank staff will deliver a briefing on how the work of the Bank of England affects constituents, with an introduction to our work in Scotland from our Scottish Agency. With an interest rate decision on 8 May, this will be an ideal opportunity to learn more about the work of the Bank and ask your constituents’ questions.

If you would like to attend, please email [email protected] to book a place in person.

We would be grateful if you could share this with any colleagues based in constituency offices in Glasgow and the surrounding area who may be interested in attending.

Please note this session is for staffers only. However, we hold regular briefing sessions for MPs to keep them up to date on the Bank’s policymaking. The next session for MPs will be held in the Bank of England’s London office on 24 April and Members are welcome to get in touch to learn more.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Bank of England. You can learn more about our Agent for Scotland here.

Members’ staff Networking Event for Mental Health Awareness Week

Time: 14:00 – 16:00
Date: Tuesday 13 May 2025
Location: Jubilee Room

Parliament is proud to support Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW), running from Monday 12th – Sunday 18th May 2025.This year’s theme, set by the Mental Health Foundation, is “Community” and the campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness and support good mental health for all.

As part of a wider programme of events taking place throughout MHAW, the Members and Members’ staff Services Team (MMSST)invites all Members’ staff to join us for two events: an in-person networking event on Tuesday 13 May, drop in between 2 – 4 pm in the Jubilee Room, Palace of Westminster. Light refreshments will be provided.

And a virtual Teams event Thursday 15 May, drop in between 1-2 pm. Bring your own tea/coffee and biscuits or a cheeky slice of cake.

These events are an opportunity for you to connect with fellow Members’ staff and meet colleagues from the services that are here to support you.

To register please email [email protected]

Mental Health Awareness Week in Parliament

Parliament is proud to support Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW), running from 12 – 18 May 2025. MHAW is an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health and share ways to support good mental health for all. This year, the theme for MHAW set by the Mental Health Foundation is Community.

For more details see this page.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 in Parliament

There is something for everyone this Mental Health Awareness Week, with events and resources open to Members and Members’ staff taking place throughout the week. Join us to celebrate the power and importance of community in supporting mental health this MHAW.

What’s On

Attend a special programme of talks, training workshops and networking sessions
Visit the MHAW stall in Portcullis House on 13 May
Networking events for Members’ staff in-person (13 May) and online (15 May)
Explore a collection of on-demand resources including pre-recorded webinars, interactive notice boards, and information about health and wellbeing services available to you.

The programme of events and training courses taking place throughout Mental Health Awareness Week is available to book here on ACT.

Find out more and stay up to date on Parlinet: ParliNet | Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

MP Office Manual

Between June 2023 to June 2024 a cross-party group of civic technologists worked together to create the MP Office Manual. They are all keen to see MPs with well run offices contributing to a flourishing democracy in the UK.

You can read it at mpofficemanual.uk

The proposals in the manual come from in-depth interviews with current and former MPs office staff and expert advice from 30+ practitioners, allied with a survey of staff members and a review of current literature including all past guides and examples found on w4mp, Hansard Society, and Parliament.

We hope you find it useful – and if you have any suggestions for improving it please get in touch.

Run For Jo – 22 June 2025

The Run for Jo is part of the Great Get Together weekend and is all about bringing people together, there will be food, music, stalls and lots of fun! It is all about bringing people together and that means community, friends and family. Children are welcome on both the distances and the 2.5km fun run is ideal for all the family- even the dog can take part!

This year it is on the 22 June, which would have been Jo’s 51st birthday. The run itself is at Oakwell Hall, Birstall, however you can also sign up to do a virtual 10k challenge if Yorkshire is too far to travel.

Those of us who did it last year found it was a great way to get motivated to start running and get fit and active – it was an amazing community event and a brilliant way to celebrate Jo’s legacy. We are trying to make this year bigger and better than ever – so if you want to get involved in any way, please drop me a message 😊 or sign up here:

2.5km Fun Run🏃‍♀
https://racebest.com/races/funrunforjo2025
6.5km Challenge 🏃‍♀
https://racebest.com/races/runforjo2025

Where: Oakwell Hall and Country Park, Birstall
When: 9am – 3pm 22nd June 2025
What: 6.5km Challenge, 2.5km Fun Run or Virtual 10km!