Latest news with #WCA
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Scotsman
a day ago
- Business
- Scotsman
PIP: controversial voucher allowance update
(Photo: SUSANNAH IRELAND/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Plans to limit disability benefits to vouchers and grants have sparked outrage 🧾 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Controversial plans to replace PIP cash with vouchers have been scrapped by the UK Government The move follows widespread backlash from disability rights groups and the public Proposed voucher schemes included pre-paid cards, one-off grants, and reimbursements Labour says disabled people should retain choice and control over their support Despite the U-turn, major PIP reforms are still planned — with potential financial losses for many The UK Government has scrapped controversial plans to replace Personal Independence Payment (PIP) cash benefits with vouchers or non-cash alternatives. The proposal was widely condemned as stripping disabled people of autonomy and dignity, but Labour confirmed a U-turn in April, following fierce opposition from disability rights groups and the wider public. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The original proposal included pre-paid cards for specific disability-related items, one-off grants for home modifications or equipment, and reimbursement schemes requiring submitted receipts. But these ideas sparked a backlash, and critics argued they would restrict personal freedom and add unnecessary obstacles for disabled people already navigating a complex system. (Photo: SUSANNAH IRELAND/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed the reversal, saying: 'This Government will not bring in the Tory proposals for vouchers — because disabled people should have choice and control over their lives.' But while the voucher scheme is off the table, sweeping reforms to PIP are still moving ahead — and they could leave up to 1.2 million people worse off by 2029, with some losing as much as £6,300 a year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What's changing? Tighter eligibility from 2026: New claimants must demonstrate significant impact in one specific area of daily life, potentially excluding those with fluctuating or multiple moderate conditions. Scrapping the WCA by 2028: PIP assessments will become the single gateway for extra financial support — a move aimed at simplification but one that risks missing nuances in people's ability to work. More face-to-face assessments: These are intended to improve accuracy but may increase stress and wait times for disabled people, particularly those with mental health conditions or mobility issues. Fewer reassessments for the severely disabled: This long-awaited change has been welcomed, offering some relief to those living with permanent, life-limiting conditions. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Are you struggling to make ends meet as costs continue to rise? You can now send your stories to us online via YourWorld at It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75%26crop%3D3%3A2%2Csmart%26trim%3D&w=3840&q=100)
Scotsman
a day ago
- Business
- Scotsman
PIP: controversial voucher allowance update
(Photo: SUSANNAH IRELAND/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Plans to limit disability benefits to vouchers and grants have sparked outrage 🧾 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Controversial plans to replace PIP cash with vouchers have been scrapped by the UK Government The move follows widespread backlash from disability rights groups and the public Proposed voucher schemes included pre-paid cards, one-off grants, and reimbursements Labour says disabled people should retain choice and control over their support Despite the U-turn, major PIP reforms are still planned — with potential financial losses for many The UK Government has scrapped controversial plans to replace Personal Independence Payment (PIP) cash benefits with vouchers or non-cash alternatives. The proposal was widely condemned as stripping disabled people of autonomy and dignity, but Labour confirmed a U-turn in April, following fierce opposition from disability rights groups and the wider public. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The original proposal included pre-paid cards for specific disability-related items, one-off grants for home modifications or equipment, and reimbursement schemes requiring submitted receipts. But these ideas sparked a backlash, and critics argued they would restrict personal freedom and add unnecessary obstacles for disabled people already navigating a complex system. (Photo: SUSANNAH IRELAND/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed the reversal, saying: 'This Government will not bring in the Tory proposals for vouchers — because disabled people should have choice and control over their lives.' But while the voucher scheme is off the table, sweeping reforms to PIP are still moving ahead — and they could leave up to 1.2 million people worse off by 2029, with some losing as much as £6,300 a year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad What's changing? Tighter eligibility from 2026: New claimants must demonstrate significant impact in one specific area of daily life, potentially excluding those with fluctuating or multiple moderate conditions. Scrapping the WCA by 2028: PIP assessments will become the single gateway for extra financial support — a move aimed at simplification but one that risks missing nuances in people's ability to work. More face-to-face assessments: These are intended to improve accuracy but may increase stress and wait times for disabled people, particularly those with mental health conditions or mobility issues. Fewer reassessments for the severely disabled: This long-awaited change has been welcomed, offering some relief to those living with permanent, life-limiting conditions. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Edinburgh Live
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Rubiks cube prodigies face off at Scottish championship held in capital
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Over 200 Rubik's Cube solvers from across Scotland and beyond will descend on Edinburgh this May for the Kewbz Scottish Championship 2025 — set to be the biggest speedcubing competition ever held in Scotland, and one of the largest in Europe this year. Taking place from Friday, May 20 to Sunday, June 1 at Meadowbank Stadium, the event will see competitors from over 20 countries attempt to solve the famous Rubik's Cube — as well as a range of other events from blindfolded to one handed — in the shortest possible time. The competition, which is the first ever Scottish Championship to be held, is hosted by the UK Cube Association, with its results officially recognised by the World Cube Association (WCA), the international governing body for speedcubing. 'Speedcubing has exploded in popularity in recent years,' said Adam Leyton, one of the event organisers from the UKCA. People often think of the Rubik's Cube as a retro toy from the 1980s, but it's actually now more popular than ever. It's fantastic that we have the opportunity to host such a high-profile competition right here in Edinburgh.' All eyes are on 13-year-old prodigy Johnny Morello Kerlaff from Edinburgh as he heads into this year's prestigious 3x3 event, where he's one of the leading contenders. A rising star in the cubing scene, Johnny currently holds the Scottish record for the fastest solve time, clocking in at a speedy 5.41 seconds. In 2024, Johnny made a strong impression at the UK Championship, finishing in third place and earning recognition as one of the country's most promising young cubers. Now he'll be aiming to build on that success at this year's Scottish Championship, hoping to deliver another memorable performance. Also among the standout names competing in Edinburgh will be Lanarkshire cuber Ryan Eckersley, who currently holds multiple European Records in the blindfolded solving category and placed second at the 2024 European Championships. Ryan said: "Competing at such a major event in my home country is something really special to me. "There's going to be some serious competition but I've been putting in a lot of practice lately and I'm really excited to see how I perform.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Smart Communications Named a Leader for Fifth Consecutive Year in the Aragon Research Globe™ for Workflow and Content Automation, 2025
The Conversation Cloud™ platform recognized for empowering organizations to streamline operations, elevate customer experiences, and prepare for an AI-driven future NEW YORK, May 21, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Smart Communications™, a leading technology company that helps enterprises scale more meaningful customer conversations, has been named a Leader in The Aragon Research Globe™ for Workflow and Content Automation (WCA), 2025. This is the fifth consecutive year that Smart Communications has received this recognition, reflecting its continued innovation and strategic impact on digital transformation initiatives in regulated industries. The report evaluates 13 key vendors shaping the rapidly evolving WCA market and highlights the breadth and strength of Smart Communications' Conversation Cloud platform, including: SmartIQ™, which intelligently issues requests for information and creates end-to-end digital data collection processes that ensure accurate, relevant information comes in and accurate, fast decisions go out. SmartCOMM™, which facilitates compliant customer conversations across any channel, including onboarding, workflow, collaboration, and content automation. Expanded capabilities through the acquisition of Joisto, adding cloud-native archival and high-speed retrieval capabilities to enhance compliance, efficiency, and long-term visibility. Deep, established partnerships and pre-built integrations that enable faster deployments, seamless connectivity, and accelerated digital transformation. "The Workflow and Content Automation market is poised for significant evolution in the coming year, potentially surpassing the pace of change we've seen over the past decade," said Jim Lundy, Founder and CEO of Aragon Research. "Now is the time for organizations to retire outdated systems that stand in the way of leveraging new advancements in AI. At Aragon, we're helping businesses identify technology gaps and define solution requirements to streamline data collection, content creation, and automation – delivering smarter, faster, and more personalized customer experiences." The Workflow and Content Automation landscape is increasingly shifting to an AI-based approach, enabling quicker document processes to keep up with increasing demands for personalized content and experiences. As enterprises seek to adapt and balance these advances with traditional rules-based approaches to WCA, the fusion of workflow automation and generative AI is transforming how they manage content across the entire document lifecycle. "At Smart Communications, we're committed to future-proofing how enterprises communicate with their customers," said Simon Tindal, Chief Technology Officer, Smart Communications. "Being named a Leader by Aragon for the fifth year in a row reflects our commitment to delivering real-world impact through AI innovation, automation, and secure, scalable solutions. With the recent addition of advanced archival and retrieval capabilities, we've extended our ability to support the full lifecycle of customer conversations – from data collection to long-term compliance – at the speed and scale today's enterprises demand." To read the full analysis, download a complimentary copy of the report here. About Aragon Research Aragon Research is an independent research and advisory firm that provides business and tech executives with the actionable insights they need to navigate technology's evolving impact on business. Aragon Research delivers high-impact visual research, consulting, and advisory services to provide enterprises with the insight they need to make better technology and strategy decisions. For more information, visit Aragon Research does not endorse vendors, or their products or services that are referenced in its research publications, and does not advise users to select those vendors that are rated the highest. Aragon Research publications consist of the opinions of Aragon Research and Advisory Services organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Aragon Research provides its research publications and the information contained in them "AS IS," without warranty of any kind. About Smart Communications Smart Communications provides the platform that leading organizations trust to deliver personalized, consistent and compliant conversations across all touchpoints and channels. The Conversation Cloud™ consists of SmartCOMM™, for enterprise-scale customer communications, SmartIQ™ for digital forms transformation and SmartDX™ for trade documentation. Over 650 enterprise organizations across the globe rely on Smart Communications to simplify and automate complex processes and deliver highly secure, frictionless experiences across the customer lifecycle. To learn more, visit View source version on Contacts Red Lorry Yellow Lorrysmartcommunications@
Business Wire
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Smart Communications Named a Leader for Fifth Consecutive Year in the Aragon Research Globe™ for Workflow and Content Automation, 2025
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Smart Communications™, a leading technology company that helps enterprises scale more meaningful customer conversations, has been named a Leader in The Aragon Research Globe™ for Workflow and Content Automation (WCA), 2025. This is the fifth consecutive year that Smart Communications has received this recognition, reflecting its continued innovation and strategic impact on digital transformation initiatives in regulated industries. "Being named a Leader by Aragon for the fifth year in a row reflects our commitment to delivering real-world impact through AI innovation, automation, and secure, scalable solutions." - Simon Tindal, Chief Technology Officer, Smart Communications Share The report evaluates 13 key vendors shaping the rapidly evolving WCA market and highlights the breadth and strength of Smart Communications' Conversation Cloud platform, including: SmartIQ™, which intelligently issues requests for information and creates end-to-end digital data collection processes that ensure accurate, relevant information comes in and accurate, fast decisions go out. SmartCOMM™, which facilitates compliant customer conversations across any channel, including onboarding, workflow, collaboration, and content automation. Expanded capabilities through the acquisition of Joisto, adding cloud-native archival and high-speed retrieval capabilities to enhance compliance, efficiency, and long-term visibility. Deep, established partnerships and pre-built integrations that enable faster deployments, seamless connectivity, and accelerated digital transformation. ' The Workflow and Content Automation market is poised for significant evolution in the coming year, potentially surpassing the pace of change we've seen over the past decade,' said Jim Lundy, Founder and CEO of Aragon Research. 'Now is the time for organizations to retire outdated systems that stand in the way of leveraging new advancements in AI. At Aragon, we're helping businesses identify technology gaps and define solution requirements to streamline data collection, content creation, and automation – delivering smarter, faster, and more personalized customer experiences.' The Workflow and Content Automation landscape is increasingly shifting to an AI-based approach, enabling quicker document processes to keep up with increasing demands for personalized content and experiences. As enterprises seek to adapt and balance these advances with traditional rules-based approaches to WCA, the fusion of workflow automation and generative AI is transforming how they manage content across the entire document lifecycle. 'At Smart Communications, we're committed to future-proofing how enterprises communicate with their customers,' said Simon Tindal, Chief Technology Officer, Smart Communications. "Being named a Leader by Aragon for the fifth year in a row reflects our commitment to delivering real-world impact through AI innovation, automation, and secure, scalable solutions. With the recent addition of advanced archival and retrieval capabilities, we've extended our ability to support the full lifecycle of customer conversations – from data collection to long-term compliance – at the speed and scale today's enterprises demand.' To read the full analysis, download a complimentary copy of the report here. About Aragon Research Aragon Research is an independent research and advisory firm that provides business and tech executives with the actionable insights they need to navigate technology's evolving impact on business. Aragon Research delivers high-impact visual research, consulting, and advisory services to provide enterprises with the insight they need to make better technology and strategy decisions. For more information, visit Aragon Research does not endorse vendors, or their products or services that are referenced in its research publications, and does not advise users to select those vendors that are rated the highest. Aragon Research publications consist of the opinions of Aragon Research and Advisory Services organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Aragon Research provides its research publications and the information contained in them 'AS IS,' without warranty of any kind. About Smart Communications Smart Communications provides the platform that leading organizations trust to deliver personalized, consistent and compliant conversations across all touchpoints and channels. The Conversation Cloud™ consists of SmartCOMM™, for enterprise-scale customer communications, SmartIQ™ for digital forms transformation and SmartDX™ for trade documentation. Over 650 enterprise organizations across the globe rely on Smart Communications to simplify and automate complex processes and deliver highly secure, frictionless experiences across the customer lifecycle. To learn more, visit
