How Universal Credit is affecting people's welfare rights will be explored at a conference next month

The roll-out of Universal Credit and how it is impacting on carers, migrants, disabled people and unemployed people is to be central to a major conference next week.

The annual Scottish Welfare Rights conference in Glasgow is calling on advisors, support workers and anyone working for an organisation that tries to boost family incomes to join the event.

Universal Credit and the devolution of social security powers to the Scottish Government will be the key themes.

Scotland’s cabinet secretary for communities, social security and equality Angela Constance will give the keynote speech, and she’ll be followed by Douglas Hamilton, chair of the Poverty and Inequality Commission.

The conference is run by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) Scotland.

John Dickie, CPAG director for Scotland, said: “The ongoing roll-out of Universal Credit across the UK and the passing of Scotland’s first Social Security Act paving the way for the transfer of key benefits, including disability and carer’s assistance, mean that 2018 is yet again a year of massive change in the welfare rights landscape.

“This conference will give delegates the opportunity to hear and discuss the latest developments, but also join political leaders, policy makers and human rights experts to take stock and debate how best the right to social security can be protected and enhanced in the years ahead.”

The conference is on 22 June in Glasgow, and delegate places and exhibition opportunities are still available.