15 years on, it’s time we made universal credit the game changer it can be
15 years on, it’s time we made universal credit the game changer it can be
In November 2010, the coalition government published its white paper detailing plans for universal credit. Iain Porter, senior policy advisor at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, writes about the impact it has had and what still needs to change
Queer people must be visible in the face of division, says drag legend Jonny Woo
Queer people must be visible in the face of division, says drag legend Jonny Woo
Top Stories
Sowing seeds of change: How Big Issue’s Big Grow is cultivating community and resilience
Sowing seeds of change: How Big Issue’s Big Grow is cultivating community and resilience
Benefit cap puts single mothers like me at risk of homelessness and destitution
Benefit cap puts single mothers like me at risk of homelessness and destitution
Deck your walls with limited edition prints by leading artists to support Big Issue at Christmas
Deck your walls with limited edition prints by leading artists to support Big Issue at Christmas
Letters: Apparently the Green Party are the ‘vibes era’? Make it make sense!
Letters: Apparently the Green Party are the ‘vibes era’? Make it make sense!
Like a jigsaw falling into place, Radiohead have returned at just the right time
Like a jigsaw falling into place, Radiohead have returned at just the right time
Big Issue’s Changemakers of 2026: Nominate a group or person making the world a better place
Big Issue’s Changemakers of 2026: Nominate a group or person making the world a better place
Advice
Morning walks and hearty stews: Could living like a medieval peasant be the key to surviving winter?
Morning walks and hearty stews: Could living like a medieval peasant be the key to surviving winter?
What benefits can I claim from the DWP to help me cover the cost of living?
What benefits can I claim from the DWP to help me cover the cost of living?
DWP payment dates in November 2025: When you will get your benefits and pensions this month
DWP payment dates in November 2025: When you will get your benefits and pensions this month
Meet our vendors
Stewart Campbell, M&S Gallagher Retail Park, Dundee
Stewart Campbell, M&S Gallagher Retail Park, Dundee
Constantin Mustafa, Co-op Food, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
Constantin Mustafa, Co-op Food, Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol
Vendor news
Four in 10 Brits go a whole week without a meaningful talk with a stranger, Big Issue study reveals
Four in 10 Brits go a whole week without a meaningful talk with a stranger, Big Issue study reveals
‘People seem to forget about it now’: Big Issue vendors share what Remembrance Day means to them
‘People seem to forget about it now’: Big Issue vendors share what Remembrance Day means to them
Big Issue vendor to donate magazine earnings to ‘give back’ to forces charities for Remembrance Day
Big Issue vendor to donate magazine earnings to ‘give back’ to forces charities for Remembrance Day
Newcastle Big Issue vendor facing no-fault eviction weeks after new law banning section 21 notices gets royal assent
Newcastle Big Issue vendor facing no-fault eviction weeks after new law banning section 21 notices gets royal assent
Opinion
15 years on, it’s time we made universal credit the game changer it can be
15 years on, it’s time we made universal credit the game changer it can be
Benefit cap puts single mothers like me at risk of homelessness and destitution
Benefit cap puts single mothers like me at risk of homelessness and destitution
As a child in poverty, the institutional food I was served saved my life. Today’s kids need the same
As a child in poverty, the institutional food I was served saved my life. Today’s kids need the same
Disabled people have to be at the table with the government to ‘keep Britain working’
Disabled people have to be at the table with the government to ‘keep Britain working’
Newsletters
Sign up to Survival Guide: The Big Issue’s cost of living newsletter with human stories at the heart
Sign up to Survival Guide: The Big Issue’s cost of living newsletter with human stories at the heart
Sign up to our free Inside the Big Issue newsletter
Sign up to our free Inside the Big Issue newsletter
Culture
Whatever happened to punk?
Whatever happened to punk?
Through 150 original interviews with punk’s key figures, a new book tells the story of the movement
Queer people must be visible in the face of division, says drag legend Jonny Woo
Queer people must be visible in the face of division, says drag legend Jonny Woo
Trespasses star Lola Petticrew: ‘I’m an artist because I’m an activist – I can’t separate it’
Trespasses star Lola Petticrew: ‘I’m an artist because I’m an activist – I can’t separate it’
Letter To My Younger Self
Kae Tempest: ‘Seeing all these young queer and gender queer people makes me feel so happy’
Kae Tempest: ‘Seeing all these young queer and gender queer people makes me feel so happy’
Dermot O’Leary: ‘I was bricking it when I started The X Factor’
Dermot O’Leary: ‘I was bricking it when I started The X Factor’
Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page: ‘I didn’t feel safe at drama school – we were told we were s**t’
Gavin & Stacey star Joanna Page: ‘I didn’t feel safe at drama school – we were told we were s**t’
Lang Lang: ‘People thought working with Metallica would destroy my classical career’
Lang Lang: ‘People thought working with Metallica would destroy my classical career’
Most popular
‘Explain to me why I’m homeless’: Rough sleeper’s rage tells us a lot about what’s keeping people homeless
‘Explain to me why I’m homeless’: Rough sleeper’s rage tells us a lot about what’s keeping people homeless
‘Frustrated, angry, exhausted’: Food banks forced to ‘throw out food donated by supermarkets’
‘Frustrated, angry, exhausted’: Food banks forced to ‘throw out food donated by supermarkets’
Disabled woman forced to quit job she loves after DWP support slashed: ‘I can’t make it make sense’
Disabled woman forced to quit job she loves after DWP support slashed: ‘I can’t make it make sense’
‘It’s devastating’: UK’s biggest companies locking autistic people out of jobs with personality tests
‘It’s devastating’: UK’s biggest companies locking autistic people out of jobs with personality tests
Life
Sowing seeds of change: How Big Issue’s Big Grow is cultivating community and resilience
Sowing seeds of change: How Big Issue’s Big Grow is cultivating community and resilience
Morning walks and hearty stews: Could living like a medieval peasant be the key to surviving winter?
Morning walks and hearty stews: Could living like a medieval peasant be the key to surviving winter?
George Lamb on how an Ibiza dance floor set him on a farming odyssey: ‘We need resilience in our food system’
George Lamb on how an Ibiza dance floor set him on a farming odyssey: ‘We need resilience in our food system’
Modern fishing is going further, bigger and deeper than ever. But there’s a big catch
Modern fishing is going further, bigger and deeper than ever. But there’s a big catch
Inside The Big Issue
Substance abuse led me to homelessness. Now I’m 20 years sober and in love with giving back
