Welfare & Pensions Archives

In Focus

Challenges faced by people with disabilities

Monday, 13 May, 2024

People with disabilities can face additional barriers when trying to access services. The World Health Organisation has stated disability comes from these barriers rather the related impairment. Barriers can include online services that are not accessible, infrastructure that can be physically inaccessible and attitudinal barriers. The government has introduced policies to help address these barriers but disability charities have argued these have not been sufficient.
Research Briefing

Paternity Leave (Bereavement) Bill: HL Bill 70 of 2023–24

Friday, 10 May, 2024

This private member’s bill would expand eligibility for leave to fathers or partners who experience the death of a child’s mother, adoptive or surrogate parent.
In Focus

Child poverty: Statistics, causes and the UK’s policy response

Tuesday, 23 April, 2024

The government has estimated that 4.3 million children, or 30% of all children in the UK, were living in relative low-income households after housing costs in 2022/23. This represents an increase on the previous year. The government has said unexpectedly high inflation, driven by the war in Ukraine and supply chain challenges, contributed to the rise. It argues that falling inflation, rising real wages and uprated benefits will help low-income households in the year ahead.
In Focus

Poverty in the UK: Government policy

Monday, 12 February, 2024

There were approximately 11 million people in the UK in relative poverty (before housing costs) in 2021/22. Many people on low incomes receive cash benefits, such as universal credit, and other benefits such as free school meals. In its levelling up strategy the government set out measures to address poverty; these include increasing the number of high-paying jobs and improving access to good quality education and skills training.
Research Briefing

Data Protection and Digital Information Bill: HL Bill 30 of 2023–24

Wednesday, 13 December, 2023

The Data Protection and Digital Information Bill would amend existing data protection legislation and introduce new provisions in areas such as digital verification services and smart data. The bill was carried over from the last session and is due to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 19 December 2023.
In Focus

Strengthening family life in England: Archbishops’ Commission on Families and Households

Thursday, 30 November, 2023

In April 2023, the Archbishops’ Commission on Families and Households published a report entitled ‘Love matters’. The commission examined how families and households in England could best flourish and called on the government and other institutions to put families at the centre of their thinking. In addition to proposals for Church of England action, the report included 29 recommendations for the government. These included supporting family hubs and developing high-quality marriage preparation.
In Focus

Free NHS prescriptions: Eligibility for benefit claimants

Friday, 24 November, 2023

In England, individuals in receipt of certain benefits or who meet specific criteria are eligible for free NHS prescriptions. The government have announced that they plan to terminate certain universal credit claims, and consequently revoke benefits such as free prescriptions, for those who fail to meet employment requirements. This has led to fears about its potential adverse impact on the health and wellbeing of affected individuals.
- In Focus
- Welfare & Pensions
In Focus

King’s Speech 2023: Welfare

Wednesday, 01 November, 2023

The government has not signalled a specific welfare bill for the upcoming King’s Speech. However, it has committed to make some reforms to the benefits system that may require legislation. These include measures to reduce benefits fraud and error, and changes to the enforcement of child maintenance payments.
- In Focus
- Welfare & Pensions
In Focus

King’s Speech 2023: Pensions

Wednesday, 01 November, 2023

The chancellor’s Mansion House speech in July 2023 included a range of reforms to private pensions that may require primary legislation. These included initiatives to consolidate the defined contribution and defined benefit pensions sectors, and to encourage greater investment by pension funds in UK companies.
- In Focus
- Welfare & Pensions
Research Briefing

Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) (No. 2) Bill: HL Bill 128 of 2022–23

Wednesday, 05 July, 2023

The Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) (No. 2) Bill is a private member’s bill that would allow ministers to lower to 18 the age threshold at which qualifying workers are automatically enrolled into workplace pensions. It would also allow ministers to amend qualifying earnings limits so that pension contributions are calculated from the first pound earned. Ministers would have to obtain Parliament’s approval for any changes after first consulting on any proposals and reporting to Parliament on the consultations held.
Research Briefing

Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees Bill: HL Bill 127 of 2022–23

Wednesday, 17 May, 2023

The Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees Bill is intended to widen the statutory functions of the committees to better represent how they have operated in recent years. The bill passed all of its Commons stages unamended with cross-party support.
Current Affairs Digest

Current Affairs Digest: Social Policy (May 2023)

Monday, 15 May, 2023

In the spring budget in March 2023, Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt announced reforms to disability benefits which he described as the “biggest change to our welfare system in a decade”. This article summarises the reforms, which were also published in a white paper, and reaction to them by disability groups and charities.
In Focus

Cost of living: Paying for childcare for under-fives

Thursday, 11 May, 2023

In the March 2023 budget, the government announced increased support for paying for childcare. This article looks at the current cost of childcare in England, how this compares internationally and what the government is doing to help, and the potential impacts of those changes.
In Focus

Supported housing

Thursday, 23 March, 2023

Supported housing is accommodation where residents receive support, supervision or care. Housebuilding targets include targets for supported accommodation; however, housing associations and local authorities have argued that government funding is not sufficient to enable enough to be built. Concerns have been raised about the quality of supported housing, which is largely paid for by housing benefit.
Research Briefing

Social Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) Bill: HL Bill 114 of 2022–23

Wednesday, 15 March, 2023

The Social Security (Additional Payments) (No. 2) Bill would provide for additional payments to be made in the 2023/24 financial year to help vulnerable households with the increased cost of living. It was introduced in the House of Commons on 7 February 2023 and completed its Commons stages on 6 March 2023. The bill has been certified as a money bill. This limits the extent to which the House of Lords can propose significant changes.
- Research Briefing
- Welfare & Pensions

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