Steven Kennedy

Commons Research Briefing Asylum Benefits Community care Diseases Families & Social Services Immigration 

Coronavirus: Calls to ease No Recourse to Public Funds conditions

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This briefing summarises who is subject to the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) visa condition and how it is applied. It also identifies what state support and concessions might be available for migrants with NRPF during the coronavirus crisis. It does not cover migrants’ entitlements to NHS healthcare, or the position of European Economic Area nationals.…

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Commons Research Briefing Benefits Pensions 

Benefits Uprating 2020

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Benefits and tax credits that are linked to inflation rise by 1.7% in April 2020, marking the end of the four-year freeze that affected many such payments. Further increases have been made to Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit and Local Housing Allowance in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The triple lock delivers a 3.9% increase to the Basic and New State Pension.…

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Commons Debate Pack Benefits Business Diseases Economic policy Economic situation Families & Social Services Public spending 

[Coronavirus] Opposition Day Debates: Social Cohesion & Community and Financial and Social Emergency Support Package

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On 25 March 2020, there will be two topics for the 7th allotted Opposition Day Debate in the House of Commons. The first debate is on the subject of “Social cohesion and community” and the second on “Financial and social emergency support package”, both in the context of the Covid-19 outbreak. The House of Commons Library has shared relevant material below. …

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Commons Research Briefing Aviation Benefits Economic policy Economic situation Pensions Planning Public spending Rail Roads Tax Work & Incomes 

Spring Budget 2020: Background briefing

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This briefing sets out the background to Spring Budget 2020 which will take place on 11 March 2020. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish revised forecasts for the economy and public finances on the same day.
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Commons Research Briefing Benefits Civil law Pensions Roads 

Social security benefits for older people with mobility needs

Both Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment (which is replacing DLA) provide help with the extra costs disabled people face when getting around. The DLA or PIP mobility component can continue to be paid indefinitely, but there is an upper age limit for new claims – now the State Pension Age. This means that some older people cannot get benefits for mobility needs and cannot access linked schemes such as Motability.…

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Commons Research Briefing Benefits 

Carer’s Allowance

This Commons Library briefing looks at Carer’s Allowance – a non-contributory, non-means-tested benefit paid to people who care full-time for someone who is severely disabled. It covers the background to the benefit and issues frequently raised by people claiming it, including the level of the benefit, its interaction with other benefits including the Retirement Pension, and the difficulties recipients face when seeking to combine their caring duties with paid work or studying. Reforms to Carer’s Allowance have been discussed, but there have been no significant changes to the benefit in recent years, and Carer’s Allowance will remain a separate benefit under the Universal Credit system. Responsibility for Carer’s Allowance and related disability benefits is now devolved to the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Government has introduced a Carer’s Allowance Supplement, and Carer’s Allowance in Scotland will be replaced by a new benefit – Carer’s Assistance – starting from winter 2021.…

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