This House of Commons Library debate pack briefing has been prepared in advance of a debate entitled ”Strengthening Families”. This will take place in Westminster Hall on 8 February 2018 at 1:30pm and will be led by Fiona Bruce MP.
The briefing sets out the background to Autumn Budget 2017 which will take place on Wednesday 22 November 2017. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish revised forecasts for the economy and public finances on the same day.
Universal Credit aims to replace six working-age benefits. The Government is now rolling out the Full Service, under which everyone eligible can claim UC no matter their circumstances. Once the Full Service is launched in an area both the number and range of people claiming UC is likely to grow quickly. At the end of September 2017 there were 101 jobcentres running the Full Service. Between October 2017 and January 2018, 134 more jobcentres will launch the Full Service. That will add 150,000 more people to the UC caseload – a 25% increase, and an overall rise from 8% to 10% of the final 7 million people expected to be eligible.
This Commons Library briefing looks at the two child limit in Child Tax Credit and in Universal Credit introduced for new claims and births from 6 April 2017. There are limited exceptions to the two child rule, including where a child was conceived as a result of a "non-consensual sexual act."
Data on migrants and benefits is incomplete and fragmented, not routinely available from a single source. This is because the nationality of benefit claimants is not routinely gathered by either DWP or HMRC when administering benefits or tax credits. This paper brings together the main available data sources – including DWP data on National Insurance Number registrations, departmental ad-hoc releases and responses to Freedom of Information requests – to analyse rates of benefit and tax credits receipt among migrants living in the UK.
The briefing sets out the background to Spring Budget 2017 which will take place on Wednesday 8 March 2017. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish revised forecasts for the economy and public finances on the same day.
MPs will debate ‘Impact of DWP policies on low income households’ on Tuesday 17 January 2017 in the Main Chamber. This is an Opposition Day debate moved by the Scottish National Party. This House of Commons Library briefing provides background to the debate and includes a summary of the issues, statistics and press and parliamentary coverage.
MPs will debate the effect on equality of the Autumn Statement 2016, on Wednesday 14 December 2016. This will be an Opposition Day debate. This House of Commons Library briefing provides a background summary and also press and parliamentary coverage.
This House of Commons Library briefing paper explains how the household benefit cap operates and considers evidence of its impact to date. It also covers the reductions in the benefit cap being phased in from 7 November 2016, and their likely impact.
Universal Credit (UC) is a new benefit which is to replace means-tested social security benefits and tax credits for working-age claimants by 2022. UC work allowances, the maximum a claimant can earn before their award is withdrawn, were reduced from April 2016 onwards. Limits to support for new claimants will also apply from April 2017. This paper provides an introduction to Universal Credit and analyses the impact of these changes.
The House of Commons Library Welfare Expenditure and Savings Tool combines multiple sources of expenditure and savings data into one easy to use, up-to-date analysis tool. Users can track changes in welfare expenditure over time, analyse savings as a proportion of expenditure and identify key policy measures by benefit announced since June 2010. Total spending on UK social security and tax credits will be £218.4 billion in 2016-17, 28.3% of total managed expenditure. Measures announced since 2010 will save around £26 billion in the same year, roughly 10% of what welfare spending might otherwise have been.
MPs will debate the Effect of Universal Credit on children on Tuesday 10 May 2016. This is a Backbench Business debate secured by Stephen Timms MP. This House of Commons Library page provides an overview of Universal Credit and links to relevant briefings and reports.
The Welfare Reform and Work Bill 2015-16 had its Third Reading in the House of Lords on 9 February, and the Commons is due to consider Lords amendments on 23 February.
There will be a debate entitled, Effect of the roll-out of Universal Credit in the North West, in Westminster Hall on Wednesday 13 January 2016 at 9.30am. Marie Rimmer MP will lead the debate. This page provides a background briefing.