Research Briefing
The UK-EU future relationship negotiations: social security co-ordination
Looks at the negotiations on social security co-ordination arrangements after the end of the Brexit 'transition period', in January 2021
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Insight
Coronavirus: Which workers are economically impacted?
This Insight examines which workers have been most economically impacted by the outbreak of coronavirus.
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Insight
Coronavirus: Increases to benefits payments
This Insight explores the increases in Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit payments in response to the coronavirus crisis.
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Constituency casework
Coronavirus: Claiming benefits during the crisis
What has changed for people claiming benefits during the coronavirus crisis? This page is no longer being updated.
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Research Briefing
Benefits Uprating 2020
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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Insight
Coronavirus: Claiming welfare benefits (2020)
Coronavirus may create significant new demands on the benefits system.
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Research Briefing
Insecure work: the Taylor Review and the Good Work Plan
This Commons briefing paper tracks the recommendations made in the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices and the Government's response in the Good Work Plan.
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Research Briefing
Universal Credit and the claimant count
This briefing paper explains how Universal Credit has increased the number of people claiming unemployment benefits, by requiring a broader group of claimants to look for work than was the case under Jobseeker’s Allowance. In January 2019, the Department for Work and Pensions published an ‘alternative’ claimant count for the first time. This models what the claimant count would have been if Universal Credit had been fully in place since 2013.
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Research Briefing
Pensioner benefits
Looks at the main benefits available to pensioners, in addition to the State Pension, and the debate on whether they should be reformed
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Research Briefing
The Universal Credit assessment period and earned income
This Commons Library briefing looks at the problems working Universal Credit claimants can experience because of the assessment period rules, and at the implications of a recent High Court judgment.
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Research Briefing
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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Research Briefing
People claiming unemployment benefits by constituency, October 2019
This paper provides figures for the number of people claiming unemployment benefits (the “claimant count”) by parliamentary constituency, as well as a summary of the latest labour market statistics for the UK as a whole.
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Research Briefing
Winter Fuel Payments update
The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free annual payment to help older people meet the cost of their winter fuel bills. The “standard” rates are £200 per eligible household where the oldest person is under 80, and £300 for households containing a person aged 80 or over.
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Research Briefing
Universal Credit and the Severe Disability Premium
This Commons Library briefing looks at how Universal Credit will affect benefit claimants who are, or were, getting the Severe Disability Premium. It covers measures which came into force in January 2019 to prevent people getting SDP from moving onto UC until they can receive transitional protection, and "SDP transitional payments" for those who have already moved to UC and lost SDP.
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Research Briefing
Under-occupying social housing: Housing Benefit entitlement
This Briefing Paper provides information on which claimants are affected by the reduction in Housing Benefit/housing element of Universal Credit when under-occupying a social rented home. The policy is often referred to as 'the removal of the Spare Room Subsidy' or the 'bedroom tax'. The benefit reduction has been in place since 1 April 2013. The paper has been updated to include some of the more recent legal challenges to the under-occupation deduction.
Total results (page 4 of 7)