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
Citizens’ rights provisions in the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20
This briefing addresses the citizens' rights provisions of the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20. It has been produced for the Bill’s Committee Stage and remaining stages in the Commons.
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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.
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Research Briefing
No-deal Brexit: A guide to Commons Library research
The No-deal Brexit: A guide to Commons Library research is an annotated bibliography of sources published by the House of Commons Library on a potential no-deal Brexit. It will be updated regularly. Links to the papers included in the resource are available on this page, the downloadable version includes additional comment on some of the selected papers.
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Research Briefing
Rough sleepers: access to services and support (England)
Rough sleepers are one of the most vulnerable groups in society, many with high levels of complex and interrelated needs. This paper provides an overview of the support and services - including accommodation, health, welfare, training, employment and voter registration - that are available for rough sleepers in England, and the challenges rough sleepers can face in accessing them.
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Debate Pack
Performance of child maintenance service in recovering payments from absent parents
On Wednesday 2 October, there will be a Westminster Hall debate at 4.30pm entitled “Performance of child maintenance service in recovering payments from absent parents”, led by Peter Grant.
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Research Briefing
How can EU nationals access UK benefits?
What are the rules for EU nationals accessing UK benefits, including Universal Credit, and how might they be affected by Brexit?
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Insight
How can EU nationals access UK benefits?
What are the rules for EU nationals accessing UK benefits, including Universal Credit, and how might they be affected by Brexit?
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Debate Pack
Effectiveness of the child maintenance service
At 2.30 pm on 23 July 2019 there will be a Westminster Hall debate on the effectiveness of the child maintenance service. This debate will be led by Martyn Day MP
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Debate Pack
Local housing allowance and homelessness
At 9.30 am on 24 July 2019 there will be a Westminster Hall debate on Local Housing Allowance and homelessness. The debate will be led by Mr Virendra Sharma MP.
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Research Briefing
The UK’s EU Withdrawal Agreement
This briefing looks in detail at the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated between the EU and UK and finalised on 14 November 2018. It was endorsed by EU Member State leaders at a special European Council summit on 25 November and the UK Prime Minister promoted it in the UK Parliament and around the country. The Agreement was debated at length in Parliament on several occasions and has been voted on three times. But the House of Commons has not endorsed it. A second extension of Article 50 took exit day to 31 October 2019, but once again the UK is faced with the possibility of leaving the EU without an agreement if this agreement or another one is not ratified by the UK and the EU.
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