I’ve just completed a new version of this paper. It’s completely remodelled following the changes that have been announced recently, including: Earnings disregard increases in Universal Credit – which have a substantial effect. Childcare in Universal Credit and other changes. It looks at the complex and surprising relationship between housing costs and earnings in UC […]

The committee is due to complete its stages on the 28th November (the day before the Chancellor makes his autumn statement). The sections to be covered on each day will be: the Social Fund issues on 10 November; the PIP on 14 and 16 November; the benefit cap on 21 November; fraud and error on […]

During yesterday’s Grand Committee stage in the Lords of the Welfare Reform Bill, Lord Freud confirmed that, following the introduction of the Housing Credit into Pension Credit, Pension Credit will have a capital cut-off. This will apply to the benefit as a whole, not just the housing credit, and may, apparently, replace tariff income for […]

All sorts of things ’emerging’ now. Lord Freud answered a question during the Lords’ committee stage yesterday to say that support for mortgage interest (SMI) will not be paid to those in full time work. The two year limit will also continue for those not in work. A lot of the seamlessness of design there […]

The government, after successful lobbying by many individuals and organisations, has decided to extend the current tax credit support limits of 70% of a maximum £175 for one child and £300 for 2 or more children to those working less than 16 hours a week. This will put an extra £300m into the childcare pot […]

Took place yesterday. Not much of substance but a lot of concern about the benefits cap and PIP. You can read it all here

Briefing notes on carers published by DWP at this page They say The Universal Credit award will include a carers element which will continue for as long as the carer provides care for at least 35 hours per week for a severely disabled person. The Universal Credit earnings taper will apply to the award and […]

After a long summer break, and with some guilt. An updated interim version of the paper can be downloaded here as we wait for the promised extra details as the Lords start debating the Bill tomorrow. This has an updated childcare section which looks at the two favoured options in more detail. More soon….. hopefully.

Oops! Lounging in Italy meant that I forgot to say that the second reading of the Bill in the Lords has been put back to September 13th after the recess. This is a general discussion session and precedes the more detailed Lords’ Committee Stage.

An interesting day today at the annual DWP Convention. Unusually hesitant presentations by officials and ministers. Lord Freud made several errors in his address and the general lack of certainty in the details of the new scheme, even after the Bill has left the commons, is still surprising. I’ve been working on modelling the transition […]