Welfare Benefit changes
On 16th February 2011 the Welfare Reform Bill was introduced to Parliament. The Bill details the biggest change to the welfare system for over 60 years and is due to start taking place in stages from January 2012 and ending between April 2016 and April 2020.
The main elements of the Bill are:
- Introduction of Universal Credit to provide a single streamlined benefit
- Stronger approach to reducing fraud and error with tougher penalties for the most serious offences.
- Changes to Disability Living Allowance, through the introduction of the Personal Independence Payment to meet the needs of disabled adults
- Introducing the Benefit Cap therefore capping the total amount of benefit that can be claimed
- Changing Employment and Support Allowance to make the benefit fairer and to ensure that help goes to those with the greatest need
- Introducing a size criteria framework for people renting from Housing Associations or renting a council property to stop people from living in properties that are too big for their circumstances
- Creating a new localised scheme for administering Council Tax Benefit
Further Changes to Benefit
Further in depth information about these changes can be found below.
► Change to Council Tax Benefit from April 2013
►
Housing Benefit Size Criteria from April 2013
(PDF)
[63KB]
►
Benefit Cap from July 2013
(PDF)
[26KB]
►
Change to Disability Living Allowance from April 2013
(PDF)
[49KB]
►
The Social Fund Scheme Reform from April 2013
(PDF)
[74KB]