Welfare Reform

The Bill proposes to reform the welfare and benefit system to improve support and incentives for people to move from benefits into work.

It contains measures to increase personal responsibility within the welfare system. It also proposes to encourage parental responsibility by introducing a requirement for joint birth registration and by amending the law relating to child support.

Key areas:

• Reforms the benefits system by abolishing Income Support and moving all claimants on to either Jobseekers’ Allowance if they are well or Employment and Support Allowance if they are sick
• aligns the contribution conditions between Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance
• introduces a regime of benefit sanctions for non-attendance at Jobcentres
• requires job search by partners of benefit claimants
• abolishes Adult Dependency Increases in the Carer’s Allowance and Maternity Allowance
• introduces work-focused interviews for over-60s
• requires work-related activity in return for receipt of Employment and Support Allowance
• introduces a requirement for births to be registered jointly by both parents
• provides additional powers for the enforcement of child maintenance arrears.