Welfare Reform
On 8 March 2012 the Welfare Reform Act received Royal Assent.
The Act legislates for the biggest change to the welfare system for over 60 years.
It introduces a wide range of reforms that will deliver the commitment made in the Coalition Agreement and the Queen's speech to make the benefits and tax credits systems fairer by:
- creating the right incentives to get more people into work by ensuring work always pays
- protecting the most vulnerable in our society
- delivering fairness to those claiming benefit and to the taxpayer
- simplifying the benefits system
Changes coming in from April 13:
Under Occupied Accommodation - affects tenants of Council houses and Housing Associations.
Council Tax Reduction - replaces Council Tax Benefit
Scottish welfare fund - replaces the discretionary Social Fund provided by Job Centre plus
Personal Independence Payment - replaces Disability Living Allowance for people aged 16 to 64
Changes that have already happened include:
Effective from April 11 - affected tenants in the private rented sector
Effective from January 12 - affected single claimants aged under 35 years old in the private rented sector
