Welfare Reform
Act of ParliamentThis bill passed all stages in both Houses and received Royal Assent.
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Long title
Amend the law relating to social security; to make provision enabling disabled people to be given greater control over the way in which certain public services are provided for them; to amend the law relating to child support; to make provision about the registration of births; and for connected purposes.
Summary
The Bill proposes to reform the welfare and benefit system to improve support and incentives for people to move from benefits into work. <br><br>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.<br><br><strong>Key areas:</strong><br><ul><li>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 </li><li>aligns the contribution conditions between Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance</li><li>introduces a regime of benefit sanctions for non-attendance at Jobcentres </li><li>requires job search by partners of benefit claimants</li><li>abolishes Adult Dependency Increases in the Carer’s Allowance and Maternity Allowance </li><li>introduces work-focused interviews for over-60s </li><li>requires work-related activity in return for receipt of Employment and Support Allowance </li><li>introduces a requirement for births to be registered jointly by both parents</li><li>provides additional powers for the enforcement of child maintenance arrears.</li></ul>
Progress through Parliament
- 1st reading· Commons
14 January 2009 – 14 January 2009
- 2nd reading· Commons
27 January 2009 – 27 January 2009
- Programme motion· Commons
27 January 2009 – 27 January 2009
- Money resolution· Commons
27 January 2009 – 27 January 2009
- Committee stage· Commons
10 February 2009 – 3 March 2009
- Report stage· Commons
17 March 2009 – 17 March 2009
- 3rd reading· Commons
17 March 2009 – 17 March 2009
- 1st reading· Lords
18 March 2009 – 18 March 2009
- 2nd reading· Lords
29 April 2009 – 29 April 2009
- Committee stage· Lords
9 June 2009 – 7 July 2009
- Report stage· Lords
22 October 2009 – 27 October 2009
- 3rd reading· Lords
3 November 2009 – 3 November 2009
- Programme motion· Commons
10 November 2009 – 10 November 2009
- Consideration of Lords amendments· Commons
10 November 2009 – 10 November 2009
- Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons· Lords
12 November 2009 – 12 November 2009
- Royal Assent· Unassigned
12 November 2009 – 12 November 2009
Source: UK Parliament Bills API. Bill ID: 386.