Welfare Reform Act 2012
Act of ParliamentThis bill passed all stages in both Houses and received Royal Assent.
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Long title
A Bill to make provision for universal credit and personal independence payment; to make other provision about social security and tax credits; to make provision about the functions of the registration service, child support maintenance and the use of jobcentres; and for connected purposes.
Summary
<p>The Bill provides for the introduction of a 'Universal Credit' to replace a range of existing means-tested benefits and tax credits for people of working age, starting from 2013. The Bill follows the November 2010 White Paper, 'Universal Credit: welfare that works', which set out the Coalition Government’s proposals for reforming welfare to improve work incentives, simplify the benefits system and tackle administrative complexity.</p><p>Besides introducing Universal Credit and related measures, the Bill makes other significant changes to the benefits system. </p><p><strong>Key areas</strong></p><ul><li>introduces Personal Independence Payments to replace the current Disability Living Allowance</li><li>restricts Housing Benefit entitlement for social housing tenants whose accommodation is larger than they need</li><li>up-rates Local Housing Allowance rates by the Consumer Price Index</li><li>amends the forthcoming statutory child maintenance scheme</li><li>limits the payment of contributory Employment and Support Allowance to a 12-month period</li><li>caps the total amount of benefit that can be claimed.</li></ul><p>During the Committee Stage, the Government amended the Bill to provide for the establishment of a Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission.</p>
Progress through Parliament
- 1st reading· Commons
16 February 2011 – 16 February 2011
- 2nd reading· Commons
9 March 2011 – 9 March 2011
- Programme motion· Commons
9 March 2011 – 9 March 2011
- Money resolution· Commons
9 March 2011 – 9 March 2011
- Committee stage· Commons
22 March 2011 – 24 May 2011
- Programme motion· Commons
13 June 2011 – 13 June 2011
- Report stage· Commons
13 June 2011 – 15 June 2011
- 3rd reading· Commons
15 June 2011 – 15 June 2011
- 1st reading· Lords
16 June 2011 – 16 June 2011
- 2nd reading· Lords
13 September 2011 – 13 September 2011
- Committee stage· Lords
4 October 2011 – 28 November 2011
- Report stage· Lords
12 December 2011 – 25 January 2012
- 3rd reading· Lords
31 January 2012 – 31 January 2012
- Programme motion· Commons
1 February 2012 – 1 February 2012
- Consideration of Lords amendments· Commons
1 February 2012 – 1 February 2012
- Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons· Lords
14 February 2012 – 14 February 2012
- Consideration of Lords amendments· Commons
21 February 2012 – 21 February 2012
- Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons· Lords
29 February 2012 – 29 February 2012
- Royal Assent· Unassigned
8 March 2012 – 8 March 2012
Source: UK Parliament Bills API. Bill ID: 671.